January 8, 2026
From flex to phished
On Getting Hacked
Tech pro fooled by a browser add‑on; comments swing from hugs to harsh truth
TLDR: A veteran techie got hacked after installing a reading-friendly browser add-on, despite strong passwords and two-factor codes. Commenters split between empathy and hard lessons, with calls to name the extension, warnings about copy‑pasting passwords, and a reminder that boring settings—like phone number porting—can bite.
A seasoned tech worker admits they got hacked after installing a bunch of “make‑reading‑easier” browser add‑ons, despite brag‑worthy strong passwords and 2FA (two‑factor codes on your phone). They call today’s login grind “Digital Suffering” and dream of “One Signal to rule them all.” The comments? A split‑screen of empathy and interrogation. One camp comforts: it can happen to anyone. Another camp demands receipts: “Name the Chrome extension!” and “Why are you still copy‑pasting passwords?”
Then the gloves come off. Security purists roast the habit of manually pasting credentials, with one stinger asking if folks are seriously using password managers that ignore website addresses in 2026. War stories pile up: a commenter had their internet phone number ported out (moved to another provider) because requests defaulted to “open”—a cautionary tale that security holes hide in the boring parts. Another warns it’s the small, “doesn’t feel off” clicks that ambush you. Jokes fly as “Digital Suffering” becomes the meme of the week, and “One Signal to rule them all” sparks Tolkien riffs—and side‑eye about putting every key on one ring. The thread turns into chaotic group therapy: equal parts “we’ve been there,” tough love, and a chorus yelling, “Please, for the love of passwords, check your extensions.”
Key Points
- •The author practiced strong security hygiene, including a password manager and universal 2FA.
- •They criticize the high friction of current authentication workflows and call for a unified, human-centric identity signal.
- •To address eye strain, they installed several browser readability extensions without careful vetting.
- •The author relied on Google’s vetting to ensure extension safety, which may have been misplaced.
- •The first sign of a problem came via an email from Kleinanzeigen, noted as formerly eBay-owned and now independent.