Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how Tobias Boner, the operator of Sysplained (“we”, “us”, “our”), collects, uses, and protects information when you visit the Sysplained website at sysplained.com (the “Website”) or use the Sysplained desktop application (the “App”). Sysplained is operated as a private, non-commercial project.
Important: The App has no telemetry. We do not receive, collect, or store any data from the App on our servers. All data the App displays is read locally from your machine via standard macOS commands and stays on your device. The App makes only two opt-in outbound network calls described in §1.3 below.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Analytics Data
When you consent to analytics cookies, we collect the following through Google Analytics 4:
- Pages visited, time on page, and session duration
- Referral source (how you found our website)
- Approximate geographic location (country/region level, derived from IP address)
- Device type, operating system, browser, and screen resolution
- Interactions such as button clicks and section scrolling
We do not collect names, email addresses, or other personal identifiers through the Website.
1.2 Cookies
We use the following categories of cookies:
| Category | Purpose | Requires Consent |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Stores your cookie consent preference | No |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4 tracking cookies | Yes |
| Advertising | Google Ads measurement cookies (when applicable) | Yes |
Essential data (your cookie consent preference) is stored in your browser’s localStorage, not as a cookie.
1.3 Desktop App Network Calls
The App is local-first and does not send any data to Sysplained’s servers. It makes only the following outbound network requests, all of which are off by default or trivially scoped:
| Call | Purpose | Endpoint | Default | Where to control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public IP discovery | Show the public IP your network is using on the Overview page. The endpoint returns your current public IP address; no other data is sent. | https://api.ipify.org (third-party, see ipify.org/privacy) | Off | Settings → Privacy → “Public IP discovery” |
| Update check | Compare the installed App version against the latest published version. Only the request itself reaches our CDN; no system info or identifiers are sent. | https://downloads.sysplained.com/latest.json (operated by Sysplained on AWS S3 + CloudFront) | Off (manual button) | Settings → Updates → “Check for updates” |
In addition, the App reads system data locally through standard macOS shell utilities (lsof, ifconfig, netstat, arp, dig, ps, df, system_profiler, etc.). This data — open connections, listening ports, processes, neighbours, DNS lookups, disk usage, hardware info — never leaves your device and is never transmitted to us.
2. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
- Essential cookies: Legitimate interest in operating the Website
- Analytics and advertising cookies: Your explicit consent, collected through our cookie consent banner
You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking “Cookie Settings” in our website footer.
3. How We Use Information
Analytics data is used to:
- Understand how visitors use the Website
- Measure the effectiveness of our marketing efforts
- Improve the Website’s content and user experience
4. Third-Party Services
| Service | Purpose | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Website analytics (Website only) | Google Privacy Policy |
| Google Ads | Advertising measurement, when applicable (Website only) | Google Ads Data Protection |
| Amazon Web Services | Website and download hosting (S3 + CloudFront), App update-manifest hosting | AWS Privacy Notice |
| ipify.org | Optional public-IP lookup from the App when you opt in to “Public IP discovery” | ipify Privacy Policy |
5. Data Retention
- Analytics data: Retained for 14 months (Google Analytics default)
- Cookie consent preference: Stored in your browser until you clear localStorage
6. International Data Transfers
Our third-party services may process data outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Google participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. AWS infrastructure serving the Website may be located in various regions.
7. Your Rights
Under GDPR (EEA residents):
You have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Rectify inaccurate data
- Erase your data (“right to be forgotten”)
- Restrict processing of your data
- Port your data to another service
- Object to processing based on legitimate interest
- Withdraw consent at any time
Under CCPA (California residents):
You have the right to:
- Know what personal information we collect
- Delete your personal information
- Opt-out of the sale of personal information
We do not sell personal information.
8. How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of your rights, contact us at:
Email: support@sysplained.com
We will respond to your request within 30 days.
9. Children’s Privacy
The Website is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect data from children.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
11. Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at:
Sysplained Email: support@sysplained.com