Software plugins allow you to add functionality to existing applications. Web browsers commonly use these extensions to add functionality like shopping helpers, password managers, ad blockers and much, much more. In a way, these add-ons are like “apps” for the browser. Like apps, they can view and manipulate your data. In the browser, they may alter the web page, track pages you visit, and even mine any data you might enter into web forms. Also like apps, plugins can have permissions which you must agree to when you install them. Therefore, we need to be very careful which plugins we install and make sure we trust the maker. Today I’ll explain how to audit your plugins.

In other news: The TikTok ban has been given a 75-day reprieve; the Trump administration fires scores of cybersecurity experts; Apple Intelligence will soon be enabled by default on iPhones and Macs; some clever researchers have hacked the iPhone USB-C connection; a tricky new smishing campaign tricks users into bypassing Apple protections; PowerSchool hack affects 62M students and 9M teachers; new AI took can identify where a photo was taken; Subaru hack exposes scary amount of location data collection; fuzzing tool find over 100 bugs in modern cellular network; Texas sues Allstate for using private car data; FTC to ban GM from sharing location info; exercise equipment collects lots of personal data; federal court finally rules that Section 702 FISA data access requires a warrant.

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