BrowserGate: LinkedIn Tracks 6,000+ Browser Extensions on Users’ PCs

Summary

According to the BrowserGate investigation by Fairlinked e.V., LinkedIn allegedly uses hidden code to scan for over 6,000 browser extensions on users' computers, enabling identification of personal beliefs, job-seeking activity, and competitive intelligence. The report claims LinkedIn expanded its monitored extension list from 461 in 2024 to over 6,000 by February 2026, and shares some data with HUMAN Security via invisible tracking pixels. LinkedIn denies wrongdoing, attributing the scanning to anti-fraud and anti-scraping measures, while a German court recently sided with the platform against the investigation's developer.

Full text

Security Privacy SurveillanceBrowserGate: LinkedIn Tracks 6,000+ Browser Extensions on Users’ PCs LinkedIn is accused in the BrowserGate report of tracking 6,000+ browser extensions on users’ PCs, raising concerns over privacy and data collection practices. byDeeba AhmedApril 5, 20262 minute read A major controversy has broken out involving LinkedIn, the popular professional networking site. According to an investigation named BrowserGate, the Microsoft-owned platform is allegedly using hidden code to peek at the software and tools installed on the computers of its one billion users. This study was conducted by Fairlinked e.V., a group representing businesses and professionals who use the site, which dubbed it “one of the largest corporate espionage and data breach scandals in digital history.” How the Surveillance Works LinkedIn is a platform where we use our real names and job titles. Because of this, the investigation claims the platform isn’t just tracking anonymous data but allegedly linking specific software choices back to real people and the companies they work for. According to the group’s findings, when you visit the site, a hidden script runs in the background, searching for over 6,000 different browser extensions. Fairlinked, reportedly, found that this list of monitored tools has grown massively, jumping from around 461 in 2024 to over 6000 by February 2026. Privacy and Business Concerns The report raises serious concerns about personal privacy. By scanning for certain tools, LinkedIn can allegedly figure out a person’s religious beliefs, political views, or if they are neurodivergent, a term used for people whose brains process information differently, such as those with ADHD or autism. It also allegedly tracks over 500 job-seeking tools, which could alert an employer if a staff member is quietly looking for a new role. There is also the issue of corporate espionage. The report claims LinkedIn scans for over 200 products that compete with its own services, like Lusha, Apollo, and ZoomInfo, to see which companies are using them. Some of this data is allegedly shared with HUMAN Security (an American-Israeli firm) using invisible tracking pixels (tiny images that track your activity without you knowing). Allegations of Deceiving Regulators The investigation suggests LinkedIn is also dodging European rules. In 2023, the EU ordered LinkedIn to open up its system to other companies. LinkedIn claimed it did this by providing two Public APIs. Fairlinked claims these are barely used, handling just 0.07 calls per second, whereas LinkedIn’s own Internal API, Voyager, handles a massive 163,000 requests every second. Video demo from BrowserGate LinkedIn’s Response LinkedIn has strongly denied these accusations, arguing that the individual behind it is a developer of a tool called Teamfluence, whose account was restricted for breaking the platform’s rules. A German court recently sided with LinkedIn, denying the developer’s request for an injunction. While LinkedIn admits to checking for certain extensions, they claim it is only to stop scammers and scraping, where automated tools steal large amounts of data, to keep the site stable. The company insists they do not use this information to guess sensitive details about its members. For now, while the reasons for the scanning are debated, it is clear that LinkedIn is keeping a much closer eye on your browser than most users ever realised. Deeba Ahmed Deeba is a veteran cybersecurity reporter at Hackread.com with over a decade of experience covering cybercrime, vulnerabilities, and security events. Her expertise and in-depth analysis make her a key contributor to the platform’s trusted coverage. View Posts BrowserGateCybersecurityHUMAN SecurityLinkedInMicrosoftPrivacySurveillance Leave a Reply Cancel reply View Comments (0) Related Posts Privacy Security Surveillance Visa to track your smartphone location to “prevent” credit card fraud Visa, famed payment processing company, will be rolling out its new software with location-tracking capabilities this summer. It… byWaqas Read More Security Cyber Attacks TransUnion Data Breach: 4.4 Million US Consumers’ Data Stolen A TransUnion data breach exposed 4.4 million US consumers’ Social Security numbers via a Salesforce hack. The attack… byDeeba Ahmed News Security Pakistani Security Researcher Founds XSS Vulnerability in IndiaTimes and Ask.com An independent security researcher from Pakistan, going with the name of Danish Tariq has claimed to found cross… byWaqas Read More Security Artificial Intelligence Fake ChatGPT and InVideo AI Downloads Deliver Ransomware Cisco Talos uncovers CyberLock ransomware, Lucky_Gh0$t, and Numero malware masquerading as legitimate software and AI tool installers. Learn… byDeeba Ahmed

Indicators of Compromise

• domain — linkedin.com
• domain — humansecurity.com

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