Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 05.12.2025

This Privacy Policy explains how freesoftware.free (“we”, “us”, “our”, or “the Site”) collects, uses, stores, and protects information when you visit or interact with our website. We are committed to respecting your privacy and complying with applicable data protection laws, including GDPR where relevant.

By using freesoftware.free, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the minimum amount of data required to operate the Site reliably and securely. We do not collect personal information for advertising, profiling, or tracking for commercial purposes.

1.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily

You may provide information voluntarily in the following scenarios:

  • When contacting us through email or contact forms.
  • When commenting on blog posts (if enabled).

Typical information provided may include:

  • Name or nickname
  • Email address
  • Message content

We do not require account registration and we do not ask for sensitive personal data.

1.2 Automatically Collected Data (Technical Data)

When you access the Site, our servers and analytics tools may automatically collect technical information, including:

  • IP address (may be anonymized depending on analytics solution)
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited
  • Referrer URL
  • Date and time of access

We use this data exclusively for:

  • Website security
  • Error diagnostics
  • Traffic analysis
  • Performance optimization

We do not use this data for marketing or advertising tracking.

1.3 Cookies and Similar Technologies

freesoftware.free may use cookies strictly for:

  • Essential site functionality
  • Anonymous analytics (e.g., page views, performance metrics)

We do not use cookies for targeted advertising, behavioral tracking, or selling personal data.

You may disable cookies in your browser settings at any time.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information solely to:

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the website
  • Respond to user inquiries or support requests
  • Ensure website security and prevent abuse
  • Analyze website traffic and performance in an anonymized, aggregated format

We do not:

  • Sell, rent, or trade personal data
  • Build advertising profiles
  • Share personal data with third-party marketers
  • Track users across the internet

3. Legal Basis for Processing (For EU/EEA Users)

If applicable under GDPR, we process data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

  • Legitimate Interests: website operation, analytics, security
  • Consent: if you voluntarily submit data or accept non-essential cookies
  • Legal Obligations: compliance with applicable laws

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us.

4. Third-Party Services We Use

To operate the Site, we may use privacy-friendly third-party services, such as:

  • Analytics tools (with anonymized IP and GDPR compliance)
  • Content Delivery Networks (CDN) for speed and security
  • Hosting providers for website operation

We do not use:

  • Advertising networks
  • Behavioral trackers
  • Third-party download hosts
  • Marketing automation tools

All FOSS download links point to official websites only — we do not host software files, track downloads, or use adware installers.

5. External Links

Our website contains external links to official project websites, documentation, and repositories. We do not control or endorse the privacy practices of these external sites.

We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external website before interacting with them.

6. Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information against:

  • Unauthorized access
  • Disclosure
  • Alteration
  • Loss or destruction

However, no internet-based service can guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain collected data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or to comply with legal obligations.

If you contact us, we may retain your communication for record-keeping or support purposes.

8. Children’s Privacy

freesoftware.free is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction).
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If you believe we have collected such information, contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Your Rights (GDPR, CCPA, and Other Jurisdictions)

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion (right to be forgotten)
  • Object to processing
  • Request data portability
  • Withdraw consent
  • File a complaint with a data protection authority

To exercise your rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When changes are made, we will update the Effective Date at the top of the document.

Continued use of the Site after changes constitute your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you would like to exercise your data rights, please contact us at:

contact@freesoftware.org