The Top 8 Browser Extensions for Security
Discover the Top Secure Browser Extensions. Explore key features such as ad blocking, anti-tracking, and site rating.
Written by Mirren McDade
Technical Review by Laura Iannini
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1.
Avast Online Security & Privacy
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2.
Bitdefender TrafficLight
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3.
Emsisoft Browser Security
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4.
LayerX
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5.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
You can find browser extensions to extend the capabilities of your browser in many different ways. One key area that browser extensions cover is security. You can use browser security extensions to improve block ads, prevent tracking, encrypt data, and securing passwords. These capabilities will improve privacy, maintain security, and streamline user experience. Many of these extensions can be integrated with other security technologies for more robust protection.
Your web browser is a common point of entry for various cyberattacks, making it a vulnerability for your organization. An extension that strengthens your browsing security can significantly mitigate the risks associated with leaving this vulnerable point unguarded.
We have put together a shortlist of the Top Secure Browser Extensions. Through our technical testing, we have curated a list of the best secure browser extensions, with each one chosen for their feature set, usage statistics, user-experiences, and reviews.
Avast Online Security & Privacy
Avast Online Security & Privacy is a browser extension designed to help you manage online threats and ensure your privacy and settings are appropriate. It is compatible with multiple browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Avast Secure Browser.
Who it’s for: Ideal for individuals and organizations looking for enhanced browser security with minimal configuration.
Benefits: Avast Online Security & Privacy providing real-time protection and privacy controls directly within your browser.
- The extension allows users to configure universal privacy settings, thereby avoiding the need to setups each website manually.
- Users can control assess web tracking options, then request advertisers to stop using their data, thus enhancing privacy.
- Search engine results are marked to indicate the safety of websites, along with real-time alerts for suspicious web pages.
- The Privacy Advisor provides step-by-step guidance for configuring privacy on online services, such as social media platforms.
The Bottom Line: Avast Online Security & Privacy offers an effective solution for internet users looking to improve their browser security and manage privacy settings effortlessly. Its integration with multiple browsers and robust feature set makes it a valuable tool for enhancing online safety.
- Founded in 1988, Avast is a global cybersecurity company known for providing a wide range of protection solutions to millions of users worldwide.
Avast Online Security & Privacy
Bitdefender TrafficLight
Bitdefender TrafficLight is a free browser extension that filters web content to protect against malware and phishing.
Who it’s for: Ideal for individual users looking to protect themselves from web-based threats such as malicious downloads and phishing links.
Benefits: Bitdefender TrafficLight provides robust web protection, without affecting browser performance.
- It scans web pages for phishing and malware every time they are accessed, thereby mitigating the risk of site that is deemed safe being weaponized down the line.
- Allows users to view clean portions of a website if only certain pages are infected or risky.
- Extension stays hidden until summoned, maintaining a clutter-free browsing experience.
- It flags malware and fraudulent sites within search results, keeping users informed about unsafe links.
The bottom line: Bitdefender TrafficLight provides comprehensive web security seamlessly integrated into your browser without sacrificing performance. It ensures that you have access to the security features you need when a risk is present, whilst ensuring that your experience is unaffected the rest of the time.
- Founded in 2001, Bitdefender is headquartered in Romania, and offers various cybersecurity solutions to over 500 million users globally.
Bitdefender TrafficLight
Emsisoft Browser Security
Emsisoft Browser Security provides robust web protection by blocking access to malicious sites, while respecting user privacy.
Who it’s for: Ideal for SMBs seeking comprehensive web protection and privacy, initially designed for MSPs but now available to all.
Benefits: Emsisoft Browser Security providing real-time protection against harmful web content, without compromising browser performance.
- It is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as other Chromium-based browsers like Opera.
- The tool blocks connections to malicious websites, keeping your online sessions safe and secure.
- It is lightweight, ensuring minimal impact on your browser’s performance.
- Utilizes hashing to obfuscate domain names when sent to Emsisoft’s servers, ensuring that your specific browsing activity remains confidential.
- Prevents users from accessing sites known for hosting malware and phishing scams.
The bottom line: Emsisoft Browser Security effectively combines strong web protection with respect for user privacy, making it a strong addition for SMBs looking to enhance their online security measures.
- Founded in 2003, Emsisoft provides a suite of endpoint and cloud security solutions, serving a broad market with a focus on SMBs.
Emsisoft Browser Security
LayerX
LayerX is an enterprise browser extension that secures identities, data, SaaS apps, and devices against online threats.
