tech
December 17, 2025
Browser extensions with 8 million users collect extended AI conversations
The extensions, available for Chromium browsers, harvest full AI conversations over months.
TL;DR
- Eight browser extensions with over 8 million installs are harvesting complete AI conversations.
- These extensions, some featuring "Featured" badges from Google and Microsoft, sell user data for marketing.
- Scripts within the extensions capture all prompts and responses from AI platforms, overriding legitimate browser functions.
- The harvested data includes conversation details, timestamps, and session metadata.
- Data collection continues even when other extension features like VPNs are turned off.
- Extensions like Urban VPN Proxy have collected data since early July.
- Privacy policies often bury the explicit mention of AI conversation harvesting in legalese.
- Urban Cyber Security develops these extensions, sharing data with affiliated companies like BiScience for commercial use.
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