Privacy Policy

1. Local-First Security Architecture

Unlike cloud-dependent security tools that upload file indices and document signatures to remote servers, ByteShield performs scanner evaluations, temporary file detection, and registry checks directly within the Windows runtime environment.

All scan results, disk storage breakdowns, and Secure Vault files remain stored in local folders on your hard drive (e.g., %LOCALAPPDATA%\ByteShield). We cannot inspect your personal photos, documents, or downloaded media.

2. Information We Collect

When you purchase a license or register an account, we collect only the minimum data required to deliver the software:

• Account Details: Your name and email address for sending license activation codes and billing receipts.
• Device Activation Fingerprint: An irreversible cryptographic hash of your motherboard and Windows installation ID. This allows us to enforce device limits (e.g., 1 PC or 3 PCs) without tracking your identity or network address.
• Crash & Diagnostic Logs (Opt-in only): Stack traces and error codes generated if ByteShield unexpectedly exits. These reports exclude user filenames and personal identifiers.

3. What We Never Collect

ByteShield maintains a strict refusal to harvest non-essential personal information:

• We never record keystrokes or clipboard data.
• We never log your web browser history, DNS lookups, or visited URLs.
• We never upload contents of files scanned by the antivirus or system cleaner.
• We never sell, rent, or lease customer data to third-party advertising brokers or data exchanges.

4. Antivirus Telemetry & Signatures

When the ByteShield Antivirus engine intercepts a suspicious executable or script, it evaluates the binary using local heuristic rules and the Windows Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI).

If an unknown signature is detected and cloud intelligence is enabled in your settings, only the SHA-256 cryptographic hash of the file header is queried against our threat database. The actual payload file remains on your workstation.

5. Payments & Billing Information

Financial transactions are handled through Tier-1, PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processors (Stripe and PayPal). ByteShield does not store complete credit card numbers, CVV verification codes, or bank account credentials on our infrastructure.

6. Cookies & Site Analytics

On byteshield.tech, we use essential cookies strictly to remember session authentication and shopping cart contents. We do not deploy cross-site retargeting pixels without user consent.

7. GDPR, UK DPA & CCPA Rights

Regardless of your geographic location, ByteShield honors fundamental data privacy rights:

• Right of Access: Request an export of your account details and subscription history.
• Right to Erasure: Request permanent deletion of your account and activation records.
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate contact details anytime via the account portal.

8. Contact Our Privacy Team

For questions regarding data practices or to request data erasure under GDPR/CCPA regulations, contact our Data Protection Officer directly:

Email: privacy@byteshield.tech
Physical Mail: ByteShield Technologies Inc., Attn: Privacy Officer, 500 Delaware Ave, Suite 100, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA