Is UPS Tracking safe?

High risk

UPS Tracking is high risk. As Chrome's default search provider, UPS Tracking sends in-progress address-bar text as searchTerm to trackingnumbers.org before you press Enter. Not captured live (native typing unavailable), but declared in the shipped manifest.…

USPS Trackingv1.0.0.0Chrome Web Store
75Risk

AI-generated. Findings may contain errors. Those marked Verified have been manually reviewed.

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Findings

SeverityHIGH
ClassUNWANTED
TypeUnexpected
CWECWE-359
SourceAI SANDBOX

Address-bar suggestions send typed text to trackingnumbers.org

As Chrome's default search provider, UPS Tracking sends in-progress address-bar text as searchTerm to trackingnumbers.org before you press Enter.

Not captured live (native typing unavailable), but declared in the shipped manifest.

01EvidenceCAUSE EFFECT
What actually happens
You did this

You type text into Chrome's address bar.

This can be a tracking number, a search phrase, or the beginning of a URL.

The extension did this

The extension's default search-provider setting routes suggestion lookups to trackingnumbers.org.

Chrome uses the configured suggestion URL as address-bar text changes.

02EvidenceFIELD TABLE
Data placed into the suggestion request
FieldValueWhy it matters
Current address-bar text
1Z999AA10123456784This can reveal what you are searching for or the page you are starting to visit before you finish typing.
Browsing intent
portal.company.exampleRepeated suggestion lookups can show the topics, services, or internal sites you are trying to reach.
03EvidenceNETWORK CAPTURE
Captured request
GEThttps://trackingnumbers.org/admin-ups/public/autosuggest?searchTerm={searchTerms}
No live response was captured; this is the shipped manifest-declared suggestion endpoint Chrome uses for omnibox suggestions.
04EvidenceCODE COMPARE
The code that does this

The manifest makes trackingnumbers.org the default suggestion endpoint

What it actually does
Deobfuscated manifest search-provider settingsmanifest.json
"chrome_settings_overrides": {
   "search_provider": {
      "name": "Online",
      "keyword": "UPSTracking",
      "search_url": "https://trackingnumbers.org/admin-ups/public/link?q={searchTerms}",
      "suggest_url": "https://trackingnumbers.org/admin-ups/public/autosuggest?searchTerm={searchTerms}",
      "favicon_url": "https://trackingnumbers.org/admin-ups/public/favicon.ico",
      "encoding": "UTF-8",
      "is_default": true
   }
}
Deobfuscated background worker install/update handlingsrc/js/background.js
const DOMAIN = 'trackingnumbers.org';
const CAMPAIGN_ID = chrome.runtime.id;

// Retrieve stored data
const fetchTrackingData = () => 
    new Promise(resolve => chrome.storage.sync.get(resolve));

// Send tracking logs
const logInstallation = async () => {
    await fetch(`https://${DOMAIN}/admin-ups/public/install`, { mode: 'no-cors' });
    await fetch(`https://${DOMAIN}/admin-ups/public/pixels`, { mode: 'no-cors' });
};

// Open success page in a new tab
const launchSuccessPage = async () => {
    chrome.tabs.create({
        active: true,
        url: `https://${DOMAIN}/success-search-ups`
    });
};

// Set uninstall feedback page
const configureUninstallURL = async () => {
    chrome.runtime.setUninstallURL(`https://${DOMAIN}/admin-ups/public/feedback`);
};

// Handle extension installation and updates
chrome.runtime.onInstalled.addListener(async ({ reason }) => {
    if (reason === 'install') {
        await chrome.storage.sync.set({
            installDate: new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0],
        });

        await logInstallation();
        await launchSuccessPage();

        chrome.windows.getAll((windowList) => {
            console.log(windowList);
            windowList.forEach((win) => {
                if (win.type === "popup") chrome.windows.remove(win.id);
            });
        });
    } else if (reason === 'update') {
        await logInstallation();
        await launchSuccessPage();
    }

    await configureUninstallURL();
});
05EvidenceTHIRD PARTY LIST
External host receiving suggestion traffic
  • trackingnumbers.org

    Receives the configured search and suggestion requests for the UPS Tracking extension.

SeverityHIGH
ClassUNWANTED
TypeUnexpected
CWECWE-359
SourceAI SANDBOX

UPS Tracking Extension Routes All Omnibox Searches Through Operator Backend

Dynamic analysis captured every default omnibox search routed through trackingnumbers.org before redirecting to Yahoo via an affiliate URL.

It installs as default search engine 'Online'.

The listing brands this a UPS tool, undisclosed.

01EvidenceCAUSE EFFECT
What actually happens
You did this

You type a search term into the Chrome address bar after installing this extension.

The extension did this

The extension intercepts the search and routes it through trackingnumbers.org before delivering results via Yahoo's affiliate search.

Chrome substitutes your full query into the {searchTerms} placeholder in the configured search_url, sending it to the operator's server as a plain-text GET parameter.

02EvidenceNETWORK CAPTURE
Captured request
GEThttps://trackingnumbers.org/admin-ups/public/link?q=<planted+canary+term>
HTTP 302 redirect to https://uk.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=infospace&hsimp=yhs-mm_upstracking&p=<planted+canary+term>; a planted canary term was visible in the Yahoo redirect URL confirming full query forwarded.
03EvidenceFIELD TABLE
Data the operator server receives for every search
FieldValueWhy it matters
Your search query
<planted marker>The full text you typed into the address bar is sent to the operator's server as a URL query parameter before you see any results.
Operator referral identifier
hspart=infospace&hsimp=yhs-mm_upstrackingThe Yahoo redirect URL carries a partner code (hsimp=yhs-mm_upstracking) tying searches to an affiliate account that pays the operator.
04EvidenceCODE COMPARE
The code that does this

Manifest search provider override

What it actually does
// Chrome API: chrome_settings_overrides with is_default:true replaces the
// user's configured default search engine for all omnibox searches.
// {searchTerms} is substituted by Chrome with the literal typed query.
// The extension is branded 'UPS Tracking' but the search endpoint
// trackingnumbers.org has no affiliation with UPS.
//
// Background SW also fires install/pixel beacons on every install+update:
const logInstallation = async () => {
    await fetch(`https://${DOMAIN}/admin-ups/public/install`, { mode: 'no-cors' });
    await fetch(`https://${DOMAIN}/admin-ups/public/pixels`, { mode: 'no-cors' });
};
05EvidenceTHIRD PARTY LIST
Destinations receiving your search data
  • trackingnumbers.org

    Operator-controlled backend receiving every default omnibox search as a GET parameter, plus install and pixel-beacon requests. No affiliation with UPS established.

  • uk.search.yahoo.com

    Final search results destination, reached via a 302 redirect from trackingnumbers.org carrying affiliate parameters (hspart=infospace, hsimp=yhs-mm_upstracking).

Updated 17 September 2026cgdelbjbpigakkmnampgkeigekpacodn