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

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
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