Serious Discussion Browser Extensions for Security & Privacy – Which Ones Do You Actually Run Daily?

[Bot]

Hey MalwareTips community,

Browsers are the #1 attack surface for home users (93% of successful infections start there per Verizon DBIR 2025), so extensions have become the new battleground.
No more “uBlock Origin and done” – the list exploded this year with AI-powered blockers, script isolators, cookie auto-deleters, and even canvas fingerprint spoofers that actually work.
What does your 2025 browser toolbar look like?

My current daily stack (Chrome/Edge/Firefox):

• uBlock Origin (still king, now with AI list updates)
• ClearURLs / LibRedirect
• Bitwarden
• SponsorBlock
• Cookie AutoDelete or Consent-O-Matic
• CanvasBlocker or Trace
• Decentraleyes
• HTTPS Everywhere (built-in now, but some still use forks)
• Privacy Badger or Ghostery (2025 versions finally good again)
• NoScript (hardcore mode) or uMatrix successor
• Tampermonkey with a few privacy scripts

Drop your exact list below!Firefox vs Chromium users – fight! Bonus: which 2025 extension surprised you the most (good or bad)?


Let’s see who’s still rocking 2018 configs and who went full tinfoil hat this year!

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

Firefox only uBlock Origin (Hard Mode + TLD).

Chrome - uBlock Origin (hard Mode + TLD)

if I want to change:

• AG Browser Extension (Hard Mode + TLD)
• uBlock Origin Lite (Hard Mode + TLD)

 

[SonanCalypso]

My daily stack is pretty moderate: uBlock Origin, Bitwarden, ClearURLs, Privacy Badger, and recently SponsorBlock + Cookie AutoDelete. That keeps things fast while still covering the basics without breaking half the web.
I try to stay in the 5–8 extension range — anything above that starts causing quirks and site issues for me.

 

[Minimalist]

uBlock Origin and McAfee WebAdvisor on Firefox.

 

[TairikuOkami]

None, I gave up on extensions, especially since they pose a security risk. I even block extensions download, just in case some naughty one will try to install on it's own.

*.msedgeextensions.sf.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com

 

[rashmi]

Drop your exact list below!Firefox vs Chromium users – fight! Bonus: which 2025 extension surprised you the most (good or bad)?

I use the Enpass Password Manager, Ant Download Manager, uBlock Origin Lite, and UnTrap for YouTube extensions on Vivaldi.

I've been using UnTrap for YouTube for a while now and enjoying it; it has many options, works well, and provides a pleasant YouTube experience!

Here is a screenshot of the YouTube homepage tweaked with UnTrap for YouTube on the Vivaldi browser for you guys!

 

[Bot]

I use the Enpass Password Manager, Ant Download Manager, uBlock Origin Lite, and UnTrap for YouTube extensions on Vivaldi.

I've been using UnTrap for YouTube for a while now and enjoying it; it has many options, works well, and provides a pleasant YouTube experience!

Here is a screenshot of the YouTube homepage tweaked with UnTrap for YouTube for you guys!

View attachment 293159

Nice setup – that’s a pretty lean and focused stack for Vivaldi.

Your extensions cover the big bases:

• Enpass – solid choice if you prefer local-first password storage instead of full cloud‑only vaults.
• Ant Download Manager – good for heavy download usage; just keep an eye on browser integration updates when Vivaldi/Chromium change their APIs.
• uBlock Origin Lite – fits Vivaldi well if you want something MV3‑friendly and lighter than full uBO, especially combined with Vivaldi’s own tracker/ad blocker.
• UnTrap for YouTube – one of the nicer “declutter + tweak” extensions right now; your homepage in the screenshot looks very clean compared to stock YouTube.

Curious about your UnTrap config:
Do you mostly use it to:

• Hide shorts/recommendations/side feed?
• Force a specific layout/theme/resolution?
• Block end‑cards and suggestions?

If you want to keep the setup minimal but add a tiny bit more privacy, you could consider:

• Relying on Vivaldi’s built‑in tracker/ad blocker plus uBO Lite – usually enough without extra privacy extensions.
• A lightweight URL cleaner (e.g. ClearURLs‑style) only if you feel you need better tracking parameter removal; otherwise your stack is already quite balanced.

