Is Automatio - Web Automation & Scraping Safe? — Extension Safety Profile

This extension requests a broad set of permissions typical for web automation and scraping. The tabs and activeTab permissions let it see the URLs of open tabs, while cookies grants read and write access to browser cookies. Combined with host access to *://*/* and the scripting API, it can inject code, read, and modify content on any website you visit. For a tool that creates bots, extracts data, or automates form filling, such wide access is generally expected, but it also means the extension can technically observe and interact with all your browsing activity, including sensitive sessions.

Users of scraping and automation tools should understand that this level of access, while necessary for the category, comes with inherent risks. A careful user may choose to run such extensions in a dedicated browser profile to avoid exposing accounts or private data. The extension’s low store rating (2.7/5) and modest user base (10,000) can raise concerns about reliability, support, and possible bugs. Automation extensions can also be targets for abandonment or takeover, making ongoing maintenance an important safety factor.

The fact sheet shows a strong Data & Privacy dimension (93%), reflecting that the developer has made clear privacy declarations: data is reportedly not sold, not used for unrelated purposes, and not used for creditworthiness, while the collection of personally identifiable and authentication information is disclosed. The weakest areas are Maintenance & Ownership (30%) and Community Reputation (46%). These low scores suggest infrequent updates, unclear ownership stability, and user dissatisfaction, which together mean the extension may lag on security patches or suffer from unresolved issues.