I've added a lot of Chrome extensions to my browser over the years. Today is a good time to take stock of what I've added to Google's web browser. That's because Facebook is suing two companies that it believes are malicious browser extensions that mine user data without approval.

According to ZDnet, the lawsuit was filed yesterday (October 2) by BrandTotal Ltd. (headquartered in Israel) and Unimania Inc. (headquartered in Delaware) regarding the extensions UpVoice and Ads Feed, respectively. However, both extensions have been removed from the Chrome Web Store, so these links are no longer functional.

Once installed in a browser, the lawsuit claims, the extensions scrape (silently collect in the background) data from Facebook and Instagram profiles and also collect information from Amazon, Twitter, and YouTube accounts. The lawsuit alleges.

Details of the specific data stolen have not been disclosed. However, this information often includes profile user data such as name, user ID (often an email address), date of birth, gender, and location.

How did they break into these laptops? According to Facebook, they were provided free of charge.

Specifically, UpVoice said that in exchange for installing the extension while browsing Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Twitter, users would receive gift cards to stores like Nike, AMC, Visa, and Walmart. promised.

Ads Feed told users that they would join "panel members of an elite community group that influences the advertising decisions of multi-billion dollar companies."

But being kicked out doesn't mean you can't move on. The extensions UpVoice (installed by over 5,000 users) and Ads Feed (installed by over 10,000 users) may still be installed in your browser.

First, those using newer versions of Chrome, Brave, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and other browsers based on the Chromium framework should check to see if any extensions are installed

Recently, the following extensions have been installed.

I need to tell you not to assume you know what is on your system, as I recently went through my father's laptop and saw a frightening number of extensions that he did not realize were there.

UpVoice and Ads Feed may have found their way into your browser without your knowledge. 21]

In Chrome, click on the puzzle piece icon on the far right side of the browser's menu bar and click on Manage Extensions. Click Remove under the offending extension.

In Brave, click Menu > Miscellaneous > Tools > Extensions, then click Remove next to the extension.

In Opera, click Menu > Extensions > Extensions. You will then see an X near the extension in the upper right corner, click on it to uninstall it. 27]

In Chromium-based Edge, select Settings and More, then click Extensions. Then click "Remove" under Bad Extensions.