How to Check That Your Bank File Never Leaves Your Browser
Every useme4 tool says your file is processed in your browser and never uploaded. You don’t have to take that on trust. This guide shows how to watch every request the page makes, using tools already built into your browser.
Why check at all?
A bank statement shows your account number, balance, income and every payment you make. Many online converters work by uploading that file to their server, converting it there and sending the result back. Once a file is on someone else’s server, you have to trust how they store it, who can see it and when it is deleted.
useme4 works differently: the converter is a program that runs inside the web page, and it reads your file directly from your device. The browser’s developer tools let you confirm this yourself. They list every request a page sends, and they are the same tools web developers use every day.
Step 1: Open the developer tools
- Open the tool you want to check, for example Bank statement to QuickBooks.
- Open the developer tools:
- Chrome, Edge or Firefox on Windows or Linux: press F12, or Ctrl+Shift+I.
- Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a Mac: press Cmd+Option+I.
- Safari on a Mac: first turn on Settings → Advanced → Show features for web developers, then press Cmd+Option+I.
A panel opens at the side or bottom of the window. Developer tools are a desktop feature, so do this check on a computer rather than a phone.
Step 2: Watch the Network tab
- Click the Network tab at the top of the panel.
- Tick Preserve log (Firefox: Persist Logs in the settings menu) so nothing disappears from the list.
- Reload the page. The list fills up with everything the page needs to load.
- Click the clear button (a circle with a line through it) to empty the list. From now on, every new line is a request made after the page loaded.
Step 3: Convert a file
Choose a file, check the preview and download the result, just as you normally would. If you’d rather not test with real data, use the Try a sample bank file button, or download a sample such as this US bank export and choose it as your file.
Now look at the Network list. Two columns are the most useful: Method (GET means something was downloaded to you; POST usually means something was sent from you) and Size. If you can’t see the Method column, right-click any column heading and switch it on.
What you will see
Depending on the tool, you may see a few requests after choosing a file. All of them are explained below.
| Request | What it is |
|---|---|
Files from useme4.com/assets/… (GET) | Program code being downloaded to your browser. The PDF tools load a PDF reader (pdf.min.mjs and its worker) when you open your first PDF. PDF table to Excel loads a text-recognition engine (about 7 MB) the first time you read a scanned page. Merge PDF, Split PDF and Combine files load a Python runtime (about 6 MB) the first time you use them. |
useme4.com/samples/… (GET) | Only if you clicked the sample button: the sample file being downloaded to you. |
google-analytics.com, googletagmanager.com | Google Analytics, which counts page visits. Click one and open the Payload tab: you’ll see the page address and browser details, never your transactions. |
googlesyndication.com, doubleclick.net, adtrafficquality.google | Google ads, which pay for the site. These requests load and measure ads; they don’t contain your file. |
The analytics and ads requests also happen on pages with no tool at all, such as this guide, and they are a few kilobytes in size whether your file is 10 rows or 10,000. In the UK, EEA and Switzerland, analytics and ad cookies stay off until you accept the consent message. See the privacy policy and cookie policy for details.
What you will not see
- No request to any server that carries your file. An upload shows up as a POST or PUT request with a size close to your file’s size, and there isn’t one.
- No request whose Payload contains your transactions, payees or account number. Click any request and open its Payload (or Request) tab to check.
- No request when you click Download. The converted file is created in your browser and saved straight to your device.
Tip: type -domain:useme4.com into the Network filter box to hide useme4’s own files. What’s left is every request to another site, so it’s quick to go through.
The stronger test: go offline
If a tool still works with no internet connection, it can’t be uploading anything. To try it:
- Load the tool page. For the PDF tools, open one PDF first so the PDF reader is loaded. For Merge PDF, Split PDF and Combine files, run the tool once so Python is loaded.
- Disconnect: turn off Wi-Fi, or in the Network tab change the throttling menu (it usually says No throttling) to Offline.
- Choose a file and convert it. The preview appears and the download works, with no connection at all.
Ads and analytics will fail while you are offline. That’s expected and doesn’t affect the tool.
What this check doesn’t cover
- Browser extensions. Extensions you install can read the pages you visit, including this one. If you are cautious, use a browser profile without extensions, or a private window where extensions are off.
- The file you download. The converted file is saved on your device and contains the same data as your statement. Store and share it as carefully as the original.
- Other websites. This check only tells you about the page you test. You can use the same steps on any other online converter to see whether it uploads your file.
If you find a request you can’t explain, please tell us which tool you were using and what you saw.