Is Paywall Label for Facebook, Twitter & Google safe to install?

What data it declares

The developer declares that it collects these kinds of data:

• Web history the list of pages you visit
• User activity such as clicks, scrolling, keystrokes or network monitoring

The developer also certifies that your data is not sold to third parties outside approved uses, not used for purposes unrelated to the extension's core function, and not used to decide creditworthiness or lending.

The listing does not link to a privacy policy.

This is the developer's own declaration in the Chrome Web Store. We cannot check it against what the extension does.

What Chrome asks you to allow

When you add it, Chrome asks you to allow it to:

• Read and change your data on a number of websites
• Read your browsing history

Derived from the manifest by Chrome's documented rules; the dialog's exact wording depends on your Chrome version and language. Chrome asks again if an update requests more.

What it can reach

Specific sites only: 196 match patterns.

• https://www.facebook.com/* only www.facebook.com
• https://twitter.com/* only twitter.com
• https://www.google.com/search* only www.google.com
• https://www.google.ac/search* only www.google.ac
• https://www.google.ad/search* only www.google.ad
• https://www.google.ae/search* only www.google.ae
• https://www.google.al/search* only www.google.al
• https://www.google.am/search* only www.google.am
• https://www.google.as/search* only www.google.as
• https://www.google.at/search* only www.google.at
• https://www.google.az/search* only www.google.az
• https://www.google.ba/search* only www.google.ba
• and 184 more

Reaches your browsing data or every site

• See the address and title of every tab you have open tabs

Worth knowing

• Run its own code on the pages it can access scripting

Routine for an extension

• Add items to the right-click menu contextMenus
• Store data in your browser storage

Pages it runs its code on

It runs its own code on specific pages only: the first 50 site patterns we keep.

• https://twitter.com/* only twitter.com
• https://www.facebook.com/* only www.facebook.com
• https://www.google.com/search* only www.google.com

We keep the first 50 patterns of a list; the manifest may declare more.

A content script is code the extension injects into pages matching these patterns. On those pages it can read and change what you see, whether or not a host permission is listed above.

How usual this is for its category

In Productivity · Workflow, 19% of extensions ask for access to every site. This one: Access to specific sites only.

The typical extension there declares 3 browser permissions; this one declares 4 browser permissions.

• See the address and title of every tab you have open (tabs): 33% of extensions in this category ask for it.

Counted over the live extensions of the same category after our latest full pass of the store. A share is context, not a verdict: what is normal depends on what the extension is for.

Who uses it and how it is kept up

605 users

• Not updated in the store for over a year: the last update was on 2022-03-15.
• No new version in the last 90 days.

What the store shows

• Featured The store's badge for extensions that follow its recommended practices for Chrome extensions.

Has it asked for more over time?

This is the question a permission list on its own cannot answer. An extension that shipped narrow and widened later is a different proposition from one that always asked for the same thing.

The permissions this extension requests have not changed since we started watching it.

Who publishes it

dejan-tools, who publishes 5 listings we track. This listing has been in the store since 2020-07-31 and was last updated on 2022-03-15.

Similar extensions that ask for less

Listings close to this one in what they say they do, which declare less reach. Less reach is not a verdict on either: compare what each needs for the job.

1. Paywall Detector for Chrome – Detect Subscription-Only or Premium Content No site access · 1 permission 569 users ★ 3.7
2. Paywall Detector No site access · 1 permission 4 users
3. InFocus Access to specific sites only · 1 permission, 2 site patterns 3 users (last published figure)

How to check or remove it in Chrome

1. Type chrome://extensions in the address bar and find the extension in the list.
2. Open its details. The site access setting shows where it can run; set it to run only on click and it reaches a page only after you press its icon.
3. To uninstall it, choose Remove on the same page.

Questions people ask

What can Paywall Label for Facebook, Twitter & Google access?

Specific sites only: 196 match patterns. It declares 4 browser permissions.

What data does Paywall Label for Facebook, Twitter & Google collect?

The developer declares that it collects these kinds of data: Web history, User activity. This is the developer's own declaration in the Chrome Web Store. We cannot check it against what the extension does.

Has Paywall Label for Facebook, Twitter & Google asked for more permissions over time?

The permissions this extension requests have not changed since we started watching it.

Does Paywall Label for Facebook, Twitter & Google publish a privacy policy?

No, the store listing does not link to a privacy policy.