Privacy Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
SecureCompress ("we", "our", or "the app") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our macOS PDF compression application.
Privacy at a Glance
- ✓Your PDFs are processed 100% locally on your Mac — never uploaded
- ✓We do not collect, store, or have access to your document contents
- ✓License validation transmits only your license key and anonymous device identifier
- ✓Local logs contain technical data only, never document content
Information We Collect
SecureCompress is designed with data minimization as a core principle. Here's exactly what we do and don't collect:
Data We Collect
License Information
When you purchase Pro, we store your license key and associate it with an anonymous device identifier (a hash of your Mac's hardware ID). This is used solely to validate your license and enforce the 2-device limit.
Purchase Information
If you purchase through our payment processor (Paddle/Gumroad), they collect standard payment information. We receive only your email address and license key — not your full payment details.
Support Communications
If you contact support, we retain your email address and correspondence to provide assistance.
Data We Do NOT Collect
- ✗PDF file contents, names, or metadata
- ✗Your compression settings or usage patterns
- ✗Personal documents or sensitive information
- ✗Browsing history or app usage analytics
- ✗Location data or IP addresses (beyond what's needed for license validation)
Local-Only Processing
All PDF compression happens entirely on your Mac. When you compress a PDF:
- The file is read from your local disk
- Pages are rendered and compressed using local CPU/memory
- The output is saved to your chosen local folder
- No data is transmitted to any server during this process
License Validation
Pro license validation requires periodic internet connectivity. During validation:
- •Your license key is sent to our validation server
- •An anonymous device identifier (hardware hash) is sent
- •We return a validation status (valid/invalid/expired)
- •No document data or personal information is transmitted
The app works offline between validation checks, with a grace period for extended offline use.
Local Logging
SecureCompress maintains local log files for troubleshooting:
📁 Location: ~/Library/Logs/SecureCompress/
✓ Logs contain: timestamps, error messages, performance metrics, app version
✗ Logs exclude: file names, file contents, personal data
You can delete logs at any time by removing the log folder.
Cookies & Website Tracking
Our website (securecompress.app) uses minimal cookies:
- •Essential cookies for basic website functionality
- •No third-party advertising or tracking cookies
- •No cross-site tracking or fingerprinting
We may use privacy-respecting analytics (like Plausible or Fathom) that don't use cookies or collect personal data.
Third-Party Services
Payment Processor
We use Paddle/Gumroad for payment processing. They have their own privacy policies governing payment data.
License Server
Our license validation server is hosted on secure infrastructure and processes only license keys and device identifiers.
No Analytics SDKs
The macOS app contains no analytics SDKs, crash reporters, or telemetry that transmit data without your knowledge.
Data Retention
- •License records: Retained while your license is active, plus 2 years after expiration for support purposes
- •Support emails: Retained for 3 years to provide ongoing assistance
- •Local logs: Stored on your device until you delete them
- •PDF files: Never stored by us — they exist only on your device
Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
Access
Request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
Correction
Request correction of inaccurate personal data
Deletion
Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
Portability
Request your data in a portable format
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@securecompress.app
GDPR Compliance (EU Users)
For users in the European Economic Area:
- •Legal basis for processing: Contract performance (license validation) and legitimate interests (fraud prevention)
- •Data transfers: License validation may involve data transfer to servers outside the EU, protected by standard contractual clauses
- •DPO: For a small independent app, we don't have a formal DPO, but privacy inquiries go directly to the founder
CCPA Compliance (California Users)
For California residents:
- •We do not sell personal information
- •We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising
- •You have the right to know, delete, and opt-out (though we collect minimal data)
Children's Privacy
SecureCompress is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us for deletion.
Security Measures
We protect your data through:
- ✓Local-first architecture that minimizes data exposure
- ✓Encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) for all server communications
- ✓Secure license validation with hashed device identifiers
- ✓Regular security reviews of our codebase
Data flow
1. Load locally
PDF stays on your Mac and is read from disk.
2. Process on-device
Pages are rendered, compressed, and reassembled locally.
3. Save output
The final PDF is written to your chosen folder.
Responsible disclosure
Report security issues to support@securecompress.app
We acknowledge reports within 72 hours and work toward fixes promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Significant changes will be announced via our website or app update notes. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
Contact Us
For privacy questions or concerns:
Email: support@securecompress.app
We respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days.
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