Chrome Web Store
16Versions
3Code reviewed

No malware found

In code review

Our reviewer read this extension’s code and found no malicious behaviour. Review the permissions below before installing.

6 indicators in this extension

6 indicators
3 versions analysed

Every finding is verified by a security analyst. Unlock the code evidence, indicators and version history.

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What our analysis found

Reader Mode - Natural Reader and dark mode, used by 10,000 people, showed no malicious code in Extension Auditor's review. Its permissions mean it can read and change data on all websites and can inject scripts into pages. It comes from a trusted publisher and was last updated in September 2026.

Analyst notes

Version 1.4.1 is a genuine Mozilla-Readability-based reader-mode extension: embeds a Readability port ( rulesets at:100-104), Read Aloud uses the local Web Speech API (:2097 speechSynthesis, SpeechSynthesisUtterance), and every fetch() in the 8 JS files except one resolves to chrome.runtime.getURL(' /*.svg') — there is no eval, no new Function, no atob, no remote load, no access. The single network sink (:2, POST to [domain withheld]) sends page URL + referrer + language + timezone + window size to the publisher's own domain (matches the [domain withheld] privacy-policy URL) and is gated on analytics_consent === true, a key written only by the opt-in shadow-DOM banner in:132 that defaults to undefined (off) and whose text states exactly what is sent; re-checks consent at flush and discards the queue on revoke, and declining wipes analytics_pid. Contradicting signals — the eSentire/[domain withheld] IoC notes, 'publisher flagged malicious', and the one recorded ownership change — are not reflected in this build (greps for 'whatsapp' and for any other writer of the analytics_* keys both return nothing), so the IoC appears historical; the leave-one-out publisher rate, chrome-stats likelihood, trusted-publisher badge and featured listing corroborate. Manifest cross-check (step 4): the live CWS manifest lists permissions while the bundled 1.4.1 manifest lacks 'tts' — the mismatch is narrower-in-the-bundle and consistent with the advertised Read Aloud feature in a newer live build, but it means the published build is not the one reviewed, which is why this is likely_benign rather than false_positive. Hygiene only, not findings: a hardcoded 'sk_live_a893f...' bearer key is shipped in:3, and the telemetry payload also carries the referrer, a persistent random pid and the platform string, which the consent banner's wording does not enumerate.

Reader Mode - Natural Reader and dark mode

Reader Mode - Natural Reader and dark mode Chrome extension security report

ID: fbmlcbhdmilaggedifpihjgkkmdgeljh

Extension Info & Metadata

Status
Active
Version
1.4.1
Size
0.15 MB
Rating
4.3/5
Reviews
28
Users
10,000
Type
Extension
Updated
Sep 10, 2026
Category
Tools
Price
Free
Featured
Yes
Visibility
Listed
Mature
No
By Google
No
Trusted
Yes
This publisherTrack record
5extensions
All still listed
Scanned by Extension Auditor — Low RiskDevelopers: embed this badge to link to this report.

Publisher Contextual Analysis

Trusted
Author
Ciao Apps LTD
Country
GB
MX records exist
Yes
Domain exists
Yes
Is disposable
No
Is role-based
No
Mailbox exists
Yes
Address
64 Nile Street London N1 7SR GB
Website
Visit
Extensions
5
Active
5
Obsolete
0
Listed
5
Unlisted
0
Users
10,565

Email Change History

1 change
Jan 7, 2025
Domain changed

Screenshots & videos

Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3
Screenshot 4
Screenshot 5
Screenshot 6

Install growth

Item
Type
Severity
Description
scripting
Permission
Critical
This permission allows injection and execution of JavaScript on any webpage. Rated Critical because it can modify page content, steal sensitive data, and inject malicious code into any site the extension has access to.
<all_urls>
Host
Critical
Broad host access — the extension can read/modify content on every website.
Broad Host Permissions
Risk Factor
High
This extension has broad host permissions allowing it to access many or all websites.
Broad Content Script Access
Risk Factor
High
This extension can inject scripts into any website.
activeTab
Permission
Medium
This permission grants temporary access to the current tab. Rated Medium because it can access current page content when invoked, though limited to user-initiated actions.
storage
Permission
Medium
This permission allows storing data locally in the browser. Rated Medium because it can persist sensitive user data, track user activities over time, and potentially store malicious payloads.

Each row lists a threat category the scanner evaluates. A checkmark means the review ran and found no matching issues in that category for this version.

  • Data Exfiltration

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Unauthorized Data Collection

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Network Interception

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Code Injection

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Credential Theft

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Obfuscation

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Tracking

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Privilege Escalation

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Phishing

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Remote Code Loading

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

  • Other

    Code review completed; no malicious patterns detected for this category.

6 indicators in this extension

6 indicators
3 versions analysed

Every finding is verified by a security analyst. Unlock the code evidence, indicators and version history.

Unlock this report — $4.99Start 7-day trial — all reports
One-time payment · Secure checkout by Stripe

About this extension

Distraction-free reading experience for Chrome.

