Privacy Policy for OffBridge

Effective Date: 28/7/2026

Thank you for using OffBridge ("the App"). This Privacy Policy explains our principles regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of information. Our core philosophy is simple: your data is yours, and we do not want it.

THE CORE PRINCIPLE: WE DO NOT COLLECT YOUR DATA

OffBridge is designed from the ground up with your privacy as the highest priority. The App facilitates direct, peer-to-peer (P2P) communication between your devices over your local Wi-Fi network.

We do not have servers that collect, store, or process your personal data. All of your data remains on your devices and on your local network.

Specifically, we DO NOT collect, receive, or share:
• The content of your clipboard.
• The files you transfer.
• Your name, email address, or any other personal identifiers.
• Your contacts, location, or any other sensitive device information.

The App functions without requiring you to create an account or sign in.

INFORMATION THE APP STORES LOCALLY ON YOUR DEVICE

To function correctly, OffBridge stores a small amount of data exclusively on your device's local storage. This data is under your control and never leaves your device to be sent to us. This includes:

• Cryptographic Keys: After you explicitly pair two devices, the two devices establish a unique AES-256 encryption key between themselves, and that key is stored securely on each device. It is used to encrypt the clipboard content and files exchanged between those two paired devices and is essential for the App's security. Device-discovery broadcasts are not encrypted, as described below.

• Paired Device Information: The App stores the local IP address and user-chosen device name of devices you have paired with. This is used to identify and connect to them on your local network.

• Clipboard History: The App maintains a local history of clipboard items you have copied for your convenience. This history is stored only on your device and can be cleared by you at any time from within the App.

• Device Name: The name you choose for your device in the App's settings is stored locally to identify it to other devices on your network.

HOW YOUR DATA IS TRANSFERRED

All data transfers (both clipboard and files) occur directly between your devices, either over your local Wi-Fi network or over a direct device-to-device radio link when no network is available. Your data does not pass through our servers or any third-party servers, and no transfer is carried over the internet.

Clipboard content is always encrypted. It is protected with authenticated AES-256-GCM encryption, and since version 3.5.0 the App rejects any clipboard payload that arrives unencrypted rather than accepting it.

Files sent over your local Wi-Fi network are encrypted with the same authenticated AES-256-GCM protection whenever both devices support it, which covers every version from 3.4.0 onward. If a device that previously used encryption stops offering it, the App refuses the transfer rather than falling back to sending your files unencrypted.

Files sent off-grid (over Wi-Fi Direct or a hotspot, with no router involved) are encrypted from Android version 3.7.3 and Windows version 3.7.7 onward. In earlier versions the file contents travelled unencrypted across that direct link between the two devices. If you use off-grid transfers, please update both devices.

DEVICE DISCOVERY ON YOUR LOCAL NETWORK

To let your devices find each other automatically, the App periodically broadcasts a small discovery message on your local Wi-Fi or hotspot network. This message contains only your chosen device name, your device's local IP address, and its operating system type (for example, "Android"). These broadcasts are sent only on your local network so that nearby devices can offer to pair or connect. They are never sent to us, to the internet, or to any third party, and no internet connection is used for discovery. Unlike your clipboard and file transfers, which are encrypted as described above and exchanged only between your own devices, these discovery messages are not encrypted and are visible to other devices on the same local network. For this reason, we recommend using the App on trusted, private networks. You can stop these broadcasts at any time by turning off "Discoverable to other devices" in Settings.

WHICH FEATURES USE WHICH PERMISSIONS

So it is clear what each feature does, here is how the App uses your network and permissions:

• Finding nearby devices: Uses your local Wi-Fi or hotspot network, and on some Android versions the Location and Nearby Devices permission. It does not use your mobile (cellular) data.
• Pairing two devices: Uses your local Wi-Fi network, or the camera (to scan a QR code) or NFC (to tap), to exchange the encryption key.
• Syncing clipboard text: Uses your local Wi-Fi network to send copied text to your paired devices.
• Transferring files on the same network: Uses your local Wi-Fi network.
• Off-grid transfers (no router or internet): Uses Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth to form a direct device-to-device connection, started with a QR code (camera) or an NFC tap. Needs the Location, Nearby Devices and Bluetooth permissions.
• Installing a received app: Uses the install permission, and only after you confirm it.
• Staying ready in the background: Uses a foreground service and notification to keep listening for incoming clipboard items and transfers.

In short, the App uses your local Wi-Fi, a hotspot, or a direct device-to-device connection for everything. It does not use your mobile (cellular) data for discovery or transfers, and it does not connect to the internet.

PERMISSIONS REQUESTED IN THE APP

OffBridge requests certain permissions to enable its features. Here is why we need them:

• Network Access (INTERNET, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, ACCESS_WIFI_STATE, CHANGE_WIFI_MULTICAST_STATE): Required to discover other devices and transfer data over your local Wi-Fi network.

• Location and Nearby Devices (ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES): Some Android versions require this permission before an app can scan for and connect to nearby devices over Wi-Fi Direct, which the App uses for off-grid transfers. We do not collect it, but the feature cannot find nearby devices without it. The App does not read, store, or share your physical location.

• Bluetooth (BLUETOOTH_ADVERTISE, BLUETOOTH_CONNECT): Used to help set up a direct, off-grid connection with a nearby device. We do not collect any data through it, and it is never used to track you.

• Camera and NFC (CAMERA, NFC): The camera is used only to scan a QR code, and NFC only to start a connection when you tap two devices together, for pairing and off-grid transfers. This information is processed on your device and is never stored or sent anywhere.

• Installing a Received App (REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES): Used only so that, with your explicit confirmation, you can install an app (APK) that you received through a transfer. The App never installs anything on its own.

• Foreground Service and Notifications (FOREGROUND_SERVICE, POST_NOTIFICATIONS): Required to run the service that listens for incoming connections and to show a persistent notification indicating the App is active and protecting your connection.

• Run at Startup (RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED): Allows the App to restart its service when you reboot your device, ensuring it is always ready to connect.

• Full-Screen Intent (USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT): Used to show you urgent, full-screen alerts for incoming pairing requests or file transfers so you do not miss them.

• Ignore Battery Optimizations (REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS): Strongly recommended to prevent the Android operating system from shutting down the App's background service, which would interrupt clipboard syncing and file transfers.

• External Storage (WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE): On older Android versions (SDK 28 and below), this is required to save received files to your device's storage.

THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

OffBridge does not use any third-party services for analytics, advertising, or any other purpose that would involve sharing your data.

CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

The App is not intended for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect any information from children. As we do not collect any personal data in the first place, we do not have a mechanism to verify the age of our users.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy at the same URL. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
[email protected]
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