US EditionLinkedIn Reportedly Scanning Thousands of Browser Extensions without User Permission — Here's What LinkedIn Says
Fairlinked says LinkedIn scans 6,236 browser extensions to map users to competing tools, while LinkedIn says it blocks scraping and Terms of Service violations.
- A German group called Fairlinked e.V. published a report detailing 'BrowserGate,' alleging LinkedIn uses hidden JavaScript to scan visitors' browsers for installed extensions without disclosure.
- Independent testing by BleepingComputer confirmed the script checks for exactly 6,236 extensions, a significant increase from the 2,000 to 3,000 previously observed with similar techniques.
- The report claims LinkedIn scans for over 200 competing products including Apollo, Lusha, and ZoomInfo, using employer data to map which companies use rival sales tools.
- Responding to accusations, LinkedIn denies misuse and characterizes the report as a smear campaign, stating it scans extensions only to prevent scraping and maintain site stability.
- The company identifies the BrowserGate author as Steven Morell, founder of Teamfluence, noting he previously attempted to obtain an injunction in Germany against LinkedIn.
12 Articles
12 Articles
An investigation by Fairlinked eV revealed that LinkedIn has been carrying out digital spying practices since 2017 by inserting malicious code into browsers, without user consent. The report notes that Microsoft-owned LinkedIn scanned installed extensions to collect corporate and personal data, affecting more than 405 million people around the world. Findings suggest that activity intensified between 2024 and 2025, which could lead to regulatory…
One of the largest corporate espionage and data breach scandals in digital history': New "BrowserGate" report claims LinkedIn secretly scans user browsers for installed extensions and collects device data
LinkedIn calls it a smear campaign, but does not deny scanning people's browsers for extensions.
LinkedIn accused of covert data collection in 'BrowserGate' report - National Cyber Security Consulting
Fairlinked says LinkedIn probes thousands of browser plugins and fingerprints devices without users’ knowledge Professional networking platform LinkedIn has been quietly collecting detailed information about users' devices and installed browser extensions, a new security report has alleged. The findings, published by Fairlinked, a Germany-based group of LinkedIn users, in a report dubbed BrowserGate, claim that […] Thank you for subscribing to o…
The objective, according to the report, is to collect corporate information from employees, such as the tools that 'software' they use.
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