Is Half Bold: Speed Reading & Dyslexic Font for ADHD Safe? — Extension Safety Profile

The extension requests storage (to save settings), sidePanel (for its interface), activeTab, and tabs permissions. The activeTab permission allows it to read and modify web page content on the current tab only when you interact with the extension, which is expected for a tool that reformats text for reading assistance. The tabs permission lets it detect tab changes to apply settings smoothly. Overall, this permission set is limited and appropriate for its stated function, consistent with a typical reading aid or font modifier.

Users of text-modification extensions should be aware that while they can improve accessibility, they necessarily access the content of web pages where they are active. Although this extension only gains site access when you click it (thanks to activeTab), it could theoretically see sensitive text like emails or banking details if invoked on such pages. This is a normal trade-off for this category. The developer’s privacy disclosures state data is not sold or used for unrelated purposes, but these remain self-declared commitments.

Our assessment highlights strong permissions management—the extension follows the principle of least privilege, reflected in a high Permissions & Access score. Conversely, the weakest area is Publisher & Identity, which suggests limited public information about the developer, making it harder for users to establish long-term accountability. Users valuing transparency may weigh this when deciding to install.