The data collected here goes far beyond merely exposing the sites that you visit and your search history. Online Security warns about malicious sites, while SafePrice is a shopping tool.Īccording to the Adblock Plus developer, all four collect data that “exceeds by far what would be considered necessary or appropriate even for the security extensions.” For example, information sent back includes URLs and whether you previously visited, how you arrived at a page, and what system you’re using: In recent weeks, Adblock Plus creator Wladimir Palant detailed how four browser extensions from Avast and AVG “upload detailed browsing profiles of their users.” Google this evening removed three of those named add-ons from the Chrome Web Store.ĪVG is a subsidiary of cybersecurity firm Avast, and both essentially offer the same extensions with different branding.