Direct Answer: To keep Slack “active,” many tools ask for far more access than presence requires—like reading messages, files, or broad browser permissions. The safer approach is to choose the smallest necessary scopes, avoid tools that need workspace-wide access for a personal presence problem, and prefer solutions that don’t read content. Treat “read all messages” or “read/change all websites” as high-risk unless there’s a clear, documented reason.

If you want a schedule-based option with minimal access, see Idle Pilot or start free.

Slack Presence Tools: Privacy & Permissions Checklist

If you’ve ever hovered over an “Allow” button on a Slack app or browser extension and thought,

“Wait, why does this need to read all my messages?”

…you’re not being paranoid.

Many tools that promise to keep your Slack status green or “boost productivity” ask for:

Broad Slack scopes (channels, messages, DMs, files)
Browser permissions to “read and change data on all websites you visit”

That’s a lot of access for something that, in theory, just needs to help with presence.

If you’re shopping for a way to automate Slack status, treat permissions as part of the feature set: start with the smallest scope that can do the job, then compare tools against that baseline. The guide on automate Slack status includes guardrails that pair well with this checklist.

The good news: you don’t have to trade your privacy for a green dot. This guide will help you:

Understand the permissions these tools often ask for
Decide what feels reasonable for you and your company
Find patterns that focus narrowly on presence instead of everything you do in Slack

For a more security-focused take on specific hacks, you can pair this with Not all “stay online” tools are safe.

Permissions checklist (short)

Presence only: avoid tools that request message or file access.
No broad browser scopes: skip extensions that read all websites.
Account‑level connection: prefer tools that connect to your account without a workspace bot.

If you want a minimal‑access approach, see Slack presence scheduler hub and cloud service vs mouse jiggler.