Updated on December 10, 2021
One of the best things about Google’s Chrome browser is the ability to extend its functionality with extensions. Recent years have seen an increase in web-based tools. However, it’s still useful to have features added to the browser itself.
Below is a list of Chrome extensions I enjoy using. Note some of these are also available (or have counterparts) for Firefox. All are available for installation from the Chrome Web Store. They also work across operating systems on all Chrome browsers.
Flashcontrol
Flashcontrol is a Chrome extension that allows one to block any and all usage of Flash on websites. Certain trusted sites can be whitelisted to always run Flash. The extension can also turn Flash on or off on individual sites.
Flash has become one of the most hated aspects of online life. Among Flash’s various flaws are that it can be a security threat. Flash as a web plugin is finally dying, and is being increasingly replaced by the more open HTML5 standard. However, Flash is still needed on some sites.
LastPass
LastPass is the popular online-based password manager. The LastPass Chrome extension lets you directly access your passwords. You can also create new ones, edit or delete old ones, and other functions.
Pinterest Save Button
Pinterest’s Save Button extension allows one to “pin” any picture on any site one’s visiting. This saves the trouble of copying and pasting a URL into Pinterest’s website.
Pocket/Save to Pocket
Pocket allows one to save any website to the web-based bookmark service. This makes it easier to go back and read an article at a later time, especially if one’s too busy to read it right away.
Tunnelbear VPN
I’ve written about Tunnelbear before in a previous post. The VPN service offers easy access via its Chrome extension.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is an ad blocker that works quite well at blocking intrusive ads. It’s also supposedly more lightweight versus AdBlock/AdBlock Plus.
What Chrome extensions are your favorites?
Great post, but you said Chrome is the world most popular browser. That is Google’s aim to be the only browser. Remember when Google’s logo was “”We won’t be evil.””? Too late now. Soon Chrome will force web developers to build in code to slow down Firefox or Duck Duck Go. Like Microshit did with Wordperfect.
My favorite Chrome extension is unpinterested! When searching Google for images, I don’t want to see Pinterest images. If I wanted to see Pinterest images, I would search Pinterest. An added bonus is when searching Google for ANYTHING, the results don’t include Pinterest.