PII & Secret Scanner for VS Code

See PII and secrets highlighted in your editor. Block them from reaching AI models.

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The Problem

VS Code is the most popular code editor, and most AI coding assistants run inside it. Between Copilot, Cursor (VS Code fork), Continue, and built-in AI features, developers constantly send code to AI APIs. The AxSentinel extension adds a security layer directly in the editor.

The Solution

Install the AxSentinel extension from the VS Code Marketplace. It starts a local proxy automatically, intercepts AI API calls, and scans them for PII and secrets. It also highlights sensitive data directly in your editor so you can see what's at risk before you even invoke an AI feature.

Get Started in Minutes

1

Install from the Marketplace

Search for 'AxSentinel' in the VS Code Extensions panel, or install from the command line.

code --install-extension AxDevs.ax-sentinel
2

Set the scanner binary path

The extension needs the AxSentinel binary. If you ran the setup script, it's already in the default location. Otherwise, set it in VS Code settings → AxSentinel → Binary Path.

3

Choose your mode

Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and run 'AxSentinel: Set Mode'. Choose Block, Redact, or Prompt.

Key Features

Real-time PII highlighting

Sensitive data is underlined in your editor as you type. Hover for details.

Automatic proxy management

The extension starts and stops the scanner proxy automatically. No terminal commands needed.

Status bar indicator

See scanning status at a glance — green shield when active, red when issues are detected.

Allowlist support

Ignore specific strings (your own email, test SSNs) or patterns (*@mycompany.com) to reduce noise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the extension work in Cursor?
Yes. Cursor supports VS Code extensions. Install from Open VSX or sideload the .vsix file.
Does it slow down VS Code?
No. Document scanning runs in the background. Proxy scanning adds 1-5ms to AI API calls — invisible in practice.
Can I disable highlighting but keep the proxy?
Yes. Toggle highlighting with 'AxSentinel: Toggle PII Highlighting' in the Command Palette. The proxy continues to run.
Does it support remote/SSH development?
The extension runs locally. For Remote-SSH, install it on the remote host where the binary runs.

Ready to secure your AI workflow?

Free tier includes regex scanning for unlimited developers. Pro adds ML-powered detection and the compliance dashboard.

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Also available for

CursorClaude codeChatgptCopilotGDPRSOC2HIPAA