1. Introduction

HelpTester ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our hardware testing services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Device Testing Data: When you test hardware devices (gamepads, keyboards, mice, webcams, microphones), we may temporarily store test results for the duration of your session
• Contact Information: If you contact us, we collect your email address and message content
• Feedback: Any feedback or suggestions you provide

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Device Information: Browser type, device type, operating system, screen resolution
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, click patterns, test completion rates
• Technical Data: IP address, browser settings, referring website
• Performance Data: Page load times, error logs, system performance metrics

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics to understand website usage
• Advertising Cookies: Google AdSense for personalized advertisements
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings (theme, language preferences)

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Primary Purposes

• Provide hardware testing services
• Improve website functionality and user experience
• Analyze usage patterns to enhance our services
• Ensure website security and prevent fraud
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests

3.2 Analytics and Advertising

• Google Analytics: Analyze website traffic and user behavior
• Google AdSense: Display relevant advertisements based on your interests
• Performance Monitoring: Track website performance and identify issues

3.3 Legal Basis (GDPR)

We process your data based on:

• Legitimate Interest: Website analytics, security, and service improvement
• Consent: Advertising cookies and non-essential tracking
• Contract Performance: Providing requested testing services
• Legal Obligation: Compliance with applicable laws

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Third-Party Service Providers

We share data with:

• Google LLC: Analytics and advertising services
• Hosting Providers: Website hosting and content delivery
• Security Services: Protection against cyber threats

4.2 Services Contacted Directly by Your Browser

Most HelpTester tools run entirely in your browser and send no data anywhere. Some network and website tools only work by contacting an external service. When you use them, your browser connects to that service directly, which means the service receives your IP address and the request itself. We do not receive or store these results.

• DNS Checker: Google Public DNS (dns.google, Google LLC) receives the domain you look up.
• IP Address Checker: ipify (api.ipify.org), IP.SB (api.ip.sb) and MyIP.com (api.myip.com) return your public IP address. GeoJS (get.geojs.io) returns the approximate location and provider of that IP address. The latency and connectivity checks contact google.com, cloudflare.com, amazon.com and facebook.com.
• Internet Speed Test: Cloudflare, Inc. (speed.cloudflare.com) is used for the download, upload and latency measurement. ipify and GeoJS are used to show your IP address and provider.
• Tag & Pixel Checker: the website address you enter is fetched through the public proxy services AllOrigins (api.allorigins.win), CodeTabs (api.codetabs.com) and corsproxy.io.
• Favicon Checker: icons are loaded from the website you enter and from Google's and DuckDuckGo's favicon services.

These requests are only made when you open or start the respective tool. The legal basis is the performance of the service you requested (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). The privacy policies of the respective providers apply to their processing.

Microphone, webcam, MIDI, gamepad, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen and speaker tests are processed locally in your browser. Audio and video are not transmitted to us or to third parties. Recordings are only saved if you download them yourself.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes
• Protect our rights and property
• Ensure user safety
• Investigate potential violations

5. Data Retention

• Session Data: Hardware test results are deleted when you close your browser session
• Analytics Data: Retained for 26 months (Google Analytics default)
• Log Files: Server logs retained for 90 days for security purposes
• Contact Data: Support inquiries retained for 2 years

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

As an EU resident, you have the right to:

6.1 Access and Portability

• Request a copy of your personal data
• Receive your data in a machine-readable format

6.2 Correction and Deletion

• Correct inaccurate personal data
• Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")

6.3 Processing Restrictions

• Restrict or object to data processing
• Withdraw consent for consent-based processing

7. International Data Transfers

We may transfer your data to countries outside the EU/EEA, including:

• United States: Google services (covered by adequacy decisions or appropriate safeguards)
• Network tool providers: the services listed in section 4.2 may process your IP address outside the EU/EEA, in particular in the United States. This only happens when you use the respective tool.
• Other Countries: Only with adequate protection measures in place

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures:

• Encryption: HTTPS encryption for data transmission
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal data
• Regular Updates: Security patches and monitoring
• Incident Response: Procedures for data breach notification

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 13 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

10. Google Services

10.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to analyze website usage. Google may use this data in accordance with their Privacy Policy. You can opt-out using Google's browser add-on.

10.2 Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google may use cookies to show ads based on your interests. You can manage ad preferences at Google's Ad Settings.

11. HelpTester in ChatGPT

HelpTester is also available as an app (plugin) inside ChatGPT. This section explains how data is handled when you use HelpTester through ChatGPT.

• OpenAI: your conversation with ChatGPT is processed by OpenAI under OpenAI's own privacy policy. We have no access to your ChatGPT conversations or your OpenAI account.
• Tool requests: when ChatGPT uses a HelpTester tool, it sends a request to our server at apps.helptester.com. The request contains only the tool name and the input needed for it, for example JSON text to format, text to encode, the content of a QR code or a domain name. The server uses this input only to return the response and does not store it.
• Interactive tools: the hardware tests and developer tools shown inside ChatGPT run locally in your browser, exactly like on helptester.com. The DNS checker and the IP address checker contact the services listed in section 4.2.
• No analytics or advertising: the HelpTester tools inside ChatGPT do not use Google Analytics, Google AdSense, cookies or any other tracking.
• Server logs: our server and hosting infrastructure may log technical request data such as time, requested address and the IP address of the requesting system for security purposes. These logs are retained as described in section 5.

12. Cookie Management

You can control cookies through:

• Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies
• Our Cookie Banner: Manage preferences when you first visit our site
• Cookie Settings: Access our cookie preference center anytime

13. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notifications for material changes (if we have your email)