Is Mue Safe and Private to Use?

Updated

Mue is designed to be a low-risk browser extension for privacy-conscious users: its code is open source on GitHub, the site states it contains no tracking and collects no personal data, and all data is stored on your device and not shared without your consent. These claims make it reasonable to try if you want a customizable new tab page and are willing to do a quick check of the repository yourself. It is not a guarantee of security—open source means the code can be reviewed, not that every user has reviewed it.

What Mue says about privacy and openness

Mue describes itself as a "fast, open and free-to-use browser extension" that replaces the new tab page with customizable backgrounds, quotes, and widgets. On privacy, the site makes three concrete statements:

  • No tracking and no personal data collection. The site says Mue "contains no tracking" and does not collect personal data.
  • On-device storage. All data is stored on your device and "is never shared without your consent."
  • Fully open source. The code is published on GitHub, so anyone can inspect what the extension actually does.

These are the vendor's own claims. The value of the open-source point is that you don't have to take them on faith—you can verify them.

How to check the claims before installing

  1. Open the GitHub repository linked from muetab.com ("View Mue on GitHub"). Confirm the repository is active and matches the extension you plan to install.
  2. Look at recent activity. The site lists 50+ collaborators, 700+ GitHub stars, 70+ forks, and a first version in 2018. Check that commits and issue responses are recent rather than years old.
  3. Scan the issues tab ("See open issues") for privacy- or permission-related reports and how maintainers responded.
  4. Compare permissions after install. Install from your browser's official store (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Whale are listed as supported), then open the extension's permission details and confirm they match what a new tab replacement needs.
  5. Test the data behavior. Change a setting, then check whether it persists locally; the site's claim is that settings stay on your device.

Expected result: you can confirm the repository exists, is maintained, and that the extension's stated behavior is consistent with its permissions. If any step doesn't line up, treat that as a reason to pause.

Where the limits are

  • Open source is not an audit. Community review and issue reporting help, but no independent security audit is mentioned on the page.
  • "No tracking" is a stated policy, not something this page proves. The GitHub code is the place to verify it.
  • Pricing and account requirements aren't specified beyond "free-to-use" and "open-source"; don't assume anything about future paid tiers or login requirements from this page alone.
  • Marketplace content is community-submitted. Background and quote packs from the Marketplace come from other users, so treat them as user content rather than vetted material.

Who this fits

Mue is a sensible choice if you want a customizable new tab page and value being able to inspect the code and report issues publicly. If you need a formally audited extension or a vendor with a dedicated privacy policy document, the page doesn't provide that—look for those specifics before installing.