Compare Chrome extensions: Tel Linker vs Privacy Badger

Stats Tel Linker Tel Linker Privacy Badger Privacy Badger
User count 4,000+ 1,000,000+
Average rating 4.45 4.42
Rating count 20 1,711
Last updated 2019-02-05 2024-02-06
Size 17.22K 1.90M
Version 0.5.3 2024.2.6
Short description
Locates telephone numbers on a page and converts them into clickable links. Privacy Badger automatically learns to block invisible trackers.
Full summary

By default, the extension only supports U.S. phone numbers, however users can add custom matching Regular Expression. I recommend testing your regex at https://regex101.com/. When formatting the links, the groups are filled in using {#}. If the regex test showing matching group 1 is 67, then {1} will be replaced with 67. {0} will always replace with the originally matched string.

Keep in mind that in order to use this extension you must have software which can bind on your protocol of choice (see windows default programs, default programs by protocol)! Applications like Cisco Jabber, Skype, VerticalWave Dialer, etc. Either that or you have to have a phone system that supports some kind of http/https dialing, ie: http://callsystem.mycompany/call?number={1}{2}{3}

When matching phone numbers, it will provides 4 replacement variables for you to work with. {0} translates to the original number, in its a original state. {1} is the area code, {2} is the 3 digit part, and {3} is the four digit part.

EG: (555) 666-7777 {0} = (555) 666-7777 {1} = 555 {2} = 666 {3} = 7777

The default settings create a tel link, formatted as +1-555-666-7777, without changing the actual displayed text. If you need to use something other than tel, would like a different format, or need another dial out code, just change it in options! I would recommend that you not use the {0} replacement for the actual Tel Link portion, simply because some websites have decided to use 'pretty' formatting on their phone numbers, ie: 555.666.7777. Using periods in a phone number, for most phone clients, is not valid. The standard is to use either dashes to separate the numbers ({1}-{2}-{3}) or to simply have no separation ({1}{2}{3}).

If for some reason the extension misses a phone number, you can also try selecting the phone number and right clicking to use the context menu option. It will still try and apply the matching standards on the number just in case the issue was related to some odd DOM circumstance; if it can't match a phone number, it will simply parse out whatever protocol you've set and stick it in front of whatever you have highlighted.

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Instead of keeping lists of what to block, Privacy Badger automatically discovers trackers based on their behavior. Privacy Badger sends the Global Privacy Control signal to opt you out of data sharing and selling, and the Do Not Track signal to tell companies not to track you. If trackers ignore your wishes, Privacy Badger will learn to block them.

Besides automatic tracker blocking, Privacy Badger replaces potentially useful trackers (video players, comments widgets, etc.) with click-to-activate placeholders, and removes outgoing link click tracking on Facebook and Google, with more privacy protections on the way. To learn more, see our FAQ at https://privacybadger.org/#faq

To get help or to report bugs, please email extension-devs@eff.org. If you have a GitHub account, you can use our GitHub issue tracker at https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/issues

*** Why does Privacy Badger need to read and change all my data on the websites I visit? ***

When you install Privacy Badger, your browser warns that Privacy Badger can “read and change all your data on the websites you visit”. You are right to be alarmed. You should only install extensions made by organizations you trust.

Privacy Badger requires these permissions to do its job of automatically detecting and blocking trackers on all websites you visit. We are not ironically (or unironically) spying on you. For more information, see our Privacy Badger extension permissions explainer: https://github.com/EFForg/privacybadger/blob/master/doc/permissions.md

Note that the extension permissions warnings only cover what the extension has access to, not what the extension actually does with what it has access to (such as whether the extension secretly uploads your browsing data to its servers). Privacy Badger will never share data about your browsing unless you choose to share it (by filing a broken site report). For more information, see EFF’s Privacy Policy for Software: https://www.eff.org/code/privacy/policy