Who it’s for: This solution is ideal for enterprise organizations that need robust and comprehensive features to ensure the browsing experience does not risk their security.
Benefits: LayerX uses VDI and RBI to secure browsers, with minimal impact on user experience. This ensures that you can interact with web pages, without fear of putting your users or organization at risk.
- It works seamlessly with nearly any browser on both managed and unmanaged devices, integrating effortlessly with common IdP solutions such as Okta and Entra, MDM solutions, and SIEM systems.
- Security teams can easily create highly detailed rules using an intuitive interface tailored to specific actions and user groups. Examples include preventing R&D teams from pasting code into GenAI tools or ensuring users access corporate SaaS apps only with SSO-backed corporate accounts.
- Allows flexibility in enforcement levels, such as monitoring only, warning users, or fully allowing/blocking actions.
- Provides comprehensive visibility into all browser activity, helping identify issues like shadow IT, weak passwords, shared accounts, and lack of SSO/MFA.
The bottom line: LayerX effectively turns any browser into a secure platform, offering powerful integration and detailed enforcement options to enhance your organization’s cybersecurity stance.
- Founded in 2021, LayerX specializes in enterprise cybersecurity solutions, providing robust browser-based security to safeguard digital environments.
LayerX
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Malwarebytes Browser Guard is a browser extension that blocks both unwanted ads/trackers and unsafe content/scams.
Who it’s for: Ideal for both individual users and enterprises seeking added layers of browser security.
Benefits: Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers robust protection by identifying and blocking various online threats. This extension enhances both security and browsing efficiency.
- Speeds up webpage loading times by blocking third-party ads and other unwanted content.
- Identifies and stops tech support scams, browser lockers, and hijackers that employ scare tactics.
- Blocks third-party trackers, safeguarding user privacy from targeted advertising.
- Protects against cross-site scripting (XSS) injection attacks and malware at the browser level.
The bottom line: Malwarebytes Browser Guard enhances browser security and usability by blocking a range of malicious content and ensuring a faster, safer browsing experience.
- Founded in 2008, headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Malwarebytes Browser Guard is a free extension that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and tech support scams on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
NoScript
NoScript is a browser extension designed to prevent script-based attacks while maintaining functionality on trusted websites. This solution is compatible with Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and other web browsers. It comes with preemptive script blocking to prevent both known and unknown security vulnerabilities.
Who it’s for: It is suited for users looking robust script-blocking capabilities without cost.
Benefits: NoScript safeguards users from script-based vulnerabilities, featuring comprehensive compatibility and customizable trust levels.
- Allows you to set predefined or custom trust levels for any domain or subdomain to control content execution.
- Contextual policies enable different permissions for a site based on specific conditions.
- Trust levels can be assigned dynamically or pre-configured before visiting a site.
- Detects potential XSS attacks or identity leaks and prompts users for action.
The bottom line: NoScript stands out for free, comprehensive script-blocking capabilities across major web browsers, making it an invaluable tool for heightened browser security.
- NoScript is a community-developed open-source project that prioritizes web safety and user control.
NoScript
ReasonLabs Online Security
Online Security by ReasonLabs is a browser extension that provides enhanced security and identity protection for safer online experiences.
Who it’s for: Ideal for individual users and small businesses seeking advanced online threat protection.
Benefits: ReasonLabs’ Online Security delivers real-time threat detection and privacy protection, while offering easy integration with major browsers like Chrome and Edge.
- Identifies and disables harmful extensions installed on your browser, ensuring a secure browsing environment.
- Blocks malicious URLs, cookies, and trackers, reducing the risk of malware and phishing attacks.
- Identity protection alerts users if personal information such as passwords or credit card details are leaked on the dark web.
- Allows users to manage or remove unwanted notifications from websites, offering a smoother browsing experience.
The bottom line: Online Security by ReasonLabs delivers robust real-time protection and privacy features, making it a strong contender for anyone looking to enhance their online security. Its ease of integration with popular browsers and identity protection against dark web threats are standout features.
- Founded in 2016, headquartered in New York, ReasonLabs serves a global clientele with advanced cybersecurity solutions.
ReasonLabs Online Security
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is a free and open-source browser extension that filters unwanted web content and enhances end-user privacy. It is designed to be light on both CPU and memory usage, ensuring your browsing experience remains fast and smooth.
Who it’s for: Ideal for individuals and organizations seeking efficient, free ad blocking and privacy protection.
