Privacy Policy for ToolCompanion

Effective Date: September 11, 2025

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Welcome to ToolCompanion. Our mission is to provide simple, powerful, and accessible online tools for everyone. We are deeply committed to handling your data with the utmost transparency and care. Our foundational principle is to collect and process the absolute minimum data necessary to deliver and continually enhance our services.

This Privacy Policy meticulously explains what data we process, what information we collect, and precisely why. Please read it carefully to understand our practices and your rights.

2. Who We Are and Our Global Compliance

ToolCompanion ("we," "us," or "our") is a service provided from Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. For the purposes of applicable global data protection laws, we are the data controller of the information processed and collected through our services.

Our Privacy Policy is designed to comply with or exceed the requirements of leading global privacy standards, including but not limited to:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): Protecting the privacy rights of individuals in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA).
• CalOPPA (California Online Privacy Protection Act): Addressing the disclosure of online privacy policies for California residents.
• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) / CPRA (California Privacy Rights Act): Granting specific privacy rights to California consumers.

And other relevant privacy laws around the world.

3. Information We Do Not Collect (Your Personal Identity)

Our core principle of not collecting your personal identity remains paramount.

• No Account Required: You can use all tools on ToolCompanion without creating an account, logging in, or providing any directly identifiable personal information such as your name, email address, or phone number.
• No Direct Personal Data Collection: We do not directly solicit, collect, or store any information that identifies you as an individual.

4. How We Handle Your Files (Client-Side & Server-Side Processing)

We use two different methods to process your files, both meticulously designed with your privacy as the top priority.

1. Client-Side Processing (Maximum Privacy)

   For the vast majority of our tools, all file processing happens directly in your web browser on your own computer. Your files never leave your device and are not uploaded to our servers. This method offers the highest level of privacy and security as we never have access to your files or their content.

2. Server-Side Processing (For Complex Tools)

   A limited number of our more computationally intensive features (e.g., advanced PDF manipulations, complex image processing) require server-side power that a browser cannot efficiently provide. For these specific tools, your file is securely uploaded to our servers for processing. Our policy for handling these files is exceptionally strict:

   • Files are processed in memory to perform the requested operation.
   • Files are permanently deleted immediately after the task is complete and the resulting file has been sent back to you. We do not save, store, or archive your files on our servers, not even temporarily.

5. Advertising (Google AdSense)

To keep ToolCompanion free, accessible, and continuously updated, we display advertisements provided by Google AdSense.

• How Google AdSense Works: Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies and similar tracking technologies (including the DART cookie) to serve ads on our site. These technologies enable Google and its partners to display ads to our users based on their prior visits to ToolCompanion and/or other websites on the internet.
• Data Collected by AdSense: Google AdSense may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, approximate geographic location, pages visited, and other non-personally identifiable technical information to personalize ads, measure their effectiveness, and prevent fraudulent activity. This data is collected and processed according to Google's own Privacy Policy, which you can review at Google's Privacy & Terms and specific ad technologies at Google's Technologies & Data.
• Your Choices Regarding Personalized Ads:
  • You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ad Settings.
  • Alternatively, you can opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info.

6. Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies (for Site Performance & Analytics)

To help us monitor site usage, identify bugs, and improve ToolCompanion's performance for everyone, we use cookies and Google Analytics.

• What We Collect (Anonymous Usage Data): We collect anonymous, aggregated data about how users interact with our site. This includes information like which tools are most popular, how long users stay on a page, the type of device and browser used, general geographic location (e.g., country), and page visit durations. This data is considered "Usage Data."
• Why We Collect It: This information helps us understand user behavior trends, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about feature development. This Usage Data is not used to personally identify you.
• Types of Cookies Used:
  • Necessary / Essential Cookies (Session): These cookies are essential to provide you with services available through the Website and to enable you to use some of its features. They do not store any personally identifiable information.
  • Analytics / Performance Cookies (Persistent): Administered by Google Analytics, these cookies help us understand how users engage with our site, providing insights into traffic sources, popular content, and overall site performance.
  • Functionality Cookies (Persistent): These cookies allow us to remember choices you make when you use the Website, such as remembering a preferred setting for a tool. This provides you with a more personal experience.
• Your Choices & How to Opt-Out:
  • Google Analytics Opt-out: If you do not wish for your visit to be tracked by Google Analytics, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
  • Browser Settings: You can also manage your browser's cookie settings to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you disable cookies, some parts of our service may not function as intended. Please refer to your browser's help documentation for more information.

7. Data Security

The security of your data is paramount to us. We implement robust measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction of any data we process.

• Secure Connections: All data transfers between your device and our servers (for server-side processing) are encrypted using industry-standard Transport Layer Security (TLS/HTTPS).
• Secure Infrastructure: Our servers and infrastructure are configured with security best practices to protect against vulnerabilities.
• Ephemeral Processing: For server-side operations, files are processed in a highly secure, isolated, and ephemeral (short-lived) environment, ensuring no persistent storage.

8. Third-Party Services

In addition to Google AdSense and Google Analytics (as described in sections 5 and 6), ToolCompanion may utilize trusted open-source libraries or minimal backend services to facilitate specific features. These tools run in a secure, isolated environment and do not store or transmit your file content or any personal data to any external parties not explicitly mentioned in this policy.

9. Your Rights Under Global Privacy Laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, CPRA)

Depending on your geographical location, applicable privacy regulations (such as GDPR, CalOPPA, and CCPA/CPRA) grant you specific rights regarding your data.

Given our commitment to minimal data collection and instant file deletion:

• Rights of Access, Rectification, Erasure (Personal Data): Since we do not collect personal data that directly identifies you (like your name or email), the rights to access, rectify, or erase such data are largely met by our service design. If you believe we hold any specific data about you that you wish to access or have deleted, please contact us.
• Right to Opt-Out: You have the explicit right to opt-out of analytics data collection and personalized advertising at any time using the mechanisms described in sections 5 and 6.
• Right to Object/Restrict Processing: In certain circumstances, you have the right to object to or request restriction of the processing of your data.
• Right to Non-Discrimination (CCPA/CPRA): If you are a California resident, you have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with a relevant supervisory authority if you believe your rights are being violated.

If you have any questions about exercising these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed at individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and you become aware that your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from anyone under the age of 16 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.

11. Links to Other Websites

Our Service may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit, as we have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. If we make any material changes, we will notify you by updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting the information we process.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Email: support@toolcompanion.com
Website: https://www.toolcompanion.com/contact-us (or directly via the email above)