Privacy Policy — ChessUnlock

1) What ChessUnlock does

ChessUnlock lets you choose distracting apps and restrict access to them until you solve a chess puzzle. On Android, the app may use an on-screen blocking overlay. On iOS, the app uses Apple Screen Time-related permissions and system shielding features to restrict selected apps.

The app may also let you continue solving extra puzzles after unlocking, choose an unlock time, use hints or skips, and send feedback or support requests.

2) Information we collect

We do not intentionally collect personal information like your name, phone number, contacts, personal messages, photos, or precise location.

2.1 Information stored locally on your device

The app stores certain data locally on your device so the app can work correctly:

• Selected locked apps: On Android, this may include package names, app names, and app icons so ChessUnlock knows which apps you chose to lock. On iOS, selected apps, categories, or web domains may be represented using Apple Screen Time / FamilyControls tokens.
• Unlock state: Such as lock status, unlock timer, unlock-until timestamp, or break duration.
• Settings: Such as puzzle difficulty/rating level, theme, strictness, and app preferences.
• Basic local statistics: Such as solved puzzle count, best puzzle rating, accuracy, and first-try stats.
• Onboarding status and choices: So the app knows whether to show first-time setup guidance and can personalize the app experience.

Lock-related information is stored locally using on-device storage such as Android SharedPreferences, iOS local storage, or Apple App Group storage where needed for Screen Time extensions. We do not upload your exact locked apps list to our own server.

2.2 iOS Screen Time / FamilyControls information

On iOS, ChessUnlock may request Screen Time-related permission so you can select apps to restrict and so the app can apply system shields to those selected apps. Apple may represent selected apps using tokens instead of normal app names.

These selected app tokens are used only for the locking feature, including applying shields, removing shields after a successful puzzle unlock, and reapplying shields when the unlock time ends. ChessUnlock does not use Screen Time permission to read your messages, photos, personal content inside other apps, or browsing content.

2.3 Analytics information

ChessUnlock uses Firebase Analytics to understand how the app is used and to improve the app experience. Analytics may collect app usage events such as:

• App opened or onboarding shown.
• Selected apps saved, using safe counts such as the number of selected apps.
• Lock screen, shield, or overlay shown.
• Open ChessUnlock button tapped.
• Puzzle started, puzzle solved, Solve another tapped, and Unlock apps tapped.
• Hint or Skip interactions and ad reward/failure events.
• Difficulty/rating level changes.
• Unlock time selected.
• Feedback or support option opened.

We do not intentionally send your exact locked app names, package names, Screen Time tokens, contacts, email, phone number, or full installed app list through Analytics.

Firebase Analytics may also collect information such as number of users, session statistics, approximate location, device information, app-instance identifiers, and advertising identifiers where available.

2.4 Crash and diagnostic information

ChessUnlock uses Firebase Crashlytics to detect, diagnose, and fix crashes and stability issues. Crash reports may include:

• Crash stack traces.
• Relevant app state at the time of the crash.
• Device metadata such as device model, operating system version, and app version.
• Crashlytics installation identifiers.
• Breadcrumb logs showing recent app actions before a crash.

Crashlytics is used only to improve app stability and fix bugs.

2.5 Advertising information

ChessUnlock uses Google AdMob to show ads, including banner ads and rewarded ads for features such as Hint and Skip. AdMob and the Google Mobile Ads SDK may collect and process data such as:

• IP address, which may be used to estimate general location.
• User product interactions such as app launches, taps, ad impressions, and video views.
• Diagnostic information related to app and SDK performance.
• Device identifiers and advertising identifiers, such as Android Advertising ID, iOS advertising identifiers where available, app set ID, app instance identifiers, or related identifiers.

This data may be used for advertising, analytics, measurement, fraud prevention, security, and improving ad performance.

2.6 Feedback and support information

If you choose to send feedback or contact support, we may receive information you voluntarily provide, such as your message, device details you include, screenshots you attach, or your email address. Feedback and support contact are optional.

3) Permissions and why we need them

ChessUnlock requests certain permissions so it can work as an app locker and chess puzzle unlock tool:

3.1 Android permissions

• Usage Access / Usage Stats: To detect which app is currently in the foreground, so ChessUnlock can lock selected apps when needed.
• Display over other apps / Overlay: To show a blocking screen over a locked app until you solve a puzzle or unlock.
• Foreground Service: To keep the app watcher running reliably so the lock can be enforced.
• Notifications: To show the required persistent notification while the foreground service is running, where required by Android.
• Internet: To fetch chess puzzles, load ads, send analytics events, report crashes, and open feedback/support links.
• Advertising ID: Used by Google AdMob and Google/Firebase services for ads, analytics, and measurement where available.
• Receive Boot Completed, if enabled: To restart the watcher after device reboot so locking can resume. Some device brands may restrict auto-start; you may need to allow auto-start or battery exceptions for consistent behavior.

