Popup Blocker - Blocks annoying Popups

The extension has a moderate user base of 90,000 users and a decent rating of 3.9/5, suggesting some level of user satisfaction. However, the relatively low number of reviews (95) compared to the user count raises questions about user engagement. The author domain "popupsblocker.org" appears purpose-built for this extension, but lacks established company credentials or transparency about the development team.

The extension requests extremely broad permissions that far exceed what's necessary for basic popup blocking. The combination of tabs permission, scripting access, and <all_urls> host permissions creates a powerful surveillance capability. Most concerning is the ability to inject content scripts into every website you visit, which could enable data harvesting, credential theft, or malicious code injection. The declarativeNetRequestWithHostAccess permission, while potentially legitimate for blocking, combined with unlimited storage could facilitate extensive data collection and retention.

Consider running this extension in a separate Chrome profile to isolate potential risks from your main browsing activities. Alternative popup blockers with more limited permissions may provide similar functionality with reduced risk. Popular options like uBlock Origin have established reputations and more transparent development. If you continue using this extension, regularly review your stored data and monitor for unusual browser behavior. Consider whether the popup blocking benefits justify the extensive access permissions this extension demands.