Plugins / Interface & look

Zotero Browser

by Wfssll · github.com/Wfssll/zotero-browser

An academic browser in a Zotero side panel with tabs for web pages and PDFs.

Zotero Browser has Atlas grade C (not recommended) because it reads your web browser's saved cookies or passwords. It works with Zotero 9, not the current Zotero 10. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.

View source
Downloads a .xpi file (7.3 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
In useAn estimate of how many copies of Zotero have it: Zotero downloads each new version once for every copy that has the plugin, so we count the downloads of its most-downloaded recent release. Rounded. Plugins that update from outside GitHub count low.
3
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
5
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
2
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
0
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
1
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
MIT
C
Atlas gradeNot recommended
because it reads your web browser's saved cookies or passwords
Applies to v0.0.2, released 2 Oct 2026Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
Doesn't work with the current Zotero (10)Works with Zotero 9.
Documentation in Chinese onlyOur summary is in English, but the plugin's own docs and support are in Chinese.
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyReadable code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the Wfssll account. We haven't yet checked whether this file matches the public source code.UnknownWe couldn't check this yet.
Updates
Updates come from this project's GitHub repositoryThe update address has no version for Zotero 9
Where your data goesOnly contacts services we could identify17 addresses in 4 groups.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
AI services (1)
chatgpt.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Translation (1)
www.bing.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Scholarly services (14)
api.adsabs.harvard.edunamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.arxiv.orgdblp.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.doi.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.export.arxiv.orgieeexplore.ieee.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.inspirehep.netnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.scholar.google.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.ui.adsabs.harvard.edunamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.www.cnki.netnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.www.nature.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.www.sciencedirect.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.www.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Apps you connect (1)
www.google.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Where we found it
arxiv.orgcontent/browser.html · line 91
<button class="bookmark-item" data-url="https://arxiv.org">📑 arXiv</button>
export.arxiv.orgcontent/sidebar-browser.js · line 1693
`https://export.arxiv.org/pdf/${id}`
Powerful capabilitiesReads your web browser's saved cookies or passwords, and 5 moreHighHigh concern: a serious problem. One high finding makes the grade C.
High concern (1)
Reads your web browser's saved cookies or passwords
Medium concern (2)
Watches Zotero's network trafficLaunches programs on your computer
Low concern (3)
Uses the clipboardWorks with files on your computerUses Zotero's password manager
Where we found it
Reads your web browser's saved cookies or passwordscontent/safari-binarycookies.js · line 295

Reads the sign-in cookies saved in Chromium, Firefox, which cover every site you're signed into there

parse.format = "Cookies.binarycookies";
Watches Zotero's network trafficbootstrap.js · line 758
Services.obs.addObserver(httpResponseObserver, "http-on-modify-request", false);
Launches programs on your computercontent/sidebar-browser.js · line 3147

Programs it names include security, sqlite3

password = await Zotero.Utilities.Internal.subprocess("/usr/bin/security", args);
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 9 · not 10, 11 betaDoesn't work with the current Zotero (10)MediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Zotero 9 ✓ worksZotero 10 ✗ doesn't workZotero 11 beta ✗ doesn't work
What you'll needZotero 9Detected automatically from its code
No further detail for this area yet.
MaintenanceActive · last release 2 Oct 20261 contributor
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in Chinese onlyInterface: English and Chinese
No further detail for this area yet.
We report what we found in the code. Open any area for the evidence.How we gradeReport a problem

What it does

Written by AI from the README

An academic browser in a Zotero side panel with tabs for web pages and PDFs. It fetches NASA ADS BibTeX, saves arXiv records, keeps bilingual vocabulary notes and copies local PDFs to the clipboard. A pre-release for Zotero 9.0.x; the interface is mostly Chinese.

Lets you look up papers, get ADS citations and collect vocabulary while reading without leaving Zotero. The vocabulary feature needs Translate for Zotero.

What you'll need

Detected automatically
  • Zotero 9Not working with Zotero 10

Where your data goes

We found: only contacts services we could identify. 17 addresses in 4 groups.

AI services (1)
chatgpt.comnamed in its code
Translation (1)
www.bing.comnamed in its code
Scholarly services (14)
api.adsabs.harvard.edunamed in its codearxiv.orgdblp.orgnamed in its codedoi.orgnamed in its codeexport.arxiv.orgieeexplore.ieee.orgnamed in its codeinspirehep.netnamed in its codepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govnamed in its codescholar.google.comnamed in its codeui.adsabs.harvard.edunamed in its codewww.cnki.netnamed in its codewww.nature.comnamed in its codewww.sciencedirect.comnamed in its codewww.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its code
Apps you connect (1)
www.google.comnamed in its code
Evidence · file and line
arxiv.orgcontent/browser.html · line 91
<button class="bookmark-item" data-url="https://arxiv.org">📑 arXiv</button>
export.arxiv.orgcontent/sidebar-browser.js · line 1693
`https://export.arxiv.org/pdf/${id}`

Forks and copies

No forks listed.

The developer's response

The developer hasn't responded. Developers can reply here, and their reply sits next to our findings.I'm the developer

Ratings and reviews

What people who use it say. This is separate from the grade, which is what the code does, and never changes it.

No ratings yet.

Write a review
Your rating of Zotero Browser v0.0.2

Your review is public, under the name you give, and published with the directory's data under CC BY 4.0. Links are removed. We never store your IP address: a scrambled code made from it is kept for 30 days to catch fake reviews. Every review is checked before it's published; how fake ones are spotted isn't published, so it can't be gamed.

Install Zotero Browser
CNot recommended
We don't recommend itIt reads your web browser's saved cookies or passwords.
Read what we found