Everyday Shield

Browser extensions might seem harmless—but are they spying on you? Here's a real story that changed how I protect my digital life. It started like any other Monday. Coffee in hand, I opened my laptop, ready for a productive day. But something felt... off. Tabs took longer to load. My saved passwords mysteriously disappeared. Even my emails behaved strangely. That’s when I realized—I might not be alone in my browser. In this post, I’ll share the moment that opened my eyes, explain what extensions can really access, and show you how to stay safe without giving up your favorite tools. My Extension Wake-Up Call What Extensions Can Actually Access The Convenience vs. Privacy Tradeoff Safe Extension Habits You Need Today Final Thoughts and Takeaways My Extension Wake-Up Call This all started with a free grammar extension I installed in a rush. I just needed something to fix typos before a big client deadline. The tool looked trustwo...

If you’ve ever felt like the internet knows too much about you, you’re not wrong. I always assumed private mode, ad blockers, and cookie settings were enough. But after tracking my own browser activity for seven days, I discovered a different story. This isn’t a story about paranoia. It’s about proof. In this post, I’ll break down what I saw, what surprised me, and what small steps actually helped reduce invisible tracking. Table of contents Why I started watching my browser in the first place How I tracked everything my browser did Unexpected spike on Day 4 and what triggered it What leaked even with cookies blocked What actually helped—and what was just noise Who needs to care and how to begin Why I started watching my browser in the first place I noticed something odd: the ads felt too specific—even after I cleared cookies. I’d visit a site once, and for days afterward I’d see eerily related content. This happened even on a d...

It started with a harmless favor. I lent my laptop to a coworker to print something, and as she typed in the browser, a long trail of past sites, saved logins, and old shopping carts popped up. She laughed, but I cringed. It was like someone had opened my digital closet—one I hadn't cleaned in years. That moment made me ask: what else is sitting in my browser right now? What could anyone—or anything—see just by opening it? If you're reading this, chances are your browser could use a cleanup too. Clearing your browser data isn’t just about saving space—it’s an overlooked act of browser hygiene that protects your privacy, reduces tracking, and keeps your device running like new. In this post, we’ll explore exactly what your browser stores, how it can be used against you, and how to regularly clear that digital clutter to take back control. Table of Contents What your browser actually stores behind the scenes How stored data puts your privacy and p...

It started with a single pop-up I shouldn’t have clicked. Just one accidental tap on a fake browser update notification—and suddenly, my Chrome felt... different. Slower. More intrusive. I later learned it wasn’t just my imagination: a malicious extension had quietly slipped in. It wasn’t until weeks later, when my saved passwords leaked and odd charges appeared, that I realized what went wrong. If you use Chrome daily, especially on public Wi-Fi or for online banking, this story could easily become yours. The good news? Most browser security risks are preventable—once you know what to look for. This post breaks down the top three Chrome security mistakes people make, often without realizing, and how to stop them before damage is done. Table of Contents Using weak or auto-filled passwords on risky sites Installing Chrome extensions without checking their source Ignoring browser updates that patch critical security flaws Using weak or auto-filled ...