3.2 iOS permissions

• Screen Time / FamilyControls permission: To let you select distracting apps, categories, or web domains and allow ChessUnlock to restrict them using Apple system shielding features.
• Device Activity monitoring: To help ChessUnlock reapply restrictions when your selected unlock time or usage threshold ends.
• Internet: To fetch chess puzzles, load ads, send analytics events, report crashes, and open feedback/support links.
• Advertising identifiers, where available: Used by Google AdMob and Google/Firebase services for ads, analytics, and measurement where permitted by iOS and your device settings.

4) Third-party services

4.1 Lichess puzzle API

ChessUnlock fetches chess puzzles from Lichess using their public puzzle endpoint. This requires an internet connection. We do not control Lichess, and their servers may log standard request data such as IP address as part of normal web operations.

Lichess API reference: https://lichess.org/api/puzzle/next

4.2 Google AdMob

ChessUnlock uses Google AdMob to show ads. AdMob may collect and process information such as ad interactions, device identifiers, IP address, diagnostic information, and advertising identifiers where available. This is used for advertising, analytics, measurement, fraud prevention, security, and improving ad performance.

You may be able to manage ad personalization, reset advertising identifiers, or limit tracking from your Android or iOS device settings where supported.

4.3 Firebase Analytics

ChessUnlock uses Firebase Analytics to understand general app usage and improve the app. We use Analytics events to understand things like whether users complete onboarding, solve puzzles, use hints/skips, continue solving puzzles, and unlock apps. We do not intentionally send exact locked app names, package names, or Screen Time tokens through Analytics.

4.4 Firebase Crashlytics

ChessUnlock uses Firebase Crashlytics to receive crash reports and diagnostic information. This helps us find and fix bugs, especially device-specific issues related to overlays, usage access, Screen Time shields, app locking, ads, and puzzle loading.

4.5 Apple Screen Time-related frameworks

On iOS, ChessUnlock uses Apple Screen Time-related system features such as app selection, device activity monitoring, and app shielding. These features are used only to provide the app-locking functionality that you enable.

4.6 Feedback and email services

If the app opens an email app or feedback option, the information you submit is voluntary. Your email provider or any third-party service you use to send feedback may process the information according to its own privacy policy.

5) How we use information

• To let you choose apps to restrict.
• To enforce app locking, system shields, overlays, and unlock timers.
• To show your settings and local progress statistics.
• To fetch chess puzzles from Lichess.
• To show ads and rewarded ads through AdMob.
• To understand app usage and improve the user experience.
• To detect, diagnose, and fix crashes and bugs.
• To respond to feedback or support requests if you contact us.

6) Data sharing

We do not sell your personal data.

Your exact locked apps list, selected app tokens, and local puzzle statistics are stored on your device and are not uploaded to our own server.

Some data is processed by third-party services used in the app:

• Lichess: Receives puzzle API requests and may process standard request data such as IP address.
• Google AdMob: Processes ad-related data for advertising, analytics, measurement, fraud prevention, security, and improving ad performance.
• Firebase Analytics: Processes app usage analytics events and related device/app information.
• Firebase Crashlytics: Processes crash reports and diagnostic data.
• Email or feedback providers: May process information you voluntarily submit through feedback or support contact.

7) Data retention and deletion

Local app data can be removed at any time by:

• Clearing the app’s storage in Android settings, or
• Uninstalling the app from Android or iOS.

Crash, analytics, advertising, and feedback data handled by third-party services may be retained according to those services’ policies and settings.

You can manage advertising identifiers or ad personalization in your Android or iOS device settings where supported.

If you contact us by email and want your feedback or support message deleted, you can request deletion using the contact email below.

8) Security

We aim to keep ChessUnlock minimal and store lock-related data locally where possible. Firebase services use HTTPS for data in transit, and some Firebase services also encrypt data at rest. No method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure.

9) Children’s privacy

ChessUnlock is not designed to knowingly collect personal information from children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through feedback or another channel, contact us so we can review and delete it where appropriate.

10) Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the app evolves, including when we add, remove, or change third-party services, analytics, ads, crash reporting, feedback features, or app-locking functionality. We will update the “Last updated” date above when this policy changes.

11) Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or need support, contact:

• Email: aimlessoul.apps@gmail.com

App: ChessUnlock
Android package: com.aimlessoul.chessunlock
iOS bundle ID: com.aimlessoul.chessunlock