Ever wondered how to collect custom data from browser extensions using Altiris? You’re not alone. As organizations aim for deeper insight into their IT environments, understanding what’s running in employee browsers is more important than ever—from security compliance to optimizing workflows.
This article breaks down how to gather inventory from browser extensions with Altiris. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and expert insights—making a complex task easy to follow and implement. Ready to unlock better visibility? Let’s get started!
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How to Inventory Browser Extensions Using Altiris Custom Inventory
Inventorying browser extensions across your organization’s devices is mission-critical for IT asset management and cybersecurity. Using Altiris (now Symantec IT Management Suite), you can create a custom inventory to identify which browser extensions are installed on endpoints. This process helps you stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and streamline your asset reporting.
Let’s walk through the concept, methods, practical steps, benefits, challenges, and best practices for managing browser extension inventories with Altiris custom inventory.
Understanding Altiris Custom Inventory and Browser Extensions
Altiris Inventory Solution allows IT administrators to collect detailed data from endpoints about installed software, hardware, files, and even browser extensions. While Altiris collects a wide range of system information out-of-the-box, tracking browser extensions often needs a custom inventory solution.
What Are Browser Extensions?
- Browser extensions are software modules you add to web browsers (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) to enhance functionality.
- Common types include ad blockers, password managers, and productivity tools.
- Some extensions can introduce security risks, especially if not managed or vetted by IT.
Why Inventory Browser Extensions?
- Security: Identify and mitigate malicious or unauthorized extensions.
- Compliance: Ensure only company-approved tools are in use.
- Troubleshooting: Detect conflicts or issues caused by specific add-ons.
- Asset Management: Maintain a clear record of all technology assets in use.
How Altiris Custom Inventory Works for Browser Extensions
Altiris can be tailored to scan for specific files, directories, or registry entries where browsers store information about their extensions. The general approach involves creating a custom inventory script or configuration that tells Altiris where and how to look for extension data.
Supported Browsers and Extension Storage
Each browser stores its extensions in different locations:
- Google Chrome:
- Extensions usually reside in the user profile directory (e.g.,
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions). -
Metadata can be found in local preference files (JSON).
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Mozilla Firefox:
- Stores extensions in the profile folder (e.g.,
%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{ProfileName}\extensions). -
Uses JSON and SQLite files to store extension details.
-
Microsoft Edge (Chromium):
- Similar to Chrome, using the Edge profile directories.
- Internet Explorer:
- Uses registry entries for add-ons and browser helper objects.
By understanding these storage locations, you can tailor your inventory collection.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up Altiris Custom Inventory for Browser Extensions
Here is a practical, simplified process to implement browser extension inventory with Altiris:
1. Define Your Inventory Objectives
- Decide which browsers you need to audit (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, IE).
- Determine if you want extension names, versions, publishers, or just the presence of extensions.
2. Identify Data Locations
- Map out the default directories or registry entries per browser.
- Use test systems to examine where extension metadata is stored.
3. Create Custom Inventory Scripts
Altiris allows custom scripting using VBScript, PowerShell, or batch files, depending on the environment.
For example:
– To collect Chrome extension IDs and names, script a read of the JSON files under each user’s Chrome profile.
– For Firefox, script a scan of the addons.json or relevant extension folders.
4. Deploy the Custom Inventory Task
- Use the Altiris Console to create a new custom inventory task.
- Upload your script or use the built-in custom inventory policy builder.
- Target all relevant endpoints or a specific machine group.
5. Test the Inventory Process
- Run the task on a small pilot group.
- Verify data is collected accurately in the Altiris database.
- Adjust your script logic if needed.
6. Schedule and Automate
- Set your custom inventory task to run at desired intervals (e.g., weekly or monthly).
- Review reports regularly for new or unauthorized extensions.
Key Benefits of Inventorying Browser Extensions with Altiris
Why is this effort worth it? Here are some of the standout benefits:
- Centralized Visibility: Instantly see who is using which extensions across your assets.
- Security Posture: Spot risky or prohibited add-ons before they cause issues.
