Privacy
Policy.
Welcome to Filehound("we," "our," or "us"). Your personal privacy and the confidentiality of your documents are fundamental to our architecture. This Privacy Policy details our data practices, 100% on-device processing model, device permissions, and compliance with Google Play Store policies.
100% On-Device Processing
All file scanning, metadata extraction, and text extraction (PDF, DOCX, TXT, code) occur exclusively on your local device hardware. No file data is ever uploaded to any cloud server or transmitted across the internet.
Zero Query Logging
Your search terms and keywords are processed strictly against your sandboxed, local SQLite database. We do not track, analyze, log, or transmit your search history.
No Cloud Storage or Servers
Filehound does not operate any remote database or cloud synchronizer for your files. All indexed records live securely inside your device's sandboxed app storage.
Instant Local Data Wipe
You maintain total control. You can wipe the local search database at any time in the app settings, and uninstalling the application permanently destroys all indexed records.
Core Architecture: 100% On-Device Processing
Filehound is designed from the ground up as a private, high-speed, offline-first local file search utility.
Local Computation:All file discovery, path traversal, metadata extraction (file name, path, extension, file size, last modified date), and full-text document parsing (PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, source code) are executed solely on your device's local processor.
Sandboxed SQLite Database: The index generated by Filehound is stored in an encrypted/sandboxed private SQLite database located in the application's internal data directory (/data/user/0/dev.mycosine.filehound/databases/). Other applications cannot access this database.
No Remote Uploads: We do not own, operate, or maintain any cloud database, server, or API that uploads, synchronizes, or inspects your personal files.
Android Permissions & Technical Justifications
To deliver fast, offline file indexing and document search, Filehound requires specific Android device permissions:
•All Files AccessMANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE / READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Core Functionality: Required to locate, read, extract text from, and index your documents and files across internal storage so they can be searched instantly offline. No file data leaves your device.
•NotificationsPOST_NOTIFICATIONS
Requested on Android 13+ to display background indexing progress, notification status, and completion alerts when indexing completes.
•Foreground ServicesFOREGROUND_SERVICE & FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC
Enables periodic background indexing (every 6 hours) or manual full-device re-indexing to complete reliably without being terminated mid-scan by the operating system memory manager.
•Run at StartupRECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Allows the app to reschedule the periodic background indexing worker after your device restarts so your search index stays up-to-date.
•Battery Optimization ExemptionREQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS
Directs the user to system settings to allow unrestricted background execution, preventing Android from killing background indexing workers before large document scans finish.
•Network AccessINTERNET & ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Required exclusively by the Google Mobile Ads SDK (AdMob) to display advertisements and by the Google Play Store for the in-app rating flow. The core search and indexing engine never uses the internet.
Third-Party Services & Advertising
Filehound integrates select third-party services for monetization and app delivery:
1. Google Mobile Ads (Google AdMob): Provided by Google LLC to support free development. AdMob may automatically collect device identifiers and usage telemetry:
- Google Advertising ID (GAID): Used for ad delivery, attribution, and fraud prevention.
- Approximate Location (Coarse): Inferred from IP address for geo-relevant ad delivery.
- Interaction Logs: Ad impressions, clicks, and load diagnostics.
- Device Telemetry: Device make, model, operating system version, and screen resolution.
Learn how Google handles advertising data:
How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services ↗
You can opt out of personalized advertising or reset your advertising ID anytime via:
Android Settings → Privacy / Google → Ads → Reset / Delete advertising ID
2. Google Play Services (In-App Review): Used to present the native Google Play in-app review bottom sheet. Handled directly by Google Play Services in accordance with Google Play Terms of Service.
3. User Feedback & Support: If you choose to send feedback through the app, your email client will open with a message addressed to [email protected]. Optional diagnostic details (OS version, device platform) are pre-filled, which you can edit or remove before sending.
Google Play Data Safety Summary
For complete transparency and for users, developers, and reviewers referencing the Google Play Console Data Safety declaration, here is the detailed summary for Filehound:
| Data Category / Question | Status | Details & Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Data Collection & Sharing | Yes | Collected solely by Google AdMob SDK for advertising and analytics. |
| Encryption in Transit | Yes | All network communications by Google AdMob are encrypted via HTTPS/TLS. |
| Personal Documents, Files & Photos | No | 100% on-device processing. Files, document text, and metadata are indexed solely into local SQLite and never collected, stored, or transmitted to any server. |
| Approximate Location | Collected | Coarse location derived from IP by AdMob for geo-relevant ad serving. |
| Device IDs (GAID) | Collected | Google Advertising ID collected by AdMob for ad delivery and fraud prevention. |
| App Info & Performance | Collected | Crash logs and ad performance diagnostics collected by AdMob. |
| Data Deletion Request | N/A | No user accounts or cloud databases exist. All local index data can be wiped in app settings or by uninstalling the app. |
Data Retention, Local Wipe & Deletion
Manual In-App Data Wipe: You can completely purge all indexed records, cached text, and database files at any time by navigating to:
Filehound Settings → Maintenance → Clear Index & Data
App Uninstallation: Uninstalling Filehound from your Android device immediately and permanently deletes all sandboxed SQLite databases, indexed metadata, extracted full-text content, and user preferences.
Zero Server-Side Retention: Because we do not upload or store any user files or search queries on remote servers, there is no remote data retention lifecycle.
Security & Children's Privacy
Data Security: Because all file scanning, text extraction, and indexing happen strictly inside the Android application sandbox on your local hardware, your personal documents are protected against unauthorized network interception or remote breaches. Third-party advertising calls strictly use TLS/HTTPS encryption.
Children's Privacy: Filehound is a general-purpose local file utility and does not target or knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.
Contact & Developer Inquiries
If you have questions, feedback, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or Filehound's data practices, please contact us at:
Support Email: [email protected]
Developer: Filehound Team / MyCosine
Official Website: https://mycosine.dev