Is Visual Web Scraper Safe? — Extension Safety Profile
Quick verdict: Visual Web Scraper earns a safety grade B, 76.7 out of 100, based on 5 of 5 dimensions.
76.7/100
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
Visual Web Scraper earns a safety grade of B (76.7/100), measured across 5 of 5 dimensions. Its strongest area is Permissions & Access (90%). The weakest is Maintenance & Ownership (30%) — what holds its grade back the most.
On the public records we can check, Visual Web Scraper looks broadly trustworthy. 10,000 active users/installs reported on the store. Store rating 4.5/5 from 38 user ratings. Last updated on the store 2024-08-19. This is an automated profile, not a hands-on review — so treat the grade as a starting point: open Visual Web Scraper's own store listing and privacy policy before installing, and weigh it against the other developer tools 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 | 90% · 22.5/25 pts | Automated signals | |
| Data & Privacy | 83% · 13.2/16 pts | Automated signals | |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 30% · 2.3/7.5 pts | Automated signals | |
| Community Reputation | 83% · 8.3/10 pts | Automated signals |
In-depth safety analysis
The extension requests only the activeTab and scripting permissions. This allows it to run scripts on the current page when the user explicitly activates it (e.g., by clicking the toolbar icon), which is a minimal and entirely expected scope for a visual web scraper. It cannot access all websites automatically or read data from tabs in the background.
Developer tools that extract data from web pages can collect information you view or interact with. Although this publisher declares they do not sell data or use it for unrelated purposes, a careful user should still review what data a scraper collects and where it may be sent, as with any tool that handles page content. Since scrapers often rely on page structure, a developer tool might break intermittently on updated sites or lack rapid fixes.
The strongest safety dimension is Permissions & Access (90%), reflecting the extension’s narrow and appropriate permission set. The weakest is Maintenance & Ownership (30%), which suggests limited developer identity or infrequent updates. This could mean the extension may not receive prompt fixes for bugs or future browser changes, so a user should check recent update activity before relying on it for important workflows.
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 Visual Web Scraper?
- Publisher YellowPencil
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 17 Developer Tools extensions we track, Visual Web Scraper scores higher on safety than 59% of them.
Computed from our own database of assessed Developer Tools extensions — updated as we track more.
Evidence on File (12)
Visual Web Scraper FAQ
- Is Visual Web Scraper safe?
- Visual Web Scraper earns a safety grade of B (76.7/100) 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 Visual Web Scraper?
- Visual Web Scraper is operated by YellowPencil.
Alternatives we track
Browse all browser extensions we've checked → · Best Developer Tools extensions