Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

FileForge is a macOS utility built and operated by Ali Essaji ("we", "us"). This policy describes how we handle information in connection with the app and this website.

2. Data the app collects

None. FileForge contains no telemetry, no analytics SDK, no crash reporting SDK, and no tracking. We cannot see:

• What files you have
• What you scan, delete, rename, or organize
• How often you use the app, or which features you use
• Your IP address, hardware information, or macOS version

The app is self-contained — all scanning and processing happens locally on your Mac.

3. Data stored on your Mac

FileForge stores the following locally, in your user preferences (~/Library/Preferences/com.fileforgeapp.com.plist):

• Your settings (confirm-before-delete, show-hidden toggle, etc.)
• Cached scan metadata (folder sizes, file hashes) — so repeated scans are faster
• Your license key after activation
• A hardware identifier (macOS IOPlatformUUID) recorded at license activation, used to verify the license belongs to this Mac
• Lifetime usage counters for the free-tier limits (e.g. bytes cleaned, files renamed) — used only to enforce free-tier caps

All of this lives on your Mac. None of it is transmitted to us or any third party.

4. Full Disk Access

To scan folders outside your home directory (e.g. /Library), macOS requires you to grant FileForge Full Disk Access in System Settings → Privacy & Security. This is a macOS security feature, not something FileForge controls.

Granting Full Disk Access lets the app read directory contents to calculate sizes, hash files for duplicate detection, and identify caches. It does not grant anyone else access — the permission is scoped to FileForge alone.

5. Payments (Paddle)

Purchases are processed by Paddle.com Market Ltd, our Merchant of Record. When you buy a license, Paddle collects:

• Your email address (to deliver the license key)
• Your billing details and country (for tax compliance)
• Your IP address at the time of purchase

Paddle shares with us only: your name, email address, country, order status, and purchase amount. Paddle does not share your payment card details with us, ever. See Paddle's privacy policy for their data handling.

6. Website analytics

This website (fileforgeapp.com) uses no third-party analytics (no Google Analytics, no Facebook Pixel, no Plausible, no Fathom). Server logs from our host (Cloudflare Pages) may record aggregated request counts and geographic regions for abuse prevention — those logs are not linked to individuals and are automatically deleted on a rolling basis per Cloudflare's policy.

7. Cookies

The website sets no cookies. No tracking pixels, no local storage for advertising purposes.

8. Support emails

If you email support@fileforgeapp.com, we receive your email address and message content. We use it solely to respond to you. We do not add support emails to a marketing list.

9. License deactivation

When you deactivate a license from Settings, the app clears the local license key and hardware identifier. If you later activate on a different Mac, the new hardware is bound.

10. Your rights (EU / UK / California)

Because we hold no personal data about you beyond what Paddle records for your purchase, most data-subject requests should be directed to Paddle. For anything we hold (e.g. support correspondence), email support@fileforgeapp.com and we'll respond within 30 days.

11. Children

FileForge is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone.

12. Changes

If we change this policy, we'll update the "Last updated" date above. Material changes will be announced in the app or via email to licensed users.

13. Contact

Questions about this policy or your data: support@fileforgeapp.com