How to Harden Chrome by Removing Risky Extensions and Checking Permissions

What Causes This?

Chrome extensions run with broad access inside your browser, and some ask for far more permissions than they need. Over time, old, abandoned, or shady extensions can collect browsing data, inject ads, change search settings, or slow Chrome down. Risk also comes from site permissions like notifications, camera, microphone, pop-ups, and background sync being left enabled for sites you no longer trust.

Common Symptoms

• Chrome opens unwanted tabs, ads, or pop-ups
• Your default search engine or homepage changes on its own
• Websites ask for too many permissions or send spam notifications
• Chrome feels slower, uses more memory, or crashes more often
• You see extensions installed that you do not remember adding

How to Fix It Manually

1. Review installed Chrome extensions

   • Open Chrome.
   • Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
   • Go to Extensions > Manage Extensions.
   • Look through the list carefully for anything unfamiliar, unused, or suspicious.

2. Remove risky or unnecessary extensions

   • For any extension you do not trust, click Remove.
   • If you are not sure, click Details first and check:
     • What permissions it has
     • Whether it says “Can read and change all your data on websites you visit”
     • Whether it was installed by you or by another program
   • Remove extensions you no longer need, especially coupon tools, PDF converters, “search helpers,” or random video downloaders from unknown publishers.

3. Check extension permissions

   • On the Manage Extensions page, click Details for each extension you keep.
   • Review Site access and change it from broad access to a safer option when possible:
     • On click
     • On specific sites
   • Turn off options you do not need, such as access in Incognito.

4. Audit Chrome site permissions

   • In Chrome, open the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings.
   • Check these sections one by one:
     • Notifications
     • Pop-ups and redirects
     • Camera
     • Microphone
     • Location
     • Background sync
   • Remove or block sites you do not recognize or no longer trust.

5. Reset notification spam and unwanted site access

   • In Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings, open Notifications.
   • Under Allowed to send notifications, remove suspicious websites using the three dots > Remove.
   • Repeat this for other permission categories if you see unknown entries.

6. Check for browser hijacking signs in Chrome settings

   • Go to Settings > Search engine and confirm your preferred search engine is selected.
   • Go to Settings > On startup and make sure Chrome is not opening suspicious pages.
   • If settings keep changing back, an extension or another Windows program may be interfering.

7. Look for related unwanted apps in Windows

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   • Go to Apps > Installed apps.
   • Sort by Install date and look for recently added toolbars, “browser assistants,” adware, or unknown utilities.
   • Uninstall anything suspicious, then restart Chrome.

8. Use Chrome’s reset option if problems continue

   • In Chrome, go to Settings > Reset settings.
   • Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
   • This disables extensions and resets startup, new tab, search engine, and pinned tabs without deleting bookmarks or passwords.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan for risky browser add-ons, suspicious permission changes, and common browser hijack settings that are easy to miss manually. It helps clean up Chrome faster by identifying unwanted extensions and related junk on your Windows PC, so you can lock things down without digging through every setting yourself.

Download Kudu Free →