Installing ‘plugins’ or ‘extensions’ into our internet browsers can seem like a good idea at the time. We’re told that if we install a certain ‘add-on’ that the additional features will enhance our browsing experience. Trustingly, we install said plugin/add-on/extension, and voila – our browser slows down…

Yes, we know we’re exaggerating slightly but we’re not completely off of the mark. Plugins, add-ons and extensions can improve the usability of our internet browsers. However, they can also bring unexpected problems. With each additional feature comes added time that your browser will take to work. Alongside this the plugins or extensions may need updates from time to time, and if these are not carried out then not only is functionality lost but you’re still left with a slower browser.

More alarmingly, there’s also the risk that a certain extension can insert malware into your machine. And some software downloads come with unwanted programs, installed without the user’s knowledge. It has been known for some Google Chrome extension developers to work with unscrupulous third-party companies to silently push advertisements to internet browsers through extensions that the user is not even aware of!

So, what to do? Of course, we can work with you to eliminate the glitches caused by certain extensions but there are a few self-help measures you could try. In Google Chrome 2018, for instance, you can do the following to check on the extensions you have and uninstall as necessary:

  1. Click the menu button in top right corner under your name
  2. Select ‘More Tools’, then ‘Extensions’
  3. Chrome will display your list of installed extensions and you can then scroll through them, clicking the trash icon to any you wish to uninstall. Alternatively, simply uncheck the ‘Enabled’ box to temporarily disable the extension.

We hope you find this information of use, but if you’d feel more comfortable talking this through then please do get in touch.

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