Honey Extension: Uncovered as Alleged Massive Influencer Fraud of the Century
In the world of online shopping, the Honey browser extension has been a popular choice for many, promising to find and automatically apply the internet's best coupons at checkout. However, recent allegations by YouTuber MegaLag have cast a shadow over Honey's practices.
MegaLag's investigation suggests that Honey may be involved in unethical affiliate marketing practices, particularly "cookie hijacking" or "last-click hijacking." This involves Honey overriding affiliate tracking cookies that influencers and publishers embed in their links, effectively diverting commission credit from the original creators to itself when users make purchases after clicking on those links.
Evidence supporting these claims was found in Honey's FAQs and promotional material targeting businesses. The allegations have sparked legal battles and regulatory attention, prompting Google to update its Chrome extension policies in March 2025 to explicitly prohibit extensions that claim affiliate commissions without actually providing a discount to users. Honey responded by updating its extension to stop claiming affiliate revenue when it cannot provide a discount.
The controversy has exposed significant flaws in the "last-click-wins" affiliate model, which credits the last affiliate to generate a click before a purchase. Influencers and affiliate marketers have reported substantial losses of expected earnings due to Honey’s actions, describing the situation as a “scam” because their referral efforts are undermined.
Beyond commission theft, Honey has also been criticized for asking broad permissions that could impact user privacy and data security, such as access to all websites visited. While Honey claims not to sell user data, these permissions raise additional concerns among users.
One notable case involves a $35 commission from a NordVPN subscription, which was allegedly redirected to Honey, with only $0.89 returned to the user as cashback. This raises questions about the extent to which Honey intercepts affiliate link cookies, cutting out influencers from commission.
PayPal, the owner of Honey, has yet to issue a statement in response to these claims. The controversy has provoked regulatory changes and prompted the company to modify some practices, but the ethical debate remains active within the affiliate marketing community.
Mustafa Khan, a young tech journalist known for delivering straightforward smartphone reviews and insider tips, has also weighed in on the matter. In a viral video, Khan referred to Honey as the "biggest influencer scam of all time." Khan's video content is efficient and does not waste time, making it a reliable source for those seeking clarity on the issue.
As the debate continues, it's essential for users to be aware of the allegations against Honey and make informed decisions about the extensions they use. Meanwhile, Honey continues to be a popular choice among over 19 million Chrome users, underscoring the need for transparency and ethical practices in the digital marketplace.
When off the clock, Mustafa enjoys geeking out over cars, photography, and finding the best spot for Indian food. His straightforward approach to tech journalism and commitment to uncovering the truth make him a trusted voice in the tech community.
- The controversy surrounding Honey, a popular browser extension used for finding discounts on online purchases, has led to allegations of unethical affiliate marketing practices, such as "cookie hijacking" or "last-click hijacking."
- In the world of business and personal-finance, Honey has come under scrutiny for allegedly diverting commission credit from the original creators of affiliate links, potentially impacting the finances of influencers and affiliate marketers.
- The debate about Honey's practices extends to the realm of technology and gadgets, with tech journalist Mustafa Khan referring to it as the "biggest influencer scam of all time," raising questions about user privacy, data security, and ethical affiliate marketing.
