Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-05-28

This policy covers two things: (1) the Stud Finder Android app distributed through F-Droid, and (2) the studfinderapp.com website. The short version: the app collects nothing, and the website runs no analytics or tracking.

The Android app

The Stud Finder app collects no personal data, sends no telemetry, and makes no network connections. The INTERNET and ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE permissions were removed during the open-source conversion specifically so the app cannot communicate with any server, including ours.

Specifically:

• No analytics. No Google Analytics, no Firebase, no third-party SDKs of any kind. Anyone can verify this by reading the source at github.com/toadlyBroodle/StudFinderAndroid or by inspecting the F-Droid build logs.
• No crash reporting. Firebase Crashlytics was removed.
• No ads. AdMob was removed.
• No accounts, no logins, no identifiers. The app never asks for any personal information.
• No tracking of magnetometer readings. The sensor data your device's compass produces is processed on-device for stud detection and discarded. It is never saved, logged, or transmitted.
• The WAKE_LOCK permission is the only sensitive permission declared. It keeps the screen on during a detection session so the device doesn't sleep while you're using it as a finder. It does not access any data.

F-Droid's build server compiles the app from this public source and signs the resulting APK. If the byte content of F-Droid's reproduced build matches our developer-signed release, F-Droid ships the developer-signed binary. The AntiFeatures: [] declaration in the F-Droid metadata means no anti-features (Ads, Tracking, NonFreeNet, NonFreeDep, etc.) apply.

The studfinderapp.com website

The website collects only what is strictly necessary to operate it.

No analytics

The website runs no analytics, no tracking pixels, and no third-party scripts. Each page is plain HTML, CSS, and a small amount of inline JavaScript for the install-button routing (Android vs iOS vs desktop). Nothing on the website measures your visit beyond the standard server logs described below.

Server logs

The website is hosted on a private VPS. The web server (nginx) writes a standard access log for each request that contains your IP address, browser user-agent, the URL requested, and a timestamp. These logs are retained for up to 30 days for security purposes (detecting and blocking abusive traffic) and then rotated out. The logs are not shared, sold, or used for marketing.

Lightning donations

If you choose to send a Lightning tip via tips@studfinderapp.com, the Bitcoin Lightning Network payment routes through our LNBits instance. Lightning payments are pseudonymous by default. We see only the amount and any optional comment you attach. We do not see your wallet identity, IP, or any personal details.

Outbound links

The website links to F-Droid, GitHub, and other external sites. Once you click an outbound link, that site's own privacy policy applies. We do not track which outbound links you click.

Affiliate links and advertising (planned)

The website does not currently include affiliate product links or display advertising. When these are added, they will use cookies set by the respective ad network or affiliate program (Amazon Associates, AdSense or Ezoic). This policy will be updated before any such tracking goes live, and the new disclosure will be visible on the homepage and in this policy at the same time the technology is enabled.

Children

The app and website are not directed at children under 13 and do not knowingly collect any information from them. If you believe a child has provided information through any of our surfaces, contact us using the address below and we will delete it.

Your rights

Because the app collects no data, there is nothing to access, correct, or delete on the app side. For the website, the only personal data potentially associated with you are server log IP entries (rotated within 30 days). To request deletion of log entries that may identify you, contact us at the address below; please include the approximate date and time of your visit so we can locate the relevant entries.

Changes to this policy

If we materially change how data is collected or used, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and announce the change on the homepage. Continued use of the website or app after a change indicates acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

Privacy questions or deletion requests: open an issue at github.com/toadlyBroodle/StudFinderAndroid/issues (you do not need to provide your real name).

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