What the extension handles
The toolkit processes the dimensions, material, density, piece count, unit price and currency you enter to calculate weight and material cost. You can choose to remember these inputs. It also handles notebook entries you create, including specifications, quantities, delivery locations, source URLs and notes.
Using the right-click capture action saves the text you deliberately select and its source page URL. The extension removes URL credentials, query strings and fragments before saving. It does not read page bodies automatically, collect an ongoing browsing history, read cookies, capture passwords, or access your Chrome account.
Local storage and encryption
Notebook records, remembered calculator inputs and saved price observations are encrypted with AES-256-GCM in this extension’s local Chrome storage. A non-extractable encryption key is kept in the extension’s IndexedDB on the same device. This is local encryption, not a password vault or a guarantee against someone controlling your unlocked browser or device.
Notebook entries, the undo copy, and remembered calculator inputs are not uploaded to TechAbout, MetalSite or a cloud notebook service by the extension. They are not stored using Chrome Sync. Market preference, the selected tool and generic interface notices are stored locally as ordinary preferences.
Optional MetalSite market requests
Market indications are loaded only after you click the load button and allow access to metalsite.com. The extension makes an HTTPS request for the selected country and quote currency. It sends no notebook entries, selected text, source URLs, calculator inputs or authentication cookies with that request.
As with any online request, MetalSite and its hosting/CDN providers receive normal connection metadata such as the IP address, request time and browser-generated request headers. That infrastructure may keep operational or security logs under the website privacy policy. The extension has no advertising or usage analytics code and sends no installation or notebook telemetry to a separate analytics service.
Optional connected workspace and replies
Sign-in and registration take place on MetalSite. The extension does not receive your password, website cookies or full website login token. You approve a matching connection code on the website. MetalSite stores hashed connection codes and hashed, limited access tokens, together with the owning account, Chrome installation identifier, approval status and expiry. Unapproved codes expire after ten minutes; approved workspace sessions last up to two hours. Expired server records may remain for security administration until removed by an administrator.
After approval, the extension can request your name, account email, country, company name, workspace counts, latest materials and buy requests, and your own private proposal conversations. It sends a reply body and conversation reference to MetalSite only when you press Send reply. Messages are retained as normal website conversation records. Disconnecting does not delete messages already sent.
The limited token is stored in Chrome session memory, not permanent local storage or Chrome Sync. Private workspace responses and unsent reply drafts stay in the open panel’s memory and are not written to the notebook. Closing the panel clears these displayed responses and drafts; closing Chrome clears the session token. Website approval and server-side ownership checks are required again after the connection expires. You can revoke active sessions at connected tools. Removing host permission clears the extension’s local connection; revoke it on the website to end server access immediately.
Proposal decisions and administrator reviews
Version 1.2 requests fresh website approval before enabling proposal decisions. Existing read/reply connections keep their original permissions until you reconnect. Confirming a proposal decision sends the proposal reference and chosen accept, reject or withdraw action to MetalSite. The website’s participant, proposer, expiry and status rules still apply. Acceptance records agreement in principle.
Administrator publication review is a separate opt-in checkbox on the website connection screen. When allowed, the extension reads a bounded queue of pending material listings and buy requests, including their submitted text, quantity, location, status and update time. Full photos open on the website. A confirmed approval publishes the record; rejection closes it. The action sends the record type/reference, expected update time and decision to MetalSite. Current administrator access is checked again for each request. It does not activate historical suppliers or give ordinary users moderation access.
Industry headlines
News loads after your explicit click. The extension requests the MetalSite news endpoint without account authentication. MetalSite fetches and caches fixed public RSS feeds from the World Steel Association and the American Iron and Steel Institute, alongside current published MetalSite news. No account information, notebook content, message or country preference is sent to those publishers. The extension displays headline, publisher, link and original publication date; full articles open in a normal publisher tab. Loading feeds involves normal connection metadata at MetalSite. Opening a publisher link involves that publisher’s own policies. Saving a headline stores a link and publication details in your encrypted local notebook.
Saved market observations
Qualifying public market observations are saved in an encrypted local history when you load market indications. The extension keeps up to 60 observations for each comparable series and 3,000 overall. Unchanged observations are not added again. Charts compare saved observations, with actual observation and saved dates; they are not backfilled daily prices. Clear saved price history independently inside Markets.
Exports, clipboard and website links
Export creates a readable JSON file on your device. The exported file is not encrypted by the extension; keep it private if it contains commercial information. Copying an RFQ places the reviewed draft on your system clipboard. Any later sharing or sending is your action.
Opening a source page, MetalSite form, privacy page or support link opens a normal browser tab. The destination website’s policies apply there. Preparing an RFQ does not post it, submit a bid, send a message or execute a trade automatically.
Your controls
- Edit, search, remove and export notes inside the notebook.
- Undo the last removal. “Delete all notes” also removes the undo copy after confirmation.
- Choose whether to remember calculator inputs. Turn that option off or reset the calculator to remove its saved inputs.
- Use “Remove MetalSite access” to revoke optional host permission. Disconnect the workspace or revoke a connection on the website. Clear saved price history separately.
- Uninstall the extension to remove its local extension data through Chrome. Independently saved exports remain wherever you downloaded them.
Local data remains until you change or delete it or Chrome removes the extension’s storage. The extension has no remote copy from which TechAbout can recover a lost local notebook or encryption key.
Use of browser data
Information accessed through Chrome APIs is used only to provide the described metal sourcing features. We do not sell this data, use it for advertising or credit decisions, or transfer notebook contents to data brokers. Our use of information received through Chrome APIs follows the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements.
Support and changes
For questions or a privacy request, use MetalSite support and identify the Chrome extension. Share only the information needed for your question. Any material change in how the extension handles data will be reflected here and disclosed in the product before that new use begins.