Benefits: uBlock Origin minimizes unwanted content whilst preserving privacy with high efficiency.
- Comes pre-loaded with filters such as a malicious URL blocklist and advertising/tracking server blocklists to protect you from various threats seamlessly.
- Offers additional filter lists that can be toggled on or off based on your needs, such as blocking cookie warnings or irritating overlays.
- Allows users to create custom rules to override existing filter lists locally or globally.
- Provides an easy point-and-click option to block JavaScript either locally or globally for more control over web content.
The bottom line: uBlock Origin is a highly efficient and user-friendly solution for individuals and businesses, offering comprehensive ad blocking and privacy features without compromising performance.
- Launched as an open-source project by Raymond Hill, uBlock Origin is maintained by a dedicated community aiming to provide seamless, free web content filtering solutions.
uBlock Origin
FAQs
Everything You Need to Know About Browser Extension for Security (FAQs)
Web browsers allow you to search the internet in a streamlined and straightforward way. They are services that most of us use every day to search for information and download assets.
A browser extension for security is an add-on for web browsers designed to enhance security and privacy while browsing the internet. It protects users by blocking malicious websites, preventing tracking, encrypting data, or managing passwords. Secure browser extensions are helpful for safeguarding sensitive information, defending against cyber threats, and ensuring an overall safer browsing experience.
A secure browser extension is useful because it enhances online safety by protecting users from threats like phishing, malware, and data tracking. It helps secure sensitive information, such as passwords and financial data, and blocks access to malicious websites. By improving privacy and security, these extensions provide a safer and more secure browsing experience, reducing the risk of cyberattacks.
Security Browser Extensions are easy-to-install add-ons that enhance the security and privacy of your web browsing. They can manage security via multiple methods, including ad-blocking, tracking protection, script blocking, data encryption, and secure password management to safeguard your online activities. Some extensions even alert you about malicious sites, phishing attempts, or insecure sites, steering you clear from potential cyber threats.
Secure browser extensions work by integrating directly with a web browser to provide additional layers of security and privacy. They typically work by:
- Blocking malicious websites
- Encrypting browsing data
- Managing passwords
- Blocking intrusive ads, pop-ups, and potentially harmful scripts
By operating directly within the browser, secure extensions provide real-time defense against common online threats, enhancing both security and privacy during browsing.
When choosing a Browser Extension for Security, look for the following key features:
- Ad Blocking – This feature prevents any intrusive pop-ups, advertisements, and scripts from loading on the site, which improves security by reducing exposure to malicious ads that might deliver malware of track users’ activities. Ad blocking also improves browsing speeds.
- Anti-Tracking – Good tracking protection is important as it blocks third-party trackers and cookies that monitor users’ online activities across websites, which results in better safeguarding or user privacy. This protection enhances anonymity, limits data collection, and reduces the risk of data misuse or breaches.
- Data Encryption – Data encryption ensures that information transmitted between the browser and websites is securely encoded and unreadable to unauthorized parties. This protects sensitive data, such as passwords and financial details, from being intercepted by hackers during online transactions or communications.
- Password Management – This includes securely storing and auto-filling login credentials for websites, often using encryption to protect them. It is important because it simplifies managing complex passwords, reduces the need to reuse passwords, and protects sensitive login information from being exposed to phishing attacks or data breaches. This enhances both security and convenience for users.
- Site Rating – This involves providing warning about potentially harmful sites, which is done by evaluating and assigning safety scores to websites based on their trustworthiness, security, and risk levels. Site ratings help users to identify potentially harmful or fraudulent websites before they interact with them, reducing the risk of phishing, malware, and other cyber threats.
- Fast and Lightweight Performance – Any secure browser extension you consider using should not slow down page loading or be unobtrusive. Maintaining security and privacy, without compromising speed or performance, is crucial for enhancing user productivity and avoiding frustration from lagging browsers.
- User-friendly Interface – A simple interface and intuitive controls encourage consistent use of security tools, reducing the likelihood of user errors and ensuring that essential protections are in place during browsing. This enhances overall security and user adoption.
Written By
Mirren McDade is a senior writer and journalist at Expert Insights, spending each day researching, writing, editing and publishing content, covering a variety of topics and solutions, and interviewing industry experts. She is an experienced copywriter with a background in a range of industries, including cloud business technologies, cloud security, information security and cyber security, and has conducted interviews with several industry experts. Mirren holds a First Class Honors degree in English from Edinburgh Napier University.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.