USAGE TERMS AND PRIVACY POLICY ( GPS-Compass )
**Last Updated: July 16, 2026**
Welcome to **GPS Compass** (hereinafter referred to as "this App"). By installing and using this App, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy outlined below. We are committed to protecting your privacy while providing a premium, clean, and intuitive navigation, hiking, and camping experience.
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### 1. Information Collection & General Principles
We believe your location data, hiking records, and application settings belong to you alone.
* **No Personal Data Collection:** This App does not collect, harvest, or request any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as your name, email address, phone number, or contacts.
* **Local-First Storage:** All coordinates, search history, custom configurations, and settings are created, saved, and processed locally on your device. We do not upload your personal navigation data or configurations to our servers.
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### 2. Data Processing & Extreme Local Privacy
This App is designed with a strict "local-only" architecture for personalization:
* **Zero Cloud Exposure:** When you calibrate the compass, save coordinates, or build custom app settings, all data is stored inside the persistent memory (local storage/SharedPreferences) of your local device.
* **No Tracking of Coordinates:** We do not track your real-time locations, coordinates, speeds, or altitude history. Your outdoor routines and adventures are 100% private and protected.
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### 3. Data Usage & Third-Party Services
To support ongoing app development, maintenance, and stability, this App integrates with a limited number of industry-standard third-party services. These services may collect anonymous or pseudonymous identifiers:
#### A. Advertising (Google AdMob)
This App displays advertisements powered by Google AdMob.
* **Data Collected:** AdMob may collect and use pseudonymous device identifiers (such as the Advertising ID) to display relevant or personalized advertisements.
* **Purpose:** To support the continuous development and free distribution of the app.
* **Privacy Policy:** [https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/)
#### B. Analytics, Crashlytics & Remote Config (Google Firebase)
We use Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, and Firebase Remote Config to understand user interaction, troubleshoot crashes, and update app settings:
* **Data Collected:** Anonymous usage statistics (e.g., app sessions, duration, feature triggers, or screen views) and crash stack traces.
* **No Private Data Leaked:** No user location history, GPS coordinates, or specific compass sensor readouts are ever included in the logs or analytics.
* **Purpose:** To debug system crashes, optimize app performance, and enhance the overall user experience.
* **Privacy Policy:** [https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy](https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy)
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### 4. Required Device Permissions & Access
To provide standard app operations, this App requests only the necessary permissions:
* **Location Access (ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION):** Required exclusively to calculate your current coordinates (Latitude, Longitude), altitude, and compass heading relative to your physical location.
* **Internet & Network Access (INTERNET, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE):** Required for displaying advertisements (Google AdMob), loading map layers (Flutter Map), checking for updates/store configurations (Firebase Remote Config), and transmitting anonymous crash/analytics logs.
* **No Sensitive Contacts or Storage Access:** This App does not require access to your device's external storage, photos, videos, microphone, contacts, or phone logs.
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### 5. Data Security
We implement strict physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards:
* **Secure Communication:** All communication with Firebase, AdMob, and map providers is encrypted via secure HTTPS protocols.
* **No Server-Side Databases:** Since we do not maintain cloud storage databases of your location history or preferences, your data is completely safe from server-side leaks and hacking attempts.
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### 6. User Rights & Privacy Controls
You have full control over your privacy:
* **Reset Ad Identifier:** You can opt-out of personalized ads or reset your Advertising ID via your device's native Google/Apple account settings.
* **Revoke Location Permissions:** You can revoke GPS/location permission at any time through your system settings (doing so may limit the coordinates and altitude calculation features).
* **Clear App Cache & Data:** You can delete all local configurations and cached map tiles through your system's App Settings.
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### 7. Acceptance of Terms
By downloading or using this App, you agree to comply with and be bound by these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the app.
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### 8. User License & Content Ownership
* **100% User Ownership:** You retain full ownership and rights to any saved location data or custom configurations created within this App.
* **Permitted Use:** You are granted a personal, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use the app for personal, non-commercial navigation and outdoor study. You may not copy, reverse-engineer, modify, or redistribute any part of our app code or assets.
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### 9. Disclaimer of Warranties & Limitation of Liability
* **"As-Is" Service:** This App is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
* **Adventures at Your Own Risk:** This App is a digital aid. It should not replace professional survival gear or official topographical maps. We are not liable for any injuries, losses, or navigation errors occurring during outdoor activities.
* **No Liability for Loss of Data:** While we take extreme care to implement reliable preference and coordinate saving mechanisms, you are responsible for any configurations. We are not liable for any lost data caused by clearing app data, uninstalling the app, or device failure.
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### 10. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. When we make updates, we will post the revised version with an updated "Last Updated" date at the top. Your continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the new terms.
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### 11. Contact Us
For any privacy inquiries or feedback regarding these terms:
* **Email:** [hardcoresoftcompany@gmail.com](mailto:hardcoresoftcompany@gmail.com)
* **Website:** [https://hardcoresoftcompany.blogspot.com](https://hardcoresoftcompany.blogspot.com)