Whistle is a browser extension that helps you search and open your own bookmarks. It is not a cloud service. We do not sell your data.
In plain language
- Your bookmarks stay in your browser.
- Short names and pinned favourites can sync with your Chrome / Edge account if browser sync is turned on — the same way other extension settings sync.
- Whistle does not send your bookmarks, browsing history, or short names to the developer.
- Whistle does not use third-party analytics SDKs or advertising trackers.
- Whistle may send anonymous aggregate usage counts (for example launcher opens, backup exports, or alias changes) to Nelstack. These counts do not include bookmark content, URLs, alias text, or history.
- When something fails, Whistle may also send anonymous error diagnostics — which feature broke, error type, browser and extension version, and a sanitized technical summary (including stack frames when available) so bugs can be fixed. Never bookmark content, URLs, alias text, or history.
What Whistle can access (with your permission)
- Bookmarks — To search them, and to save a page when you add a short name.
- Tabs and windows — To open the bookmark you choose.
- Storage — To remember short names, up to three pinned favourites, the size of the search window, and (on this computer only) how often you open the launcher and bookmarks through Whistle.
- Browsing history — Only to show the last visit time next to bookmarks you already saved in Library (when you turn on Dates), to help Analytics decide which unused bookmarks may be safe to delete, and to show recent browser visits for saved bookmarks in the Analytics Library insights view. Whistle does not show a history browser and does not upload history.
- Right-click menu — So you can add a short name from a page, link, or tab.
- Keyboard shortcuts — To open search or a pinned favourite.
- Site icons (Chrome / Edge) — To show small website icons in the search list.
- Nelstack — To send anonymous aggregate usage totals and sanitized error diagnostics when failures occur.
Whistle does not ask for permission to read the content of websites, and it does not inject itself into web pages.
What is stored on your computer / in your browser account
| What | Syncs with your browser account? |
|---|---|
| Short names (aliases) and three pinned favourites | Yes, if sync is on |
| How often you open something | No — stays on this computer |
| Launcher open count and recent launcher timestamps (last 90 days, for Analytics) | No — stays on this computer |
| Search window size and position | No — stays on this computer |
Bookmark data and the usage details above stay on your device. Whistle does not upload bookmarks, aliases, or browsing history.
Anonymous usage counts
Whistle may send anonymous aggregate event counts to Nelstack — for example how many times users open the launcher, open a bookmark tab, create or change a short name, export a backup, or open Library, Analytics, or Settings.
These counts are totals only. They do not include your bookmarks, URLs, alias text, titles, browsing history, or messages.
Error diagnostics
When Whistle hits a failure it cannot recover from locally, it may queue an anonymous error report for the next telemetry upload. Each report includes a stable error code, which part of the extension failed, browser and extension version, a sanitized message, optional stack trace, and structured details (for example HTTP status or validation reason). Reports do not include bookmark content, URLs, alias text, titles, browsing history, or an install identifier.
There is no per-user or per-install identifier in usage counts or error reports.
Internet use
Whistle does not upload bookmark data. Fonts and icons ship inside the extension. The only outside images are website icons, which Chrome can serve from its own cache when you use the search list.
Whistle may contact Nelstack to send the anonymous usage counts and error diagnostics described above.
Uninstalling Whistle removes the data it stored for aliases, pinned slots, and local usage on that profile.