SideBrowser is developed by yuzhou and opens user-selected websites in the native side panel of Chrome or Microsoft Edge. It has no account system, browsing-history server, telemetry, or advertising trackers.
Data handled and purpose
URLs and titles of pages you explicitly favorite from the side panel, a page context menu, or the extension icon context menu are stored separately on your device for quick access from the blank page. Favorite icons use the browser's favicon interface. The extension does not modify browser bookmarks.
When you explicitly open the current page, the extension reads its URL and title to navigate the sidebar. Open context-menu actions, entered URLs, and search terms are used for navigation you request. Favorite context-menu actions read the target page’s URL and available title to save it without automatically opening it. Up to 10 recently opened URLs and their titles are stored locally for quick reopening; site icons are obtained through the browser's favicon interface.
Per-window URLs and back/forward history are kept in session storage. When you explicitly bind a side page to a tab, its tab ID is associated with its sidebar URL and history in session storage; unbinding, closing that tab, or restarting the browser clears that binding. The last navigation state is kept locally for restoration. URLs may contain query parameters you enter. Display, appearance, and search engine preferences are also stored locally. The extension reads the sidebar page's URL, title, and viewport metadata for navigation, favorite and recent titles, and layout. It does not extract main-tab body text, form contents, passwords, or AI conversations, and does not automatically send main-page contents to AI.
For sidebar requests, the extension adjusts embedding-related response headers and, in mobile mode, device-identity request headers. It does not read or log response bodies or read cookies through the Cookies API.
Extension state uses browser local/session storage, not sync storage. It is not uploaded to the developer, sold, used for advertising or credit decisions, or used for purposes unrelated to sidebar browsing. The developer cannot remotely inspect these records through the extension.
While you type in the sidebar address bar, suggestions combine local SideBrowser favorites and recents with matching browser browsing history and bookmarks. The history and bookmarks permissions are used only to query URLs and titles for these suggestions. Query text and results are processed on your device, are not sent to a suggestion service or the developer, and are not copied into extension storage. Selecting a suggestion opens it normally and adds it to SideBrowser recents. Clearing SideBrowser recents does not delete browser history or bookmarks.
Websites and third parties
Websites you open receive normal browser requests, including URLs, IP addresses, headers, and authentication information that the browser permits. Content you submit on those sites is handled by those sites under their own privacy policies. AI is provided by the selected website; SideBrowser includes no AI model or AI account and does not automatically submit conversations.
Submitting an address-bar keyword search or choosing the search action sends the query to the selected search engine: Google (the default), Bing, Baidu, or DuckDuckGo. The search URL may also be stored in the extension's local records. Opening GitHub or submitting feedback exposes the information you choose to share to GitHub and, for feedback, the developer. Do not include passwords, private conversations, or token-bearing URLs in public issues. SideBrowser does not automatically attach diagnostics, browsing history, or page content.
Website storage is managed separately by the browser and the websites. HTTPS sites use their own encrypted connections. User-selected HTTP sites retain the limitations of HTTP; the extension does not provide a proxy or additional encryption.
Retention and deletion
Favorites persist across browser restarts. You can remove them individually from the More menu or the favorites list on the blank page. Clearing recents, closing a page, binding, and unbinding do not remove favorites.
You can remove individual recent entries or clear the list. This does not clear the current page, navigation history, restoration state, or website cookies. Binding transfers the page and its history to that tab and clears the shared page and its restoration state, while retaining recents. Closing the current page clears the displayed sidebar page and its history while retaining favorites, recents, tab bindings, and other side pages. Local preferences and restoration state remain until overwritten or removed; the browser manages session storage. Uninstalling removes extension storage. Website cookies and other website data must be cleared separately in the browser. There is no developer-hosted copy of browsing records.
Website
The website is hosted on GitHub Pages. GitHub receives normal network request information when you visit; see the GitHub Privacy Statement. The website has no analytics or advertising trackers. It stores only your appearance preference in browser local storage; language follows the English or Chinese page you visit. Clear this website’s browser data to remove the appearance preference.
Limited Use and contact
SideBrowser's use of user data complies with the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including Limited Use requirements, and is restricted to the user-facing features described above. Changes are reflected in this policy and its update date. Contact yuzhou through the project issue tracker for privacy questions.