Gopher Buddy

Installed by your Google Workspace for Education admin. Tracks IP, user, timestamp data for school managed devices and users only.

Gopher Buddy - Chrome Extension for Education Management

Gopher Buddy is a Chrome extension for school-managed devices. It captures username, IP, start time, session duration, and offers high-resolution usage history and network IP reporting. Furthermore, it facilitates role-based access to session information and device metadata. It also encourages users to update their devices to prevent OS obsolescence. Administrative installation and a valid license are required. Note: Gopher Buddy does not track browsing history.
Install from Chrome Web Store

Extension stats

Users: 8,000,000+
Rating: 1.26
(77)
Version: 0.9.9.3 (Last updated: 2023-06-09)
Creation date: 2023-06-09
Risk impact: Moderate risk impact
Risk likelihood:
Manifest version: 2
Permissions:
  • alarms
  • storage
  • notifications
  • idle
  • identity
  • identity.email
  • enterprise.deviceAttributes
  • browsingData
Size: 1.97M

Ranking

# 55

Other platforms

G Buddy (vv1.0.0-2211-g7fac061a3)
3.00 (1,777) 511,727+
Not available on Firefox
Not available on Edge
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Extension summary

Are you a student, parent or teacher looking to understand what Gopher Buddy does? Have questions about privacy?

These resources may help: -https://amplifiedlabs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051865934-Frequently-Asked-Questions-for-end-users

The Gopher Buddy Chrome Extension partners with the Chrome Gopher Add-on to boost your fleet’s OS health and offers high-resolution usage history and network IP reporting on Chrome devices, as well as a handy way for students and staff to access key device info.

Gopher Buddy:

  1. Allows domain Administrators to capture username, IP address, start time, and session duration on MANAGED Chromebooks. Does NOT track browsing history.

  2. Gives end users role-based access to recent session information and device metadata like Serial Number and Asset ID.

  3. Nudges users to update and reboot their Chrome devices. Helps prevent Chromebooks from falling behind more than 3 OS versions.

See more

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Does what it's supposed to
  • Disabled spyware functionality
Cons
  • Blatant spyware
  • Invasion of privacy
  • Causes connectivity issues
  • Installed by school without consent
  • Educational institutions using it to monitor students
Most mentioned
  • Spyware
  • Invasion of privacy
  • Disabled in Chrome
User reviews
by TRISTAN KERR, 2024-12-03

1 star because looking into someone's IP can be illegal depending on what it is. If it is websites such as Wikipedia, then no it is not illegal (Wikipedia is never spying on someone's IP but editing on Wikipedia without a account shows the IP which that is not illegal). If it is used for hacking or trying to do something that can be illegal, then yes, that is illegal. It should never be attempted at any time. Spying on a student's IP or home IP is not allowed unless with reason. You shouldn't install this extension unless there is a reason
by Caden Nguyen, 2024-11-28

why can my school see my ip from home whatn that's so messed, on the website its even stated the school has to contact my internet provider to get my location from my IP you do know it takes 2 seconds to look up IP to location and they wouldn't contact no internet provider, and its also stated that any account on any website we log into on a chromebook will be tracked and monitered even saying if you log into Instagram or Snapchat etc that the school will be able to see and access the same things I am ON MY PERSONAL SOCIALS and thats its required for security arent my passwords and log ins my privacy that's beyonddddd to far. you guys are messed up for allowing straight spyware on the Google webstore, no person should be seeing what is done, there are privacy laws for a reason and this just goes straight against all of them, and why hide it as oh it checks for updates but at the same time it also allows your schools to see everything on the device that doesn't seem right to me. BRING BACK OUR PRIVACY. and I hope my schoolboard sees this too I wont sit by and allow this to be ok its wrong in so many ways. so many ways.
by Nathan Poingdestre, 2024-11-10
View all user reviews

Extension safety

Risk impact

Gopher Buddy requires a few sensitive permissions. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk likelihood

Gopher Buddy has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.

Upgrade to see risk analysis details

Promo images

Gopher Buddy small promo image
Small promo image

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