InstallSafe

If you're a fan of browser extensions, then it's likely you've stumbled upon unsafe or annoying addons. It might be difficult to tell which ones are safe to use and which should be avoided. In this situation, you can turn to apps like InstallSafe.

Specifically designed as a plugin manager, the tool is compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. It autodetects all installed addons and it's capable of monitoring the browsers to detect any further installations, warning you in the process.

The application is pretty straightforward. Wrapped in a clean interface that's surely accessible even to inexperienced users, InstallSafe runs in the systray and silently monitors the computer for new browser addons. As soon as a new one gets set up, it shows a warning message and requests that you review it.

Besides the addon name and version, it reveals its own recommendation to help you decide whether it's best to keep or remove it. Plugin scans can be performed anytime, though. The main app window reveals the total number of addons that exist in IE, Chrome and Firefox, depending on which browsers you have installed, in addition to the total blocked, potentially unwanted and installed extensions.

Once the scan is over, you can inspect the list and results and pick the plugins you wish to remove. Multiple items can be deleted at once. InstallSafe tells you the current homepage set for each browser so that you can change them if necessary.

By default, the program autoruns every time you turn on your computer. However, you can head over to the settings panel to disable it. This is also the area where you can switch to a different interface language, disable usage tracking, hide product recommendations for your PC, and disable the monitor for plugin installations.

The tool worked without error in our tests, quickly reacting to new browser installations. We haven't encountered any compatibility issues with the latest Windows edition.

All aspects considered, InstallSafe offers a clean and efficient method for helping you spot and weed out unwanted or unsafe browser extensions. Too bad that it doesn't support additional web browsers, like Opera.