If you share your computer with other users, there may be times when you want to create a bookmark and keep it private. Luckily, you have multiple options for password-protecting your bookmarks in Chrome.
While there is no built-in way to secure your bookmarks in Chrome, there are a number of easy-to-use browser extensions that give you the ability to do so. Here, we’ll go over three different Chrome browser extensions that allow you to secure your bookmarks with password protection.
Secure Bookmarks for Chrome
Secure Bookmarks, a Chrome extension from Bozozo, lets you add a separate password-protected list of bookmarks to Google Chrome.
To get started, find the Secure Bookmarks extension in Chrome Web Store. After installing the extension, you’ll see a star icon appear in your Chrome’s address bar. After clicking this star for the first time, you’ll be taken to a new page that allows you to set your password.
Then, you can start saving secure bookmarks by clicking the star icon again, entering your password, and selecting + New Bookmark. Note that you may need to press the Puzzle icon and hit Secure Bookmarks to add a new password-protected bookmark.
Once you’ve saved a bookmark, you can add it to a folder (which you can create with + New Folder) or rearrange it in your list by simply dragging and dropping it where you’d like it.
In order to keep everything private as intended, make sure to sign out before handing your computer over to another user.
Let’s go over the pros and cons of Secure Bookmarks:
Pros
- Can be quickly set up.
- Is easy to use.
- Allows you to organize bookmarks into folders.
- Works in Incognito mode. To allow this, open your Chrome menu (the three dots in a row to the right of your Omnibox), hover over More Tools, and click on Extensions. From here, locate Secure Bookmarks and select Details. Then, simply move the slider marked Allow in incognito.
- Allows you to export your data to an encrypted text file, so you can restore your info if it’s lost or share it between computers.
Cons
The biggest drawback of Secure Bookmarks is the fact that there’s no option for password recovery — if you forget your password, you’ll need to reset the extension, losing all your bookmarks in the process. So, make sure you keep your password safe!
Protect Incognito bookmarks with Hush
The second option for password-protecting your Chrome bookmarks is Hush. Unlike Secure Bookmarks, Hush is made to work solely in Incognito mode. While you will need a yearly subscription to access most of Hush’s features ($9 yearly or $1 per month), its basic functions should be enough for the average user.
After installing Hush, you’ll be prompted to set the password that you’ll use to access or add new bookmarks. Like Secure Bookmarks, you’ll have to allow Hush access to Incognito mode.
While Hush does require you to subscribe in order to access its most desirable features, you may find that the price is worth it. With a subscription, Hush allows you to organize your bookmarks into folders (each of which can have a different password), import existing bookmarks from Chrome’s bookmark manager, and create shareable links that will expire after a specified amount of time. The paid version also automatically syncs your new bookmarks with Hush’s online servers, meaning you can access them from any device.
If you’re not looking to pay, you’re not entirely out of luck. If you’d like to back up your Hush bookmarks, you can manually export them. Just click the gear icon, click Export Bookmarks, and copy and paste the content in the box into a text file. The text is encrypted and can only be decrypted with your Hush password. In fact, both the paid and free versions of Hush encrypt your bookmarks.
Pros
- Made specifically for use in Incognito mode
- All bookmarks are encrypted
- Bookmarks are automatically synced to Hush’s servers (paid version)
- Ability to import bookmarks from Chrome’s bookmark manager (paid version)
Cons
The biggest drawback of Hush is its use of the “Freemium” model. If you’re looking for a straightforward, secure, Incognito-friendly password protector, then the free version should be just fine. However, if you find yourself longing for Hush’s more intuitive features, you’ll have to shell out a little cash.
Private Bookmarks
The final Chrome bookmark password protector we’ll take a look at is Private Bookmarks. This browser extension is a great basic option if you’re not looking for many bells or whistles.
Like the first two extensions, Private bookmarks adds a button to Chrome’s toolbar for easy access. After setting your password, you can easily add protected bookmarks by right-clicking on a page or opening the extension and clicking Add to private bookmarks.
Pros
- Ability to backup/restore bookmarks and settings
- Shortcut for adding private bookmarks
- Available in multiple languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, and French
Cons
As previously mentioned, Private Bookmarks is a great option if you’re just looking for straightforward functionality. It lacks some of Hush’s more complex features and even some of the more basic ones included in Secure Bookmarks (such as organizing bookmarks into folders). That being said, you won’t feel pressured to pay for features that you may not end up needing.
Ensure your privacy and remove unwanted extensions
We’ve reviewed a few options for creating password-protected Chrome bookmarks. But what if you install a browser extension and don’t end up falling in love with it? Luckily, removing an extension from Chrome is easy. Check out CleanMyMac X.
CleanMyMac X has an Extensions module that allows you to quickly and easily remove multiple extensions at a time. With this module, you no longer have to root around in Finder to locate the right extension or sort through the Extensions page. Safari Extensions feature shows you all your old extensions that you installed in Safari, while the Uninstaller module gathers all the Safari extensions installed through App Store:
CleanMyMac X’s Privacy Module also lets you protect your privacy while saving you the hassle of searching through your Mac. It allows you to easily remove your browser’s data, including cookies and cache, and more. Here’s how to clear your browsing data with CleanMyMac X:
- Get CleanMyMac X for free here.
- Install and launch the app.
- Go to Privacy.
- Press Scan.
- Check the items you want to remove and press Remove.
Now, you know the secure way to store your bookmarks. Don’t forget to clear your browsing history, cookies, and other browsing data to free up some space on your Mac. Hope this was helpful!
