1. Overview
This Privacy Policy describes how ClipPal ("we", "our", or "the app") handles your information. ClipPal is designed with privacy as a core principle. The app operates entirely on your local device with no cloud services, no data transmission, and no tracking.
2. Information We DO NOT Collect
ClipPal does not collect, transmit, store remotely, or share any of the following:
- Clipboard Content: Your copied text, images, and files stay on your device
- Personal Information: No names, emails, phone numbers, or addresses
- Usage Data: No analytics, telemetry, or usage statistics
- Device Information: No device IDs, hardware specs, or system information
- Location Data: No location tracking of any kind
- Crash Reports: No automatic crash reporting or error logging to external servers
3. Data Storage
3.1 Local Storage Only
All data created and managed by ClipPal is stored exclusively on your Mac in the following locations:
| Data Type | Storage Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Clipboard History | ~/Library/Application Support/com.bodos.ClipPal/ | Stores your clipboard items in JSON format |
| Cached Files | ~/Library/Caches/com.bodos.ClipPal/ | Temporary copies of files you've copied |
| User Preferences | ~/Library/Preferences/com.bodos.ClipPal.plist | Your app settings and preferences |
3.2 Data Retention
You control how long your clipboard history is retained:
- Configure item limits in Settings (10, 20, 30, or unlimited items)
- Cached files are automatically cleaned when cache exceeds 2GB
- You can manually clear all data at any time using "Clear All Items"
- Uninstalling ClipPal removes all associated data from your system
4. Permissions
4.1 Required Permissions
Clipboard Access: Required for core functionality. ClipPal needs to monitor the system clipboard to capture copied content. This permission is granted automatically by macOS when you use the app.
4.2 Optional Permissions
Downloads Folder Access: If you enable the Downloads monitoring feature, ClipPal requests permission to access your Downloads folder. This is optional and can be declined without affecting core clipboard functionality.
4.3 File System Access
ClipPal creates cached copies of files you copy in its own sandboxed directory. This is automatic and required to ensure you can access files even if originals are moved or deleted.
5. Data Security
5.1 Content Type Classification
ClipPal automatically classifies clipboard items into basic types:
- Text content
- Images
- Files
- Items from Downloads folder
This classification happens entirely on your device and is used only to organize and filter your clipboard history. All clipboard items are stored with the same level of security, regardless of type.
5.2 Security-Scoped Bookmarks
ClipPal uses macOS security-scoped bookmarks to maintain access to copied files. These bookmarks are encrypted by macOS and stored securely in your local application data.
6. No Network Activity
ClipPal does not:
- Connect to the internet
- Transmit data to any server
- Communicate with cloud services
- Send analytics or telemetry
- Check for updates automatically (updates via App Store only)
- Include any third-party tracking SDKs or analytics frameworks
7. Third-Party Services
ClipPal does not integrate with, share data with, or use any third-party services including:
- Analytics services (Google Analytics, Mixpanel, etc.)
- Cloud storage providers (iCloud, Dropbox, etc.)
- Advertising networks
- Crash reporting services (Crashlytics, Sentry, etc.)
- AI or machine learning services
8. Children's Privacy
ClipPal does not collect any information from anyone, including children under 13. The app can be safely used by children as all data stays on the local device under parental control.
9. Your Rights and Control
Since all data is stored locally on your device, you have complete control:
- Access: All data is stored in plain files you can access directly
- Modification: Settings can be changed at any time in the app
- Deletion: Clear all clipboard history with "Clear All Items" button
- Complete Removal: Uninstall the app to remove all associated data
10. Data Backup
ClipPal data is included in your Mac's Time Machine backups (if enabled) and may be included in other backup solutions you use. This is standard macOS behavior for all application data. If you wish to exclude ClipPal from backups, you can add the following directories to your backup exclusion list:
- ~/Library/Application Support/com.bodos.ClipPal/
- ~/Library/Caches/com.bodos.ClipPal/
11. Clipboard Security Considerations
Important: While ClipPal stores your clipboard history securely on your device, please be aware that:
- Anyone with physical access to your unlocked Mac can view your clipboard history in ClipPal
- Other applications on your Mac may also have access to the system clipboard
- We recommend not copying highly sensitive information (like passwords) unless necessary
- Use "Clear All Items" after copying sensitive information if needed
12. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the app or legal requirements. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Since ClipPal doesn't have any way to notify you of changes (no network connectivity), we encourage you to review this page periodically.
13. Open Source
[If you plan to open source the project, add:] ClipPal is open source software. You can review the entire codebase to verify our privacy claims at [GitHub URL]. We welcome security researchers to audit our code.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or ClipPal's privacy practices, please contact us at:
Email: privacy@clippal.cloud
Website: https://yourwebsite.com
15. Legal Compliance
15.1 GDPR (European Union)
While ClipPal is not subject to GDPR (as no data is collected or processed by us), we recognize that EU users value privacy. All data processing happens locally on your device, which you control entirely.
15.2 CCPA (California)
ClipPal does not "sell" personal information as defined by CCPA because we don't collect any personal information in the first place. All data stays on your local device.
15.3 App Store Requirements
This Privacy Policy complies with Apple App Store requirements. As of the policy date, ClipPal's App Store privacy declaration indicates:
- Data Collection: None
- Data Tracking: None
- Data Linked to You: None
16. Transparency Report
As of the last update of this policy:
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Data requests received from government | 0 |
| Data requests received from companies | 0 |
| User data disclosed | 0 |
| Network connections made by ClipPal | 0 |
Note: We cannot receive data requests for user information because we don't have any user information to provide.
17. Conclusion
ClipPal is built on a simple privacy principle: your data belongs to you and should stay on your device. We don't want your data, we don't need your data, and we've designed ClipPal specifically to never access your data beyond your local Mac.
If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy while using ClipPal, please don't hesitate to contact us.