Browser extension is turned off and requests additional permissions (March 2025)

The only thing “odd” is your reaction (although, as @DenBesten already noted: to each their own). Why does the requested permission to display notifications bother you, but you were apparently OK with using the browser extension while it “only” had permissions to:

  • Read your browsing history
  • Read and modify data you copy and paste
  • Communicate with cooperating native applications

The new permission (displaying notifications) has none of the potential privacy or security implications of the permissions that you previously granted, so it does not make sense to me why you ever installed the Bitwarden browser extensions (if a request to permit display of notifications was enough to make you uninstall the extensions).

Even if you’re assuming the worst, and believe that Bitwarden is going to use the new browser extension permissions to perhaps serve up spam advertising, why not wait until you see the actual notifications being displayed before deciding that this is not for you?

There are plenty of popular feature requests for useful functionality that would require the browser to have permissions to display notifications. For example, users have requested implementation of features such as toast notifications to identify which account is being autofilled, notifications of pending Emergency Access requests, notifications of master password compromise or other suspicious activity, and other types of push notifications. Is your opinion that no such features should be developed, because it is more important to refuse giving the browser extension permission to display notifications?

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