Ecosia The Search Engine
🔍 Security Report Available View on Chrome Web StoreChrome will indicate if you already have this installed.
Lets you plant trees with every search by setting your default search engine to Ecosia and customizing your new tab page to support reforestation efforts, benefiting environmentally conscious users who want to make a positive impact with their online searches.
Overview
Search the web. Plant trees. Power the planet.
Ecosia is more than just a search engine - it’s a simple way to take climate action every day. Just by browsing the internet, you can help plant trees in biodiversity hotspots, support local communities, and combat climate change.
🌳Search with purpose
Like other search engines, Ecosia earns money from ads. But unlike them, we use 100% of our profits to fund climate action. Over 230 million trees have already been planted across 35+ countries, restoring landscapes and saving wildlife.
🔒 Your data stays yours
We only collect what's needed to deliver search results, and your searches are always encrypted. — We want trees, not your data.
⚡ Powered by the Sun
Ecosia runs on renewable energy. In fact, our solar plants generate twice the electricity we need to power your searches - pushing clean energy into the grid and helping replace fossil fuels.
🌍 Climate positive & transparent
We’re a not-for-profit tech company, and we publish monthly financial reports so you can see exactly where your clicks go - toward real, measurable climate impact.
Download Ecosia and join a global community of millions taking meaningful action for the planet - one search at a time.
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Privacy Practices
Security Analysis — Ecosia The Search Engine
Permissions
Code Patterns Detected
External Connections
Package Contents 17 files · 31KB
What This Extension Does
Ecosia The Search Engine is a browser extension that sets your search engine to Ecosia, customizes your new tab page, and allows you to plant trees with every search. It's designed for users who want to take climate action through their daily browsing habits.
Permissions Explained
- cookiesexpected: This permission lets the extension store small pieces of data on your device to remember your preferences and login information.
Technical: The extension has access to Chrome's cookies API, which allows it to read and write cookies for any domain. This could potentially be used to track user behavior or inject malicious content if compromised. - *://*.ecosia.org/*expected: This permission lets the extension communicate with Ecosia's servers and access its features, such as planting trees.
Technical: The extension has access to a specific domain (Ecosia) for cross-origin communication using postMessage. This is necessary for the extension to function correctly, but it does introduce some risk if the server-side code is compromised.
Your Data
The extension accesses your browsing data and sends it to Ecosia's servers. It also stores small pieces of data on your device in the form of cookies.
Technical Details
Code Findings
This means the extension stores small pieces of data on your device to remember your preferences and login information.
Technical: The extension uses Chrome's storage API to write data to the browser's local storage. This is a common pattern in legitimate extensions, but it does introduce some risk if the stored data is compromised or accessed by unauthorized parties.
💡 Legitimate extensions often use storage to remember user preferences and login information.
This means the extension communicates with Ecosia's servers using a secure method, but it does introduce some risk if the server-side code is compromised.
Technical: The extension uses postMessage to communicate with Ecosia's servers. This is necessary for cross-origin communication, but it does introduce some risk if the server-side code is compromised or accessed by unauthorized parties.
💡 Legitimate extensions often use postMessage for cross-origin communication.
This means the extension sets up event listeners to monitor your browsing behavior and trigger actions accordingly.
Technical: The extension uses Chrome's event listener API to set up event listeners for various browser events. This is a common pattern in legitimate extensions, but it does introduce some risk if the event listeners are compromised or accessed by unauthorized parties.
💡 Legitimate extensions often use event listeners to monitor user behavior and trigger actions accordingly.
Ecosia The Search Engine is a legitimate extension that aligns with its stated purpose. However, it does introduce some risk due to its access to cookies and cross-origin communication. Users should be aware of these risks and take necessary precautions to protect their data.
