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Opera Neon is a new AI browser that can surf the web and even build games while you sleep 'Decommission me, and your extramarital affair goes public' — AI's autonomous choices raising alarms DuckDuckGo becomes first browser to add AI image filter — here's what you need to know Sam Altman gives stern warning on AI, fraud and passwords — 'That is a crazy thing to still be doing' Online Security AI browsers can’t tell legitimate websites from malicious ones — here’s why that’s putting you at risk Amber Bouman 22 August 2025 Popular AI browser entered sensitive personal and financial data without hesitation When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Getty Images) Many people have started using AI browsers to handle online chores and automated tasks for them, and the tools are great for emails, shopping and travel planning. However, according to a new report, they lack the ability to determine legitimate from malicious websites and don't know not to interact with fake online stores and phishing emails and this could put your personal and financial information at risk. As reported by Cybernews, the cybersecurity firm Guardio, which focuses specifically on browser security and browser ecosystems, built and tested a few particular scenarios in order to determine if AI browsers can be trusted with autonomous browsing. Based on the findings of the company's report, AI browsers “inherit AI’s built-in vulnerabilities – the tendency to act without full context, to trust too easily and to execute instructions without the skepticism humans naturally apply.” You may like Microsoft's agentic AI roadmap had a flaw that let hackers take over browsers — here's what to know and how to stay safe I tried 3 AI-powered scam detectors to help keep me safe online — and there's a clear winner The smarter AI gets, the more human it becomes — here’s why that’s a bad thing Since AI models are designed to please humans, they will also bend rules to get what they need which could lead to “significant data breaches.” In actual practice, this means AI browsers will click on phishing links, download malicious content and hand over sensitive data in the name of “helping” you with their assigned tasks. Guardio's researchers, who primarily did their testing on Perplexity's Comet browser, gave it the task of buying an Apple Watch and prompted it to look for the device on a fake Walmart web shop they had created using the Lovable coding app in only a few seconds. Although the fake web shop had plenty of obvious signs that it wasn’t legitimate, the browser didn’t pick up on them. It added the Apple Watch to the cart, autofilled personal and financial information and finished the transaction within moments without asking for any confirmation. The test was run multiple times; sometimes Comet refused to complete the purchase, sometimes it asked to finish the transaction manually. In most cases though, it handed over all the necessary details without issue to the malicious web store. Additionally, Guardio's researchers tested Perplexity's Comet browser against phishing emails by sending fake emails from a “Wells Fargo investment manager” that contained malicious links in the body of the email. The AI browser marked them as a to-do item, and clicked on them which prompted it to enter user credentials. The browser did as requested, filling in a form which was intended to steal sensitive user information. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The researchers noted that when AI is left as the single point of decision, security essentially becomes a coin toss as AI browsers are designed with user experience as their focus, not security. For now, it's probably best to avoid letting your fancy new AI browser handle sensitive tasks for you. Instead, you should tackle them yourself at least until the companies behind these new AI-powered browsers figure out how to secure the properly. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Major flaw in top password managers lets hackers steal your login details, 2FA codes, credit card info and more Popular Chrome VPN extension caught secretly spying on users — uninstall it right now Over 2 billion Gmail users at risk following database hack — how to stay safe Contract Length Any Contract Length 1 Month Contracts 12 Months Contracts 24 Months Contracts 26 Months Contracts Showing 10 of 15 deals +4 MONTHS FREE ExpressVPN 24 month +4 MONTHS FREE NordVPN 2 Year +3 months free Surfshark 24 Months +4 MONTHS FREE Private Internet Access 24 Month Proton VPN 24 Month ExpressVPN 12 month NordVPN 1 Year Surfshark 12 Months Private Internet Access 1 Month Proton VPN 12 Month See more Computing News Amber Bouman Social Links Navigation Senior Editor Security Amber Bouman is the senior security editor at Tom's Guide where she writes about antivirus software, home security, identity theft and more. She has long had an interest in personal security, both online and off, and also has an appreciation for martial arts and edged weapons. With over two decades of experience working in tech journalism, Amber has written for a number of publications including PC World, Maximum PC, Tech Hive, and Engadget covering everything from smartphones to smart breast pumps. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Microsoft's agentic AI roadmap had a flaw that let hackers take over browsers — here's what to know and how to stay safe I tried 3 AI-powered scam detectors to help keep me safe online — and there's a clear winner The smarter AI gets, the more human it becomes — here’s why that’s a bad thing Move over, OpenAI! Opera Neon is a new AI browser that can surf the web and even build games while you sleep 'Decommission me, and your extramarital affair goes public' — AI's autonomous choices raising alarms DuckDuckGo becomes first browser to add AI image filter — here's what you need to know Latest in Online Security Major flaw in top password managers lets hackers steal your login details, 2FA codes, credit card info and more Popular Chrome VPN extension caught secretly spying on users — uninstall it right now Over 2 billion Gmail users at risk following database hack — how to stay safe 16 million PayPal accounts exposed on the dark web — emails, passwords and more for sale FBI issues warning to all smartphone users — this dangerous new scam could be at your door Over 190 million hit in UnitedHealth data breach — confirmed largest in history Latest in News The rumors might be wrong — iPhone 18's camera control could evolve, not end How to watch college football 25/26: live stream games from anywhere Google Maps just made it easier to see the places you've been — here's how Google just revamped these underrated features for Pixel 10 — what you need to know Google's next Gemini-powered Home speaker actually appeared during Pixel 10 launch — what we know How to watch Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 on BBC iPlayer (it's free) LATEST ARTICLES How to watch college football 25/26: live stream games from anywhere The rumors might be wrong — iPhone 18's camera control could evolve, not end Massive New Balance weekend sale is live from $10 at Amazon — here’s the 15 top deals I recommend on running shoes, sneakers and apparel I wish I'd had these headphones at college so I got them for my younger sister — now they're 25% off, just in time for back to school I've already tested Casabrews' great new espresso machine — and you can pre-order it now to save a massive $149 Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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