Remove the Honey Extension from All Browser Extension Stores
Remove the Honey Extension from All Browser Extension Stores
The Issue
Honey is a browser extension that is owned by PayPal. It claims that it can save people money by allegedly applying coupon codes.
However, recently a YouTube user by the username MegaLag has posted an in-depth video explaining how it is actually a fraud that steals money from social media content creators. The video is here:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vc4yL3YTwWk
I’ll try to explain what’s happening in concise detail as best as I can.
Content creators often partner with sites like Amazon to make money by advertising products and linking to the product through a custom affiliate link from the store (e.g. Amazon). Then when a viewer clicks on the affiliate link, the website keeps record of whose affiliate link is being used through a special kind of cookie (go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie for more information on browser cookies). This will allow the site to give the creator a small commission for attracting users to the link.
If you have Honey installed onto your browser, when it detects that you are on a checkout page from an affiliate link, a pop-up will appear, claiming that it has either found or not found coupon discounts for you to apply. Regardless, a button at the bottom of the pop-up will show up saying “apply” or “got it”.
Regardless of which, instead of applying coupons or just continuing to checkout, Honey will replace the affiliate cookie with their own, overriding the commission, sending the commission money to Honey instead of the content creator. They do this by quickly opening and closing a new tab in the background.
What’s worse is that not only do the creators get scammed, but so do the viewers and stores. The codes Honey offer to you are not always the best deal, even though they market that they will always find you an unbeatable discount.
Furthermore, Honey markets to stores that they can let the store control which coupon codes can be issued and used, essentially making the stores a victim and an assistant. Also, PayPal recently acquired Honey.
This can be stopped by creators and stores ending their affiliation with Honey, people remove the extension from their browser, and extension stores removing Honey. Act now to help save money from falling into the wrong hands. LegalEagle, a YouTube user, announced recently that he would be suing Honey for the scandal. Go to honeylawsuit.com to help support him in his efforts.
1
The Issue
Honey is a browser extension that is owned by PayPal. It claims that it can save people money by allegedly applying coupon codes.
However, recently a YouTube user by the username MegaLag has posted an in-depth video explaining how it is actually a fraud that steals money from social media content creators. The video is here:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vc4yL3YTwWk
I’ll try to explain what’s happening in concise detail as best as I can.
Content creators often partner with sites like Amazon to make money by advertising products and linking to the product through a custom affiliate link from the store (e.g. Amazon). Then when a viewer clicks on the affiliate link, the website keeps record of whose affiliate link is being used through a special kind of cookie (go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie for more information on browser cookies). This will allow the site to give the creator a small commission for attracting users to the link.
If you have Honey installed onto your browser, when it detects that you are on a checkout page from an affiliate link, a pop-up will appear, claiming that it has either found or not found coupon discounts for you to apply. Regardless, a button at the bottom of the pop-up will show up saying “apply” or “got it”.
Regardless of which, instead of applying coupons or just continuing to checkout, Honey will replace the affiliate cookie with their own, overriding the commission, sending the commission money to Honey instead of the content creator. They do this by quickly opening and closing a new tab in the background.
What’s worse is that not only do the creators get scammed, but so do the viewers and stores. The codes Honey offer to you are not always the best deal, even though they market that they will always find you an unbeatable discount.
Furthermore, Honey markets to stores that they can let the store control which coupon codes can be issued and used, essentially making the stores a victim and an assistant. Also, PayPal recently acquired Honey.
This can be stopped by creators and stores ending their affiliation with Honey, people remove the extension from their browser, and extension stores removing Honey. Act now to help save money from falling into the wrong hands. LegalEagle, a YouTube user, announced recently that he would be suing Honey for the scandal. Go to honeylawsuit.com to help support him in his efforts.
1
Petition created on January 8, 2025