Privacy Policy
Effective date: September 13, 2026 · Last updated: September 13, 2026
The short version (TL;DR)
- Local-first. NearFind works with no account and no internet. Your find-it loop runs entirely on your phone.
- Anonymous by default. Cloud sync is optional and uses an anonymous ID — no email, no name, no phone number required.
- We never sell your data and never build advertising profiles from the devices you look for.
- No ads while searching. A single optional banner appears only on the Settings screen.
- You control deletion. Deleting your anonymous account erases all your cloud data automatically.
This Privacy Policy explains what information NearFind (the "App", "we", "us") collects, why we collect it, where it is stored, and the choices and rights you have. It applies to the NearFind mobile applications for iOS and Android and to this website. By using the App you agree to the practices described here.
1. Information we collect
NearFind collects the minimum data needed to help you find Bluetooth devices nearby and, only if you enable it, to sync that data across your own phones. If you never sign in, none of the "Cloud-synced" items below leave your device.
a) Data you create in the App
| Category | Specific data | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Saved devices ("Vault") | Device name you choose, device type, icon, Bluetooth MAC address, signal-calibration values, favorite flag, device profile mode, created / last-seen timestamps | On-device; cloud-synced if you enable sync |
| Last-seen events | Coarse GPS location (latitude, longitude, accuracy), nearby Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and identifier (BSSID) used as a room hint, last Bluetooth signal strength (RSSI), a short motion (IMU) snapshot, and whether a "put-down" was inferred, with a timestamp | On-device; cloud-synced if you enable sync |
| Search sessions | Which saved device you searched for, start / end time, whether it was found, peak "hot" percentage, the breadcrumb path you walked (as a compact trail), and duration | On-device; cloud-synced if you enable sync |
| Purchase status | Product identifier (e.g. Pro, Lifetime, Remove Ads, Tips), entitlement status, purchase / expiry dates, and store platform. We do NOT collect or store your payment receipt, card details, or store account. | Status cloud-synced if you enable sync; receipt stays on-device (see §2) |
| Profile & preferences | App language / locale, membership tier, and non-sensitive UI preferences | On-device; locale/tier cloud-synced if you enable sync |
b) Account identifier
Cloud sync uses an anonymous authentication token issued by our database provider. It is a random ID with no email address, name, or phone number attached. We use it solely to keep your data separate from other users' data.
c) Information we do NOT collect
- We do not require or collect your email address, real name, phone number, or contacts.
- We do not collect precise continuous location history or track you across other apps and websites.
- We do not collect the contents of the devices you are looking for — only Bluetooth signal behaviour.
- We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to anyone.
2. Information that stays only on your device
Some data is intentionally never uploaded to any server:
- High-frequency signal samples (RSSI). During a search the App records rapid Bluetooth signal-strength samples to draw the live signal curve and build the breadcrumb trail. These raw samples are stored only locally and are automatically deleted after 7 days. Only compact, aggregated results (peak hot %, trail) are included in a synced search session — never the raw sample stream.
- Purchase receipts. The store purchase receipt is kept in your device's secure hardware storage (iOS Keychain / Android Keystore). Only a non-sensitive reference and the entitlement status are stored elsewhere; the receipt itself never goes to our database.
3. Permissions we request
Each permission is optional and used only for the stated purpose. Denying a permission disables the related feature but never blocks the rest of the App.
- Bluetooth — to detect nearby Bluetooth devices and read their signal strength so we can guide you to them.
- Location (while using the App) — on Android, Bluetooth scanning requires location permission; we also use an approximate location to remember where a device was last seen. We do not build a continuous location history.
- Motion & fitness — to detect the moment you set your phone down during a search, which improves the breadcrumb and put-down detection.
- Tracking transparency (iOS) — if you use the free, ad-supported version, iOS may ask whether personalised ads are allowed. This is entirely optional and does not affect finding your devices.
4. How we use information
- To provide the core find-it experience (hot/cold proximity, sound, and haptic guidance).
- To remember where a device was last seen and to sync your Vault across your own phones (only if you enable sync).
- To restore your purchases and unlock the features you paid for.
- To keep the App secure and to prevent abuse of the service.
- To show a single optional banner advertisement on the Settings screen (see §6).
We do not use the devices you search for, your last-seen locations, or your search trails to build an advertising profile or to identify you.
5. Third-party services
We use a small number of trusted providers. Each processes data under its own privacy terms:
| Provider | Purpose | Data involved |
|---|---|---|
| Supabase | Optional cloud database & anonymous authentication for cross-device sync | The cloud-synced items in §1a and the anonymous account ID |
| Google AdMob (via Google Mobile Ads SDK & UMP) | Serving the optional Settings-screen banner and rewarded ads | Standard advertising identifiers and consent state; see §6 |
| Apple App Store / Google Play | Processing in-app purchases | Payment is handled entirely by the store. We never see your card number; we receive only a purchase token/receipt and entitlement status |
6. Advertising and your consent
The free version of NearFind may show a small banner advertisement only on the Settings screen. There are never ads during the search flow. You can remove all ads at any time with a one-time "Remove Ads" purchase.
We use Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP) to request consent before any ad is loaded. In the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland, we show a consent message and honour your choice regarding personalised advertising under the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF). You can change your ad preferences at any time via your device's ad settings (Google "Ads" settings / Apple "Privacy & Security → Tracking") or by removing ads in the App.
7. Data sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with the service providers listed in §5, solely to operate the App, and only where required by law. We do not share your Vault, last-seen locations, or search trails with advertisers.
8. Data retention and deletion
- On-device data is retained until you delete it in the App or uninstall the App. Raw signal samples auto-delete after 7 days (§2).
- Cloud data is retained only while your anonymous account exists.
- Deletion: You can delete individual items in the App at any time. To erase everything, request account deletion (Settings in the App, or email us). Deleting your account permanently removes all associated cloud rows — devices, last-seen events, search sessions, purchase status, and profile — via automatic cascading deletion.
9. Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live (including the GDPR in the EEA/UK and the CCPA/CPRA in California), you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data, to restrict or object to processing, and to withdraw consent at any time. Because NearFind is anonymous and local-first, you can exercise most of these rights directly in the App. For anything else, email support@nearfind.techgear.today and we will respond within the timeframe required by law. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.
10. Data security
All data in transit is protected with TLS encryption. Cloud data is protected with row-level security so that each anonymous account can only ever read or write its own rows. Sensitive purchase receipts are stored in your device's hardware-backed secure storage. No method of storage is 100% secure, but we take commercially reasonable measures to protect your information.
11. Children's privacy
NearFind is not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your jurisdiction), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal data, contact us and we will promptly delete it.
12. International data transfers
If you enable cloud sync, your data is stored with our database provider (Supabase), which may process data in the United States or the European Union depending on the project region. Transfers are performed under applicable safeguards. If you never enable sync, your data never leaves your device.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, for material changes, provide notice in the App or on this website. Your continued use after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
14. Contact us
Questions about this Privacy Policy or your data? Contact us at:
NearFind
Email: support@nearfind.techgear.today
Website: https://nearfind.techgear.today