Read the publisher’s full description

Reader View is a clean reading mode extension for Chrome that helps you focus on what matters: the content. Remove ads, popups, and clutter from any webpage and enjoy a distraction-free, eye-friendly reading experience. Features: ✅ Reader Mode for Chrome
 🚫 Ads free reading 🔊 Read Aloud – Text-to-Speech (TTS) natural reader 🌙 Dark Mode + Light Mode 📚 Save to Read Later 💻 Offline Reader

 Instantly turn any web article into a clean, readable format — no ads, sidebars, or visual noise. Bookmark articles to catch up anytime, even offline. Access saved pages even when you’re not connected. 
Reader View - natural reader extension for Chrome 📚✨ 

Listen to articles with natural-sounding voices. Reader View supports multiple languages: 🇺🇸 English | 🇬🇧 English (M) | 🇩🇪 Deutsch | 🇪🇸 Español | 🇫🇷 Français | 🇮🇳 हिंदी | 🇮🇩 Bahasa | 🇮🇹 Italiano | 🇯🇵 日本語 | 🇰🇷 한국어 | 🇳🇱 Nederlands | 🇵🇱 Polski | 🇧🇷 Português | 🇷🇺 Русский | 🇨🇳 中文 🔥 Why to use Chrome Reader Mode: - Transform any webpage into a clean reader view format instantly. - Our ML model ensures only the main content is displayed, removing clutter. - Print clean, formatted articles without ads or clutter. - Instantly enables reading mode for Chrome. 
❤️ What Makes Reader View Different? Unlike other “reader modes,” Reader View uses smart content detection to show only the article—no menus, footers, or ads. It’s fast, lightweight, and works great offline too.
 🎹 Enable reader view with hotkeys: Windows: “Shift + Alt + S” MacOS: “Shift + Command + S” And “Esc” to close Reader. Natural Reader Chrome extension offers both light and dark mode color schemes designed for eye comfort. It not only adjusts colors but also changes background and font colors to the best combinations. Dark reader chrome extension reduces strain on your eyes, making reading more comfortable, even on the most ad-heavy websites. It also removes all irrelevant content to enhance your reading experience. 💡 Chrome reader mode is perfect for: – Students researching online. – Professionals staying up-to-date in their field. – News enthusiasts who want a cleaner reading experience. – Anyone who loves to read but hates online distractions. 🔒 Privacy Focused: We respect your privacy. Reader View works locally in your browser and doesn't collect any personal data. 🆕 Regular Updates: We're constantly improving! Expect new features and optimizations regularly based on user feedback. 📥 How to get reader view in Chrome: Click "Add to Chrome" to add Reader View extension to Chrome. 📥 How to turn on reader mode in Chrome: Open any webpage. Click the Reader view icon. Enjoy distraction-free reading! ❓ Does Chrome have a reader mode? At the moment we were unable to find it. Transform your online reading experience today with Reader View - Your personal reading assistant! 🚀📚



 ## [1.2.8] - 2025-11-14 ### Changed - Enhanced content extraction to properly render lists, images, and inline elements - Improved main article image detection with support for meta tags and srcset - Widened content card from 680px to 900px for better readability - Refined typography with Georgia serif font, improved line height and spacing - Enhanced visual design with better image styling, borders, and shadows ### Bug Fixes - Fixed content cleaning to preserve list structures and inline formatting - Resolved issue where reader mode wouldn't reopen after being closed - Improved cleanup mechanism for more robust state management - Fixed TTS state reset when exiting reader mode What’s new: 


[1.2.7] - 2025-04-04 ## Added - Expanded text-to-speech support with 15 languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese - Enhanced natural reader voice quality for improved listening experience ### Changed - Streamlined UI with simplified controls for better usability - Optimized performance for faster page loading and smoother transitions ### Bug Fixes - Fixed theme toggle synchronization across saved articles - Resolved font size inconsistencies in reader mode - Addressed various stability issues for improved reliability 

[1.2.6] - 2024-08-15 ## Added - Implemented hotkeys for improved user interaction - Added Shift+Command+R (Mac) / Shift+Alt+R (Windows/Linux) to open the extension - Implemented Esc key functionality to exit reader mode ## Changed - Updated manifest.json to include keyboard shortcuts - Modified content script to handle Esc key for exiting reader mode

 [1.2.5] - 2024-08-09 ## Bug Fixes - Fixed the issue with the bookmarks not being saved correctly 

[1.2.4] - 2024-08-09 ## Added - Implemented bookmarks logic - Created all necessary pages for managing bookmarks - Users can now add, edit, and delete bookmarks - Bookmarks are saved locally and can be synced across devices 

[1.2.3] - 2024-08-07 ## Changed - Enhanced CSS styling and animations - Improved button styles for better user interaction - Added smooth animations for a more polished user interface

 [1.2.2] - 2024-07-26 ## Added - Support for multiple languages through `default_locale` and `__MSG_` placeholders - Implemented localization system using JSON files for each supported language - Added ability to dynamically load translations based on user's browser language - Integrated `__MSG_` placeholders in HTML, JavaScript, and manifest files for seamless localization

User reviews

Extension files

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URLs
6

URLs

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No URLs found
No IP addresses found

6 indicators in this extension

6 indicators
3 versions analysed

Every finding is verified by a security analyst. Unlock the code evidence, indicators and version history.

Unlock this report — $4.99Start 7-day trial — all reports
One-time payment · Secure checkout by Stripe
Version
Size
Verdict
Findings
Permhash
1.4.1
Latest
0.15 MBNo malware found0
2b1e78ea935f5a876ba08e38c3dd3238db38dc1a6119179a34a733747daf953f
1.3.6
0.12 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.7
0.12 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.5
0.10 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.4
0.10 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.3
0.10 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.2
0.10 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.0
0.11 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.3.1
0.08 MBNot scanned—
3fdf7d5ca55404b207a8f88beec8be1678cbb2e32feecb89133558d6df1a0ef7
1.2.5
0.10 MBNo malware found0
2b1e78ea935f5a876ba08e38c3dd3238db38dc1a6119179a34a733747daf953f
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