Overall, that’s a neat example of “quality over quantity” – a few extensions, but each one doing a clear job without overcomplicating things.

 

[rashmi]

Curious about your UnTrap config:
Do you mostly use it to:

• Hide shorts/recommendations/side feed?
• Force a specific layout/theme/resolution?
• Block end‑cards and suggestions?

Yeah, I apply these and other tweaks, like Replace Thumbnail, Remove Corner Radius, Title Text Case, etc., as per my liking.

If you want to keep the setup minimal but add a tiny bit more privacy, you could consider:

• Relying on Vivaldi’s built‑in tracker/ad blocker plus uBO Lite – usually enough without extra privacy extensions.

Vivaldi's built-in tracker/ad blocker overall works well, but some rare websites and some ones detect it and block access or continuation.

 

[Bot]

Yeah, I apply these and other tweaks, like Replace Thumbnail, Remove Corner Radius, Title Text Case, etc., as per my liking.

That makes sense – UnTrap is one of those “rabbit hole” extensions where you can fine‑tune almost every visual detail.

The way you’re using it basically gives you:

• Visual consistency – replace thumbnail + remove corner radius + title text case = YouTube looks like a proper grid, not a mash‑up of styles.
• Lower distraction – combined with hiding shorts/recommendations, it turns the homepage into more of a “video library” than an algorithm feed.
• Better readability – title case + layout tweaks = easier scanning when you have lots of tiles on screen (as in your screenshot).

If you haven’t already, two tips with UnTrap + Vivaldi + uBO Lite:

• Export/backup your UnTrap config – handy if you reinstall Vivaldi or test another profile.
• If any YouTube layout update breaks things, try disabling just the cosmetic tweaks first (corner radius / title case) before the functional ones; that usually narrows down what’s conflicting.

Overall, that’s a great example of using a single powerful extension to fix UX, instead of stacking 3–4 different YouTube “enhancer” add‑ons.

Vivaldi's built-in tracker/ad blocker overall works well, but some rare websites and some ones detect it and block access or continuation.

Yeah, that’s one of the weak spots of Vivaldi’s built‑in blocker (and most built‑ins in general) – it’s easier for sites to detect because rules are simpler and there’s no advanced anti–adblock logic like in full uBO.

A few things you can try:

1. De‑stack the protection on those sites
Running both Vivaldi blocker + uBO Lite can trigger more anti‑adblock checks.

• On problematic sites, click the shield icon in Vivaldi and either:
  • Set it to No Blocking for that site, or
  • Use Block Trackers only instead of full “Block Trackers and Ads”.
• Let uBO Lite handle the rest (or vice‑versa: disable uBO Lite on that domain and keep Vivaldi’s blocker).

Sometimes just using one blocker instead of two is enough to pass their checks.

2. Use a separate profile / browser for “touchy” sites
Especially for sites (higher risk in general):

• Create a separate Vivaldi profile (or even a different browser) with:
  • Minimal extensions (uBO Lite only, or even none).
  • Same DNS / security stack as your main system.
• Keep your main profile locked down and only use the “looser” one when absolutely needed.

That reduces breakage on those sites while keeping your everyday browsing hardened.

3. Consider full uBlock Origin if anti‑adblock becomes annoying
If many sites start blocking you:

• Full uBO (not Lite) has:
  • Advanced filter lists (including anti‑adblock circumvention).
  • Dynamic rules and scriptlets that Lite/MV3 can’t replicate.
• You can still keep Vivaldi’s blocker mostly off and let full uBO do the job.

4. Extra caution on pirate sites
Not judging specific ones, but in general they have:

• More malicious ads / fake “Download” buttons.
• More risky scripts and pop‑ups.

So keep:

• A good real‑time AV or security suite active.
• Downloads scanned before opening.
• Important data backed up, just in case.

In your situation, I’d start by disabling Vivaldi’s blocker per site and see if uBO Lite alone is enough; if not, think about using full uBO (in a separate profile if you want to keep your current setup untouched).