Privacy Policy for Indic Browser

Last Updated: December 28, 2024

Introduction

Indic Browser ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our mobile browser application ("the App").

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Search Queries: When you search using the address bar, your queries are sent to your chosen search engine (default: Google)
• Bookmarks and Saved URLs: URLs you bookmark or save are stored locally on your device
• Settings and Preferences: Your browser settings, including ad blocker preferences, desktop mode settings, and other customizations

Information Automatically Collected

• Browsing Data:
  • URLs of websites you visit (stored locally for tab restoration and history)
  • Page titles and favicons
  • Navigation history within the app
  • Tab snapshots for visual tab switching
• Technical Information:
  • Device information (Android version, device model)
  • App usage analytics (via Firebase Analytics)
  • Crash reports and error logs
  • Storage usage statistics

Information Not Collected

• Personal Identification: We do not collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, or other personal identifiers
• Browsing Content: We do not read, store, or transmit the content of web pages you visit
• Passwords: We do not collect or store website passwords or login credentials
• Financial Information: We do not collect payment or financial information

How We Use Your Information

Local Storage and Functionality

• Tab Management: Store open tabs and their URLs to restore your browsing session
• Navigation History: Enable back/forward navigation within the app
• Bookmarks: Save and organize your favorite websites
• Settings Persistence: Remember your preferences across app sessions
• Performance Optimization: Cache data to improve loading speeds

Analytics and Improvement

• App Performance: Monitor app stability and identify areas for improvement
• Feature Usage: Understand which features are most valuable to users
• Crash Prevention: Analyze crash reports to fix bugs and improve stability

Data Storage and Security

Local Storage

• Device Storage: Most of your data is stored locally on your device
• Encryption: Sensitive data is protected using Android's built-in security features
• Access Control: Only the Indic Browser app can access its stored data

Third-Party Services

• Firebase Analytics: Anonymous usage statistics are sent to Google Firebase
• Search Engines: Search queries are sent directly to your chosen search engine
• Websites: When you visit websites, they may collect their own data according to their privacy policies

Data Retention

• Local Data: Remains on your device until you clear it or uninstall the app
• Analytics Data: Retained by Firebase according to their data retention policies
• Crash Reports: Automatically deleted after 90 days

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We Do Not Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

Limited Sharing

• Search Engines: Your search queries are sent to your chosen search engine
• Websites: Standard web browsing data is shared with websites you visit
• Analytics: Anonymous usage data is shared with Firebase Analytics
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights

Your Privacy Controls

Data Management

• Clear Browsing Data: Clear history, cache, and stored data through app settings
• Bookmark Management: Add, edit, or delete bookmarks at any time
• Tab Management: Close tabs individually or clear all tabs
• Settings Reset: Reset all app settings to defaults

Privacy Features

• Ad Blocking: Built-in ad blocker to reduce tracking and improve privacy
• uBlock Origin: Advanced ad and tracker blocking capabilities
• Cookie Control: Manage cookie acceptance and storage

Third-Party Services

Mozilla GeckoView

Our app uses Mozilla's GeckoView engine, which is subject to Mozilla's privacy policy.

Firebase Analytics

We use Google Firebase Analytics for app improvement. Data is anonymized and aggregated.

Search Engines

When you search, your queries are sent to your chosen search engine (Google by default).

Websites You Visit

Each website you visit has its own privacy policy governing data collection.

Children's Privacy

Indic Browser is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

International Users

If you use Indic Browser outside your country of residence, your information may be transferred to and processed in other countries.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Providing in-app notifications for significant changes

Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request information about data we have about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your data
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to certain data processing activities

Contact Us

Technical Details

Data Types and Storage Locations

• Browsing History: Stored in Android SharedPreferences
• Bookmarks: Stored in local SQLite database
• Tab Snapshots: Stored in app cache directory
• Settings: Stored in Android SharedPreferences
• Temporary Files: Stored in app cache, automatically cleaned

Security Measures

• Local Encryption: Sensitive data encrypted using Android Keystore
• Secure Transmission: HTTPS used for all network communications
• Access Controls: App data protected by Android's app sandboxing
• Regular Updates: Security patches delivered through app updates

Data Minimization

We collect only the minimum data necessary for app functionality and follow the principle of data minimization.