Privacy Policy

Provider: RAJARAM LAKSHMANAN
Contact: care4uhelpline@gmail.com · India

This Privacy Policy explains what information Care4u collects, how it is used, and your choices. By using Care4u, you agree to this policy.

1. Overview

Care4u lets you and people you trust send simple care commands to each other's phones (ring, vibrate, silent, max-ring, locate, and lock) using a phone number verified by a one-time code. Each phone can both send and receive commands. Care4u is designed for consensual use; a phone can be set to accept commands only from its saved contacts.

2. Data We Collect

• Phone number — to identify your device and route commands. Verified via a one-time SMS code through Firebase Authentication.
• Device identifiers — a randomly generated device ID, device model, and app version.
• Push messaging token (FCM) — to deliver commands and acknowledgements.
• Approximate location (from IP) — city/region/country derived from your IP address at registration, via a third-party IP-lookup service (ipinfo.io).
• Precise location (only on request) — when a Locate command is received and you have granted location permission, your device obtains a one-time GPS reading that is sent to the requesting contact as a map link. We do not track your location continuously.
• Command activity — records of commands sent/received (with phone numbers masked) for delivery, troubleshooting, and audit.
• Purchase information — product ID and purchase token for premium, processed via Google Play Billing.
• Diagnostics — crash reports and analytics (Firebase Analytics/Crashlytics) and app/permission status telemetry.

We do not collect or read your SMS messages, and Care4u cannot wipe your device or change your passwords.

3. Contacts

If you enable contacts-only authorization or use the contact picker, Care4u reads your contacts on your device to match incoming command senders or to let you select a recipient. Your contacts are not uploaded to our servers.

4. Location Usage

• Location is used only to fulfill a Locate command that a trusted contact sends to your phone.
• Precise location is obtained on demand (one reading), not continuously, and is shared with the requesting contact as a Google Maps link.
• Background location permission, if granted, allows a Locate command to work when the app is not open. You can revoke location permission at any time in system settings; the Locate feature will then stop working.

5. SMS Usage

Care4u does not read, send, or store the contents of SMS messages. The only SMS involved is the one-time verification code sent by Firebase Authentication to confirm your phone number.

6. Device Administration Usage

If you enable Device Admin, Care4u can lock your screen when a trusted contact sends a Lock command. Care4u uses only the force-lock capability — it cannot erase data or change your password. You can disable Device Admin at any time in system settings; the Lock feature will then stop working.

7. Firebase Usage

Care4u uses Google Firebase for:

• Authentication (phone-number verification),
• Cloud Messaging (delivering commands and acknowledgements),
• Analytics and Crashlytics (app performance and stability).

Firebase processing is subject to Google's privacy terms. See Google's privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

8. How We Use Information

• To verify your identity and register your device.
• To deliver commands and acknowledgements between trusted devices.
• To provide and verify premium features.
• To improve reliability, diagnose problems, and prevent abuse.

9. Data Sharing

We share data only with service providers needed to operate Care4u: Google/Firebase (auth, messaging, analytics), Microsoft Azure (backend hosting and storage), Google Play Billing (purchases), and ipinfo.io (IP-based coarse geo). We do not sell your personal information.

10. Data Retention

• Device records are kept while your device is registered. When you unregister or uninstall, they are soft-deleted and then removed within 90 days.
• Command logs are kept only briefly for delivery and troubleshooting (with phone numbers masked) and are not retained long-term.
• Diagnostics are retained per Firebase/Azure defaults.
• You may request deletion of your data (see Your Rights).

11. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your data, and to withdraw consent. To exercise these rights, contact us at care4uhelpline@gmail.com. You can also:

• Revoke permissions in system settings at any time.
• Disable Device Admin and contacts access at any time.
• Unregister your device / uninstall the app.

12. Children's Privacy

Care4u is not directed to children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us to remove it. Use of Care4u to manage a child's device must be by a parent/guardian.

13. Security

We use HTTPS, token-based authentication, and access controls. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure; we work to protect your data but cannot guarantee absolute security.

14. International Transfers

Your data may be processed in countries other than your own (including where Google, Microsoft, and our infrastructure operate). We rely on appropriate safeguards where required.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. Material changes will be notified in-app or via the store listing. The "Last updated" date reflects the latest version.

16. Contact

RAJARAM LAKSHMANAN
Email: care4uhelpline@gmail.com
Region: India

Contact us