What are third-party extensions?

You may have noticed that some people find things more easily on the internet than others. How can they be toggling and finding the answer before you even start typing? One answer is that they are using third-party browser extensions.

In this article, we take stock of the range of uses for third-party extensions and explain how to maximise their use.

What are browser extensions?

Browser extensions are little buttons that help users navigate Chrome and other browsers.

Google defines them as: “Extensions you install from the Chrome Web Store can make changes to your Chrome settings. Most changes enhance your browsing experience and make using the extension easier.”

In practice, third-party extensions improve the browsing experience because you can do things right on the Chrome tab. A subtle example: the Adobe extension allows users to view PDF documents on a tab rather than the app itself. No more opening an additional window that navigates away from browsing.

What extensions can do

Extensions can bring about a more seamless experience, correct work, and act defensively. Browsing more effectively means doing away with distractions and simplifying what’s out there.

It’s important when using browsing extensions to do so safely, being aware of potential risks.

Maximise focus with extensions

Block out pop-ups and advertisements. Poper Blocker gets rid of annoying windows that crop up when browsing sites. The extension is compatible with Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Any extension that works similar to this blocker is essential.

Many of us are guilty of using too much RAM power by opening tens of Chrome pages and not closing them. This means that you have many tabs open which you might lose track of. This problem is solved by Tab Wrangler. The widget automatically closes tabs you aren’t using after a period of time and files them away for later review.

Save to Pocket offers functional seamless browsing. The extension saves media to ‘pockets’. By clicking on a video, image, article, and media, the content is saved. The pockets are linked to the Chrome account, so media is accessible across all devices. For advanced users, Save to Pocket offers a premium paid version. This service includes categorisation, article highlighting, tagging, and more.

Do away with written mistakes

Grammarly offers those using search engines the opportunity to be better at communication. The plug-in can be installed on the computer or browser. When typing emails or other notes, the AI-powered extension offers grammar, syntax, and alternative wording. For those working across online platforms, the editor is a powerful tool to correct work no matter where you write.

Work at speed with AI. Writecream is an assistant that makes easy work out of blog and article content. It specialises in sales marketing. It can be used to draft a first cut and re-write manually. The best part is that it works across different media. Blogs, articles, social media posts, and video are all part of its repertoire.

Preserve security and privacy

There’s a cache of extensions dedicated to privacy and limiting cookies.

Private viewing is a primary concern, considering how large companies sell marketing data. For protection, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a must. These hide browsing locations and act as a shield against unwanted probes. The VPN encrypts transmitted data and hides IP addresses. Popular extensions for this functionality include CyberGhost, HotSpotShield, and ExpressVPN. Many services operate a subscription-based model, so beware of costs here.  

Ghostery does two things at once. It blocks annoying pop-ups and stops people from tracking browsing history. The extension looks at the servers backing a certain website and checks whether that server matches with known tracking tools. The best part about the extension is that users can actually review what’s been blocked and allow certain trackers.

For a less targeted approach, Avast is a generalist extension. The security system offers phishing, malware, and virus protection. Avast also pre-screens sites you’re looking at to prevent harm. There’s also the tracker blocker and privacy browsing. Digging even deeper, Avast’s cookie management system offers protection without users having to go through permissions manually.

Add a bit of fun to your browsing

Extensions aren’t all about efficiency and security. There are many developers that have created them for a bit of fun. Ultimately for entertainment, there’s an entire world to explore.

To kill time, play a game. The Wordle extension fires up a game on the tab. Another popular one is SparkChess. Use it to play against the computer or other players. There’s also an AI tutorial where you can learn new strategies.