1 What we collect
We try to collect as little as possible. Here is the full list:
- Server logs. Your IP address, browser type, and the page you requested. These are kept for 14 days for security and abuse prevention, then deleted.
- Search queries. When you use our search, we store the query text and how many results it returned. This helps us see what people look for and improve the catalog. We do not link queries to your identity.
- Q&A submissions. If you post a question or reply, we store the name you provide, the content of your post, and a hashed version of your IP address (so we can rate-limit abuse). We never publish your IP.
- Ratings and votes. Anonymous. We store the star value and a cookie on your device so you cannot rate the same program twice.
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any cross-site tracker. Online tools (PDF, image, etc.) process files entirely in your browser. Nothing you upload to a tool reaches our servers.
2 Cookies
FreewarePub uses a small number of cookies, all functional. There is no advertising cookie. See our Cookie Policy for the full list and how to control them.
3 How we use your data
Limited purposes:
- Show you the page you asked for.
- Prevent spam and abuse on Q&A and ratings.
- Understand which programs and searches are popular so we can prioritize updates.
- Comply with a legal request when we receive one.
No user profiles, no retargeting, no selling data to advertisers. Ever.
4 Third-party services
The site loads fonts from Google Fonts (which means Google may see your IP when fonts load). Everything else is served from our own infrastructure. Installer download links point to the official manufacturer URLs - when you click download, you go directly to the vendor, and they see your IP as if you typed their URL.
5 Your rights
If you posted a question, reply, or rating and want it removed, email us with enough detail to identify the post. We will delete it within 7 days.
If you are in the EU/UK, you also have rights under GDPR to access, rectify, or erase the data we hold about you. Since we collect very little tied to identity, most requests come down to "delete my Q&A post," which we are happy to do.
If you are in California, the CCPA gives you similar rights. We do not sell personal information.
6 Children
FreewarePub is a general-audience catalog. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe we have, write to us and we will delete it.
7 Changes to this policy
If we change anything material, we will update the date at the top and post a short note on the homepage for at least 30 days. We will not silently broaden what we collect.
8 Contact
Questions about privacy? Email hello@freewarepub.org. A real person reads it, usually within a couple of business days.