honey browser extension Honey Browser Extension

just_jim_tv · October 5, 2021

If this has been covered before I apologize, a search of the forum did not cover what I feel like my question is about.

If Honey can see see and edit information on a website while I shop in order to find deals, use coupons, and other things required for it to function am I right in assuming it does not do this locally correct?

It would need to send what it sees back to "Honey" to be able to find and apply coupons. Which in theory could leak information, potentially my CC Info or more.

I've not done this test before and am still researching the how to but has anyone done a network monitor of data with and without it installed to see where it communicates to and what it transmits?

If Honey makes revenue based on affiliate commissions, and can edit web data on the sites you visit, can they influence search results to products that are more likely to generate revenue?

Are they sharing any data with advertisers to aid in this?

If anyone from LTT comes across this I am not attacking one of your partners, I am only curious about these as I have noticed a lot of YouTubers pushing Honey lately more than previously and I have privacy concerns about this.

Eigenvektor · October 5, 2021

33 minutes ago, just_jim_tv said:

If Honey can see see and edit information on a website while I shop in order to find deals, use coupons, and other things required for it to function am I right in assuming it does not do this locally correct?

The plugin runs in your browser. It doesn't necessarily need to send anything to Honey to perform its work (not saying it doesn't). But it may need to download coupon information from them to perform its functionality. The "can see and edit information" is a generic browser warning about such plugins. It does need to know which site you're on and what you're looking at to find coupons related to this, otherwise it couldn't do its job.

It probably uses HTTPS to communicate, which means its communications are encrypted. You can look into Wireshark if you want to analyze its traffic. But it's not that easy to use and interpret its results if you don't know what you're doing. You're not going to see much, assuming the data is binary, and nothing at all if it's encrypted.

It's definitely possible for them to influence your search results and share data with advertisers. They are in the business of making money, after all. If you're not paying for it, you're not the client, you're the product

If you have privacy concerns, simply don't use it.