- Automated Compliance: Support internal policies without manual checks.
- Customizable Reporting: Generate reports with just the data you need for management or audits.
- Risk Reduction: Quickly uninstall or block extensions that are flagged as threats.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Despite its power, custom inventory does come with some hurdles. Here’s what you might face, and how to tackle it:
- User Profile Access: Extension data is stored per user. Scripts need access to all user profiles on a system.
-
Tip: Run the inventory with sufficient permissions during user logoff or overnight.
-
Profile Variations: Profiles may not be in standard locations due to configuration or domain policies.
-
Tip: Script intelligently to detect user profile folders dynamically.
-
Script Complexity: Parsing JSON, SQLite, or registry entries requires scripting experience.
-
Tip: Start with simple inventories (just presence/absence) and expand to detailed lists over time.
-
Browser Updates: Changes in browser storage structure may break inventory scripts.
-
Tip: Periodically review and update scripts to match browser version updates.
-
Cross-Platform Differences: Inventories for Mac endpoints require different paths and script syntax.
- Tip: Create or adapt platform-specific scripts for macOS (using shell scripts or Python).
Practical Tips & Best Practices
Follow these proven suggestions to make your browser extension inventory simpler and more useful:
- Pilot First: Always test your custom inventories on a small, non-critical group.
- Document Scripts: Maintain clear documentation for each script and the data it collects.
- Update Regularly: Align scripts with evolving browser versions and company requirements.
- Collect Only Necessary Data: Don’t overburden your network or database with unnecessary detail.
- Communicate with Users: Let end-users know you’re performing extension inventories for transparency.
- Automated Alerts: Set up alerts for detection of blacklisted or risky extensions.
- Integrate with Endpoint Security: Use the inventory data to inform endpoint protection or vulnerability management.
Cost Considerations
The main costs associated with browser extension inventory using Altiris include:
- Licensing: Altiris (Symantec IT Management Suite) requires a license per managed endpoint.
- Development Time: Writing and maintaining custom inventory scripts takes internal staff resources.
- Maintenance: Occasional updates to scripts (due to browser changes) require periodic investment.
- Automation Value: Automating the process can reduce the ongoing labor cost compared to manual checks.
Since browser extension data is collected over your internal network, no shipping or third-party data transmission fees are incurred.
Tip: Maximize your existing investment in Altiris by reusing or adapting scripts from forums or internal libraries, and automating reporting to minimize manual intervention.
Conclusion
Inventorying browser extensions is a vital part of modern IT security and asset management. With Altiris’ custom inventory features, you can:
- Detect unauthorized or risky browser add-ons
- Automate collection and reporting for compliance
- Enhance your organization’s security posture
Although the process requires some setup—mainly scripting tailored to each browser—you’ll gain centralized, actionable visibility across your IT environment. Start with targeted inventories, test carefully, and grow your capabilities as your needs evolve. Remember, proactive browser extension monitoring is an investment in security, productivity, and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is custom inventory in Altiris?
Custom inventory in Altiris is a feature that allows you to gather data not collected by default inventories. You can script it to look for custom files, registry entries, or other data—like browser extensions—across your managed endpoints.
Can Altiris inventory browser extensions out-of-the-box?
No, browser extension details aren’t collected by the default inventory jobs. You have to create and deploy a custom inventory script tailored for each browser and operating system.
Which browsers can be inventoried for extensions using Altiris?
You can inventory popular browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer by adjusting scripts to their specific storage paths and data formats.
How often should I run browser extension inventory tasks?
The frequency depends on how dynamic your environment is. For most organizations, a monthly or bi-weekly run is sufficient. Run more frequently if your organization is at higher risk of extension-related threats.
Are there ready-to-use scripts available for this task?
Sample scripts and configuration examples can often be found in IT community forums or Broadcom’s knowledge base. However, you may need to customize them for your environment, especially to address user profile variations or cross-platform needs.
By leveraging Altiris custom inventory, you can turn browser extension management into a proactive and automated aspect of your overall security and compliance strategy.