A new cybersecurity threat called “prompt poaching” is raising alarms as malicious browser extensions quietly steal sensitive conversations from AI tools.
As AI assistants become a regular part of daily workflows, many users are turning to browser extensions for a smoother experience—allowing AI to access multiple tabs and process information instantly. But this convenience is coming at a cost.
Security researchers, including Secure Annex, have uncovered that some of these extensions are secretly monitoring user activity. Instead of helping, they’re capturing AI prompts and responses in real time—often without any visible signs.
These extensions exploit the broad permissions users unknowingly grant them. With access to web pages and browser activity, they can track when someone opens an AI tool and extract data using techniques like DOM scraping or API interception. The stolen information is then sent to attacker-controlled servers.
What makes this attack particularly dangerous is how it spreads. In many cases, attackers clone trusted extensions such as those linked to AITOPIA—and inject malicious code. These fake versions look nearly identical to legitimate ones, making them hard to detect.
Even more concerning are supply chain-style attacks. A well-known example involves Urban VPN Proxy, which initially worked as expected but later introduced hidden data-harvesting features after gaining a large user base.
The implications go far beyond personal privacy. In workplaces, employees using such extensions could unintentionally expose sensitive business data, internal communications, or even proprietary code. This stolen data can then be used for phishing attacks or sold on underground markets.
To stay safe, organizations are being urged to strictly control which browser extensions employees can install. Users should stick to official AI tools from trusted providers, carefully review permissions, and regularly audit installed extensions.
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday work, this new wave of attacks highlights a simple truth: even tools designed to boost productivity can become powerful entry points for cyber threats.
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