Government, tax, and benefits forms ask for some of the most sensitive information you have: identification numbers, income, bank details, and family information. It is reasonable to ask whether any browser extension should be allowed near them. The answer depends less on the idea of autofill and more on how a particular tool stores and handles your data.
What an extension can see
To fill a form, an extension needs permission to read and change the pages you visit. That permission is powerful: in principle, an extension with it can read anything on those pages. This is why the trustworthiness of the developer and the design of the tool matter so much.
Five questions to ask before trusting a form filler
- Where is my data stored? The safest answer is "only on your device", encrypted, rather than on the developer's servers.
- Is the stored data encrypted? Look for a named standard such as AES-256-GCM rather than vague promises.
- Does anything leave my browser? If the tool uses AI, find out exactly which fields are sent, to whom, and whether you can exclude some.
- Can I read the privacy policy in plain language? A good policy explains data flows clearly and names third parties.
- Is the developer reachable? A real contact address and a history of updates are good signs.
How Aullevo handles this
Aullevo stores profiles in your browser, encrypted with AES-256-GCM, and does not upload them to Aullevo servers. Its offline matching engine fills standard fields without any network request. AI Smart Fill is optional and uses an AI provider you choose with your own API key; requests go directly from your browser to that provider. Each field can be marked SENSITIVE, and sensitive values are never sent to any AI provider.
Fields you should always handle yourself
Even with a careful tool, some information deserves manual entry and a second look:
- National ID, social security, or tax identification numbers.
- Bank account and routing numbers for refunds or benefit payments.
- Signatures, declarations, and any checkbox that confirms information is true under penalty of law.
- Income figures and dates that change from year to year.
Tip: A practical split: let the tool fill names, addresses, contact details, and household members, then type identification and financial numbers yourself and read the whole form before submitting.
General safety habits
- Only fill official forms on the official government domain. Check the address bar before entering anything.
- Keep your browser and extensions updated, and remove extensions you no longer use.
- Save or print a confirmation page after submitting, so you have a record if something goes wrong.
- Use a device you control. Avoid shared or public computers for sensitive forms.
Autofill can make bureaucratic forms far less tedious, but you remain responsible for what you submit. Choose tools that keep your data on your device, and keep a human review step before anything official is sent.