Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1. Analytics Data (Website Only)

We use Vercel Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This data is aggregated and anonymized. It includes:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page.
• Browser type, device type, and operating system.
• Geographic location (Country/City level only).
• Referral source (how you found our website).

We do not track individual users or link this data to any personally identifiable information.

1.2. Advertising

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our website. Google AdSense may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites. Specifically:

• Google uses cookies (such as the DART cookie) to serve ads based on your visits to this and other websites on the Internet.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings (https://adssettings.google.com).
• Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites.

For more information on how Google uses data when you use our site, visit Google's Privacy & Terms page (https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites).

1.3. Chrome Extension Data

If you use the HardwareTest Chrome Extension:

• The extension does not collect, store, or transmit any user data, browsing history, or personal information.
• It operates solely as a launcher to open the diagnostic tools on our website.
• It does not require any special permissions (such as reading data on all websites).

2. How We Handle Test Data (Local Processing)

All diagnostics (Mouse, Keyboard, Audio, and Screen tests) are performed locally on your device using client-side JavaScript.

Input Data: Mouse clicks, keyboard presses, and scroll events are detected locally to provide visual feedback. This data vanishes the moment you close the tab.

Microphone Access: For the Audio Test, we may request permission to access your microphone to visualize audio levels. This audio stream is processed strictly within your browser's memory and is never recorded, uploaded, or shared with us or any third party.

No "Phone Home": We do not have a database of your test results. Your hardware health status stays with you.

3. Cookies

We do not use cookies for analytics. However, Google AdSense, our advertising partner, may use cookies to serve personalized ads. You can manage your ad personalization preferences at Google's Ads Settings or opt out of third-party cookies via your browser settings. Disabling cookies will not affect the core functionality of our testing tools.

4. Third-Party Services

We utilize trusted third-party services to keep our website running:

• Vercel Analytics: For anonymized traffic analysis.
• Vercel / Netlify: For secure website hosting and content delivery.
• Google AdSense: To display relevant advertisements and support our free tools.

These services operate under their own privacy policies.

5. Data Security

Since we do not collect personal user data or test results, there is no sensitive information stored on our servers to be compromised. Our website is served via HTTPS to ensure a secure connection between your browser and our content delivery network.

6. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Although we collect minimal to no personal data, we respect your rights:

• Right to Know: You can request details about the data we collect (as outlined in this policy).
• Opt-Out: You can opt out of analytics tracking by using browser privacy controls, add-ons, or ad blockers.

7. Children's Privacy

Our service is a general audience tool and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements. We will notify users of material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact us via email at:

Email: support@hardwaretest.org