Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Effective and last updated: August 6, 2026

This policy explains how wordDNA (the iOS app) and OpenEtymology (the website) handle data. The app does not require an account, and its dictionary, search history, saved words, and learning records remain on your device unless a future feature clearly asks you to send them.

wordDNA basic analytics

To understand usage and improve reliability, wordDNA sends limited first-party analytics by default:

  • a random, resettable installation identifier and per-launch session identifier;
  • first launch, app opens, session duration, screens and feature interactions;
  • query counts, query-length ranges, whether a result was found, match type, and response-time ranges;
  • paywall interactions and aggregate study or review actions when those events are available;
  • app/build version, iOS version, device family, app language, locale region, and country-level region.

“First launch” is our near-real-time new-install signal; it is not an exact App Store download count.

What wordDNA does not upload

The app analytics service does not accept or store search words, definitions, examples, favorites, custom word-pack content, Apple ID, name, email, phone number, precise location, contacts, advertising identifiers, or clipboard content.

The server may use the network address momentarily to apply abuse limits and infer a country code. The full address is not written to the wordDNA analytics database, and access logging is disabled for wordDNA analytics routes.

Your choices and deletion

In wordDNA, open Profile → Privacy & Data to turn off basic analytics at any time. Turning it off deletes pending analytics stored on the device and stops future collection.

Choose Reset & Delete Analytics ID to request deletion of server records linked to the current random identifier and create a new identifier that cannot be linked to the old one. You can also contact us for privacy questions or requests.

Storage and retention

wordDNA analytics are sent over HTTPS to infrastructure we operate on Tencent Cloud. Raw app events are retained for up to 90 days. An installation summary is removed after approximately 13 months of inactivity. A bounded offline queue may remain on the device for up to 7 days and never exceeds 2 MB.

We use this information only for analytics, security, reliability, and product improvement. We do not sell it, use it for advertising, combine it with third-party data for tracking, or share it with data brokers.

OpenEtymology website

The website uses separate first-party service analytics and anti-abuse controls. These may record page views, submitted website search terms, opened entries, scroll depth, browser language, device category, referring site, User-Agent, and automated-client indicators. Network addresses and proxy-chain addresses are converted to salted hashes before analytics storage; they are not used for advertising or cross-site tracking.

The website may use an HTTP-only cookie to limit automated scraping and keep the service available. Website search terms are not part of wordDNA app analytics.

Security and international processing

We limit analytics fields, validate incoming events, rate-limit the public endpoint, restrict database access, and use HTTPS in transit. No system can guarantee absolute security. Depending on where you use the service, information may be processed outside your country or region.

Children

Our services are not designed to collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us so we can investigate and delete it.

Changes

We may update this policy when features or legal requirements change. The effective date above will change, and material changes will be communicated in the app or on this page when appropriate.

Contact

For questions or privacy requests, email openetymology@proton.me.


中文摘要

wordDNA 默认发送有限的第一方基础使用数据,包括随机安装标识、打开与使用时长、页面和功能交互、查询长度区间、是否命中及性能区间,以及 App/iOS 版本、设备类别、语言、地区和国家级区域。

不会上传查询词、释义、收藏、自定义词库内容、Apple ID、姓名、联系方式、精确位置、广告标识或完整 IP。可在“我的 → 隐私与数据”随时关闭,或重置标识并请求删除旧标识对应的服务器记录。

App 原始事件最多保留 90 天,约 13 个月未活动的安装摘要会被删除。数据仅用于产品分析、安全与品质提升,不出售、不用于广告,也不进行跨 App 或跨网站跟踪。