The latest articles on DEV Community by Bhavik Panchal (@beauweb). https://dev.to/beauweb https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F2462198%2Fc465a170-ba6d-4727-aad8-193eded670cb.png https://dev.to/beauweb en Bhavik Panchal Sat, 10 Oct 2026 20:17:06 +0000 https://dev.to/beauweb/how-to-password-protect-chrome-tabs-without-locking-your-entire-pc-138d https://dev.to/beauweb/how-to-password-protect-chrome-tabs-without-locking-your-entire-pc-138d <p>Whether you work from an open-plan office, a university library, or a busy coffee shop, stepping away from your desk always poses a dilemma: </p> <p>Do you lock your entire OS every 5 minutes, or leave sensitive dashboards, terminal tabs, and personal accounts exposed to curious glances?</p> <p>Most developers just want a quick shortcut to shield their active browser session. </p> <h3> The Problem With Existing Solutions </h3> <p>When looking for a solution, many existing browser lockers suffer from:</p> <ol> <li> <strong>Unnecessary network permissions</strong> (sending telemetry to analytics services).</li> <li> <strong>Heavy memory usage</strong> (bloating browser performance).</li> <li> <strong>Complex multi-step setups</strong>.</li> </ol> <h3> Paneward: Privacy-First Browser Lock </h3> <p>To solve this, I built <strong>Paneward</strong> — a clean, zero-compromise browser privacy lock designed with minimalism in mind.</p> <h4> Key Features: </h4> <ul> <li> <strong>Instant Tab Shielding:</strong> Lock active tabs with one click or a custom shortcut.</li> <li> <strong>PIN/Master Password:</strong> Resume seamlessly when you return.</li> <li> <strong>Auto-Lock on Idle:</strong> Automatically locks down when no activity is detected.</li> <li> <strong>100% Offline &amp; Private:</strong> Built without remote APIs or tracking cookies. All encryption happens strictly locally.</li> </ul> <h3> How to Try It </h3> <p>You can install it directly from the Chrome Web Store:</p> <p>🔗 <strong>Get Paneward on Chrome Web Store:</strong> <a href="https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/paneward-%E2%80%94-browser-privac/mdkoeaofafloliddjcloeojapldeflal?authuser=1&amp;hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/paneward-%E2%80%94-browser-privac/mdkoeaofafloliddjcloeojapldeflal?authuser=1&amp;hl=en</a></p> <p>If you use it during your workday, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below!</p> chrome productivity privacy webdev