Is Privacy Badger Safe? — Extension Safety Profile
Quick verdict: Privacy Badger earns a safety grade A, 83.3 out of 100, based on 5 of 5 dimensions.
83.3/100
Grade A · 5 of 5 checks
What we found
Automated safety profile from public signals (the extension's manifest & permissions, store listing, publisher, privacy policy). A full review hasn't been published yet.
What this safety grade means
Privacy Badger earns a safety grade of A (83.3/100), measured across 5 of 5 dimensions. Its strongest area is Community Reputation (100%). The weakest is Data & Privacy (50%) — what holds its grade back the most.
On the public records we can check, Privacy Badger comes through cleanly. 1,893,859 active users/installs reported on the store. Store rating 4.8/5 from 3,147 user ratings. Last updated on the store 2026-09-15. This is an automated profile, not a hands-on review — so treat the grade as a starting point: open Privacy Badger's own store listing and privacy policy before installing, and weigh it against the other privacy & security extensions we track below.
Safety Signals
Based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Bar | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 60% · 4.8/8 pts 2 of 5 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Permissions & Access | 85% · 14.2/16.7 pts 2 of 3 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Data & Privacy | 50% · 2/4 pts 1 of 5 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 100% · 7.5/7.5 pts 1 of 2 checks verified | Automated signals | |
| Community Reputation | 100% · 10/10 pts 2 of 4 checks verified | Automated signals |
In-depth safety analysis
Privacy Badger requests broad permissions that allow it to see and modify network requests and page content across all websites. This level of access is expected for a privacy tool that needs to inspect and block third-party trackers and cookies automatically. The specific host permissions for social media and Google Docs relate to its widget replacement and click-to-activate features for common embedded content.
For any privacy and security extension, a careful user should verify they are installing the authentic version from the official publisher, as copycat extensions can be used to spy on browsing. The publisher score indicates there may be some lack of publicly verifiable identity information, but the maximum community reputation score from millions of users and thousands of ratings strongly supports its legitimacy.
While the permissions are powerful and necessary for the extension's function, the data and privacy dimension is the weakest area. This likely reflects that the extension could technically access page content during its normal operation, though the publisher's stated policy is to process data locally on your device and not collect personal information.
AI-assisted analysis of the documented signals above (permissions, store data, privacy practices) — explains what they mean and the risks typical for this category. Not a hands-on test.
Who's Behind Privacy Badger?
- Publisher EFF Technologists
Public records identify the publisher, but no individual founders or a separate registered company are named — which is what holds the Publisher & Identity score back. Less public information about who operates an extension means less you can verify about their long-term accountability.
How it compares
Among the 10 Privacy & Security extensions we track, Privacy Badger scores higher on safety than 70% of them.
Computed from our own database of assessed Privacy & Security extensions — updated as we track more.
Evidence on File (8)
Privacy Badger FAQ
- Is Privacy Badger safe?
- Privacy Badger earns a safety grade of A (83.3/100) on our evidence-based assessment, based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions we could verify from public records. This is an automated profile built from public records, not a hands-on review.
- Who is behind Privacy Badger?
- Privacy Badger is operated by EFF Technologists.
Alternatives we track
Browse all browser extensions we've checked → · Best Privacy & Security extensions