Researchers discovered that LinkedIn actively checks for 2,953 Chrome extensions on every page load, raising privacy concerns. This behavior involves fingerprinting, a technique where websites identify users based on their browser configuration. The repository documents the extensions LinkedIn checks, providing the IDs and names, along with tools to identify them.

The practice of identifying users via browser extensions is a common method for tracking and potentially targeting users. The data reveals that LinkedIn obtains a list of extensions, which are then used to create a unique profile. This information could be used to track user activity across the web, even if users are not actively logged into LinkedIn.

The GitHub repository contains the complete list of extensions, including names and links to the Chrome Web Store. Around 78% of the extensions were found on the Chrome Web Store, with the rest found via Extpose. This raises questions about user privacy and data collection practices.

What happens next? Users should be aware of the extensions installed in their browsers and the potential for their activity to be tracked. Developers and privacy advocates will likely scrutinize LinkedIn's practices and consider the implications of this approach. Further analysis may reveal how LinkedIn uses this data.