Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Vocabara Buddy ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how our Chrome extension collects, uses, stores, and protects your data.

By using Vocabara Buddy, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. We believe in transparency and want you to understand exactly what data we collect and how we use it.

Information We Collect

Authentication Information

• Email address (obtained via Google OAuth)
• Authentication tokens for secure session management
• User ID for cross-device data synchronization

Website Content

• Words you explicitly double-click or select for definition lookup
• The context sentence containing the selected word (for better translation accuracy)
• We do NOT automatically scan or store webpage content
• Content is only accessed upon your explicit action (double-click or selection)

User Activity

• Words you look up and their frequency
• Words you save to your vocabulary list
• Your language preferences and settings
• Learning progress and statistics

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information solely to provide and improve our vocabulary learning service:

• Provide instant word definitions and translations
• Save and synchronize your vocabulary across devices
• Track your learning progress and provide statistics
• Personalize your learning experience based on saved words
• Send optional reminders for vocabulary review
• Improve our dictionary database and translation accuracy
• Provide customer support when you contact us

Data Storage and Security

Where We Store Data

• Local Storage: Temporary cache, user preferences, and recent lookups (stored in your browser)
• Cloud Storage: Supabase database (encrypted) for saved words, user accounts, and learning progress
• Data Centers: Located in the United States with enterprise-grade security

Security Measures

• All data transmission is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols
• Database encryption at rest
• Secure authentication via Google OAuth 2.0
• Regular security audits and updates
• No storage of passwords (authentication handled by Google)

Data Retention

• Active account data: Retained until you delete your account
• Inactive accounts: Automatically deleted after 2 years of inactivity
• Local storage: Can be cleared anytime through browser settings

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate our extension:

• Google OAuth: For secure authentication (only accesses email address)
• Supabase: For data storage and synchronization
• OpenAI API: For generating contextual explanations and translations

Each service has its own privacy policy and we encourage you to review them. We only share the minimum necessary data with these services to provide our functionality.

Data Sharing

We take your privacy seriously and never sell your personal data. We only share your information in these limited circumstances:

• With your explicit consent
• To comply with legal obligations or court orders
• To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
• In connection with a merger or acquisition (with notice to users)

Your Rights and Choices

You have complete control over your data:

• Access: View all your saved words and data anytime
• Export: Download your vocabulary list in various formats
• Delete: Remove individual words or delete your entire account
• Opt-out: Use the extension without an account (limited features)
• Modify: Update your preferences and settings
• Portability: Export your data to use elsewhere

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the email provided below.

Children's Privacy

Vocabara Buddy is designed for users of all ages, including children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you are under 13, please have your parent or guardian create and manage your account. If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending an email to registered users (for significant changes)
• Displaying a notice in the extension

Compliance

This privacy policy complies with:

• Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for EU users
• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) for California residents
• COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) for users under 13

Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 48 hours.