Almost any browser addon/extension that I install on my Chrome or Firefox (be it Firebug, RESTClient, ...) warns me, saying:

It [the add-on] can:

• Access your data on all website
• Access your tabs and browsing activity

Now, practically speaking, I have no time (or the skill) to read through their source-code and verify absence of malware (such as one placed in by its original author).

Given this, can I safely assume these add-ons won't violate my privacy because they are coming from standard/well-known and thus implicitly trusted places, such as the Chrome Web Store, the Firefox add-on site, or the EFF site.

Even an add-on like HTTPS Everywhere, which you install to maintain privacy and prevent MiTM attacks, warns similarly.

Is there any way to quickly tell what add-on to install and what not to, without having to read their source code?

Almost any browser addon/extension that I install on my Chrome or Firefox (be it Firebug, RESTClient, ...) warns me, saying:

It [the add-on] can:

• Access your data on all website
• Access your tabs and browsing activity

Now, practically speaking, I have no time (or the skill) to read through their source-code and verify absence of malware (such as one placed in by its original author).

Given this, can I safely assume these add-ons won't violate my privacy because they are coming from standard/well-known and thus implicitly trusted places, such as the Chrome Web Store, the Firefox add-on site, Opera's add-on site, Safari's extension gallery, or the EFF site.

Even an add-on like HTTPS Everywhere, which you install to maintain privacy and prevent MiTM attacks, warns similarly.

Is there any way to quickly tell what add-on to install and what not to, without having to read their source code?

Almost any browser addon/extension that I install on my Chrome or Firefox (be it Firebug, RESTClient, ...) warns me, saying:

It [the addon] can: Access your data on all website Access your tabs and browsing activity 

Now, practically speaking, I have no time (or the skill) to read through their source-code and verify absence of malware (such as one placed in by its original author).

Given this, can safely I assume these addons won't violate my privacy because they are coming from standard/well-known and thus implicitly trusted places such as the Chrome webstore, the Firefox addon site, or the EFF site.

Even an addon like 'HTTPS Everywhere', which you install to maintain privacy and prevent MITM attacks, warns similarly.

Is there any way to quickly tell what addon to install and what not to, without having to read their source code?

Almost any browser addon/extension that I install on my Chrome or Firefox (be it Firebug, RESTClient, ...) warns me, saying:

It [the add-on] can:

• Access your data on all website
• Access your tabs and browsing activity

Now, practically speaking, I have no time (or the skill) to read through their source-code and verify absence of malware (such as one placed in by its original author).

Given this, can I safely assume these add-ons won't violate my privacy because they are coming from standard/well-known and thus implicitly trusted places, such as the Chrome Web Store, the Firefox add-on site, or the EFF site.

Even an add-on like HTTPS Everywhere, which you install to maintain privacy and prevent MiTM attacks, warns similarly.

Is there any way to quickly tell what add-on to install and what not to, without having to read their source code?