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Internet Buddy / Android and iOS

Privacy, explained.

This policy explains what the Internet Buddy app does with data. On Android its package is com.ionicframework.internetbuddy. The app is made by Md. Zubaer Ahammed.

Last updated:

What stays on your phone

The app has no accounts and no sign-in. These stay on your device, and you can delete them in the app:

  • speed test and diagnosis results;
  • the places you name, such as Home or Office;
  • outage logs, pack reminders and your data budget;
  • data usage figures for your apps on Android.

A complaint report leaves your phone only if you choose to share it.

Permissions

Every permission is optional. Refusing one turns off only the feature that needs it.

  • Usage Access (Android): shows how much data each app uses. These figures stay on your phone.
  • Phone (Android): lists the SIMs in your phone. The app does not read your phone number, calls or messages.
  • Notifications: sends reminders and data alerts that you set up.
  • Approximate location: used only if you turn on the crowd map, and only straight after a speed test you start.

Speed tests and diagnosis

These send small requests to services run by Cloudflare, Google and GitHub, which see your IP address in order to respond. Speed tests do not send your results to me unless you turn on the crowd map.

Packs, offers and USSD codes

The app downloads public lists of packs, offers and USSD codes from zubaer.com. These requests send nothing about you, and my server does not store your IP address, although Cloudflare handles it in transit. Best-deal alerts are off by default. If you turn them on, the app compares packs on your phone, and your choices stay there.

Crowd map (optional)

The crowd map is off by default. If you turn it on, each speed test you start sends:

  • your download and upload speed and latency;
  • your operator;
  • an area of about 1 km, not your exact location;
  • a random anonymous ID, which you can reset in the app.

It does not send your name, phone number or SIM identifier. My server does not store your IP address, although Cloudflare handles it in transit. Results are deleted after 90 days. An area appears on the map only when it has at least 10 results from at least 3 people.

Advertising

The app is free and shows banner adverts through Google AdMob (the Google Mobile Ads SDK). To show and measure adverts, and to help prevent fraud, Google may collect and share:

  • your device’s advertising ID and other device identifiers;
  • your IP address, from which an approximate location can be worked out;
  • how you interact with adverts and the app;
  • diagnostic information such as performance data.

The app never passes your usage, location, SIM or history data to the advertising SDK. Adverts do not load during a diagnosis or speed test.

How Google uses data from apps that use its services

Your choices

  • Where the law requires it, for example in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, the app asks for consent before showing adverts. You can change this under More, in Privacy.
  • You can reset or delete your advertising ID, or turn off personalised adverts, in your device settings.
  • You can stop sharing crowd map results and reset your anonymous ID at any time.

Children

The app is not directed at children under 13, and I do not knowingly collect their personal information.

Changes and contact

If this policy changes, I will update this page and the date above. Questions are welcome at [email protected].