Is RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) Safe? — Extension Safety Profile
Quick verdict: RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) earns a safety grade B, 62.8 out of 100, based on 5 of 5 dimensions.
62.8/100
Grade B · 5 of 5 checks
What we found
Automated safety profile from public signals (the extension's manifest & permissions, store listing, publisher, privacy policy). A full review hasn't been published yet.
What this safety grade means
RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) earns a safety grade of B (62.8/100), measured across 5 of 5 dimensions. Its strongest area is Community Reputation (84%). The weakest is Maintenance & Ownership (10%) — what holds its grade back the most.
On the public records we can check, RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) looks broadly trustworthy. 400,000 active users/installs reported on the store. Store rating 4.0/5 from 3,400 user ratings. Last updated on the store 2024-07-04. This is an automated profile, not a hands-on review — so treat the grade as a starting point: open RSS Subscription Extension (by Google)'s own store listing and privacy policy before installing, and weigh it against the other rss feed readers extensions we track below.
Safety Signals
Based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Bar | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 60% · 4.8/8 pts | Automated signals | |
| Permissions & Access | 58% · 14.6/25 pts | Automated signals | |
| Data & Privacy | 83% · 13.2/16 pts | Automated signals | |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 10% · 0.8/7.5 pts | Automated signals | |
| Community Reputation | 84% · 8.4/10 pts | Automated signals |
In-depth safety analysis
This extension requests broad host permissions for all websites, combined with the scripting and tabs APIs. In practice, that means it can read and modify content on any page you visit, and it can detect page elements like RSS feed links. For an RSS reader, this scope is expected because it needs to find and extract feed URLs from pages, but the level of access is still significant and worth understanding.
RSS feed readers generally operate by scanning the pages you browse. A careful user should be aware that any extension with this level of host access could technically observe browsing activity beyond just detecting feeds. The extension's privacy practices are self-declared by the publisher, stating data is not sold or used for unrelated purposes, but these are claims rather than independently verified guarantees.
Looking at the fact sheet, the strongest dimension is Community Reputation, which suggests a generally positive user reception and a large, established user base. The weakest dimension is Maintenance & Ownership, which may indicate concerns about how actively the extension is updated or the clarity of its ownership structure, despite a recent update date. A low score in this area can be a consideration for long-term reliability and security upkeep.
AI-assisted analysis of the documented signals above (permissions, store data, privacy practices) — explains what they mean and the risks typical for this category. Not a hands-on test.
What the store listing shows
Who's Behind RSS Subscription Extension (by Google)?
- Publisher rss-subscription-extension-owners@google.com
Public records identify the publisher, but no individual founders or a separate registered company are named — which is what holds the Publisher & Identity score back. Less public information about who operates an extension means less you can verify about their long-term accountability.
How it compares
Among the 3 RSS Feed Readers extensions we track, RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) has one of the lowest safety scores.
Computed from our own database of assessed RSS Feed Readers extensions — updated as we track more.
Evidence on File (12)
RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) FAQ
- Is RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) safe?
- RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) earns a safety grade of B (62.8/100) on our evidence-based assessment, based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions we could verify from public records. This is an automated profile built from public records, not a hands-on review.
- Who is behind RSS Subscription Extension (by Google)?
- RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) is operated by rss-subscription-extension-owners@google.com.
Alternatives we track
Compare RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) head-to-head:
Browse all browser extensions we've checked → · Best RSS Feed Readers extensions