Browser sync is a workflow-changing feature that provides easy access to your data across different devices, making your browsing experience smoother and more convenient. But with the benefits that come with this feature, there are some security risks that you should be aware of. From hacks to data leaks, ignoring these challenges could put your personal information at risk. Understanding these issues can help you take preventive measures to protect your privacy and security while using sync. Check out how to reset Chrome sync to fix the issues.
1. Your data will be synced with stolen devices and compromised sessions.
The biggest problem with browser sync is also its core feature: it shares your saved tabs, bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, and even payment information with anyone who has access to your browser account.
If a hacker gains access to your account, you’ll lose more than just your email. Accessing your passwords generally only requires entering your browser password, and a hacker could use your payment information if they somehow guess or obtain your card’s CVV code.
Unauthorized logins are usually detected and blocked, but things like session cookie hijacking can allow hackers to bypass these barriers. If you want to use browser sync, you should avoid saving anything you don’t want to share to your browser.
2. Browser sync makes your activity less private.
Another problem with browser sync is that it makes your browsing activity less private. When you don't sync your browser history and other information, it's generally stored as local cache files. Your ISP and other locations may have logs of your web activity, but they're not extensive.
Browser sync works because it takes information stored locally, puts it in the cloud, and shares it between your devices. As a result, that information isn’t just at risk if a hacker gains access to your device — they could also gain access to it where it’s stored remotely.
Some browsers mitigate this problem by encrypting your data locally before storing it in the cloud. Firefox does this by default for all browser sync users, while Chrome allows you to enable this feature. By setting a passphraseCheck out how to transfer browser tabs between smartphone and PC.
3. Professional and personal boundaries are blurred due to synchronization.
While blurring professional and personal boundaries isn’t exactly a security issue, it can pose serious risks to your professional reputation. Syncing your browser can add unwanted bookmarks, history, and search suggestions to your work device without your knowledge.
Before you sync your personal devices with your work devices, you should think about what data will be synced — and whether you want to sync it at all. You can choose to sync only passwords in some browsers, which can be a comfortable middle ground.
Otherwise, you should consider disabling sync on your work devices or connecting to a separate professional browser account. Check out how to check if your boss is monitoring your work laptop.
4. Browser sync can spread malicious add-ons
Finally, one of the worst risks of browser syncing is that it can spread viruses across your devices by syncing malicious extensions. These extensions are common enough that the Chrome Web Store should regularly purge them.
If you accidentally download a malicious browser extension on a device that’s synced with your work devices, the extension will be installed on all of your linked work devices. It may not be worse than adware, but serious extension-based hacks have happened before.
You can avoid most malicious browser extensions by choosing them carefully. Older, popular extensions are better than newer, less-well-reviewed ones, and extensions from official stores are generally safer than those that require sideloading. Check out the benefits and risks of using password manager extensions in your browser
Overall, there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with browser sync. It offers enough convenience to make the risks worth it. However, if you choose to use browser sync, you should consider the points above and take steps to make your use of the feature less risky. Now, check out the best Google Chrome extensions you’ll find to customize your experience on this browser.
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