Overview
Thank you for using PDF Scanner. This Privacy Policy explains what data the app collects, how it is used and how it is protected.
PDF Scanner turns pages you photograph into PDF documents and lets you edit, sign, organize, back up and share them. Your documents stay on your device. We do not operate a server that receives or stores them.
Data we collect
Scanned documents: page images captured with the camera, the PDFs built from them, and the document names, categories, page counts and dates that go with them are stored only on your device.
Images you choose: when you add an image from your photo library, iOS shows you the system picker and hands the app only the images you pick. The app never browses your photo library.
Signatures and markup: signatures and annotations you draw are saved locally so that you can reuse them in later documents.
Recognized text: text recognition runs on your device with Apple's Vision framework. Recognized text is written into the PDF you are working on and is never sent to us.
App usage data: anonymous technical and usage information is sent to our analytics service so that we can understand how the app performs. The exact fields are listed under Third-party services below.
Crash diagnostics: if the app crashes, an anonymous crash report is sent to our crash reporting service so that we can fix the problem. It contains technical information about the failure and the device, never your documents, scanned pages, recognized text, signatures or document names.
How we use your data
Collected data is used solely for the following purposes:
To build, edit, sign and organize your PDF documents.
To keep your document list, categories and signatures available between launches.
To back up and restore documents when you ask for it.
To understand which features and screens are used, so that we can improve the app.
To detect and diagnose crashes, so that we can fix stability problems.
To deliver and manage the PDF Scanner premium subscription.
iCloud, backups and sharing
iCloud: if you turn on iCloud backup, selected documents are copied to your own iCloud Drive container. That storage belongs to your Apple Account, is provided by Apple and is subject to Apple's terms and privacy policy. We have no access to it.
Backup files: the app can export a .pdfscanner backup file. Where that file goes, and who can read it, is decided by you when you save or send it.
Sharing and export: when you share or export a document, it is handled by the destination you choose — Files, Mail, Messages, AirDrop or another app.
Third-party services
PDF Scanner uses the following third-party services:
HeceSDK / ASOPRO (heceapp.com): our analytics and subscription management service. It receives an anonymous installation identifier (a random ID generated on first launch and kept in the device keychain), your device model, iOS version, language, time zone and app version, together with usage events such as first install, app open, screen and subscription offer views, permission answers and purchase results. Purchase events include the App Store transaction identifier so that a subscription can be recognized across devices. This service never receives your documents, scanned pages, recognized text, signatures, document names or any file you create in the app.
Firebase Crashlytics (Google): used to detect and diagnose crashes. When the app crashes or reports a handled error, it sends a crash report containing the stack trace, device model, iOS version, app version, available memory and storage, a Crashlytics-generated installation identifier and anonymous technical context about the app state (such as which screen or subscription offer was last shown). Crash reports never contain your documents, scanned pages, recognized text, signatures, document names or any file you create in the app.
OneSignal: used to send push notifications. OneSignal assigns an anonymous device token to deliver notifications. No personal data such as your name, e-mail address or documents is shared with OneSignal. Notifications are sent only if you allow them, and you can turn them off at any time in iOS Settings → Notifications → PDF Scanner.
PDF Scanner does not share, sell or rent your personal data to any third party. The app contains no advertising SDKs and displays no advertising. Purchases are processed through Apple's App Store infrastructure, and all payment information is managed exclusively by Apple.
Refund requests
If you request a refund for an in-app purchase or subscription from Apple, we may share information about your in-app purchase activity with Apple to help assess the refund request. This information may include: the time elapsed since you installed the app, your total app usage time, an anonymized account identifier, whether the purchased content was accessed or consumed, whether your purchase included a free trial period, the total amount you have spent in the app and the total amount previously refunded to you.
This data is shared only in response to a refund request initiated by you, and only with Apple. If you do not want this information to be shared, you may opt out at any time by contacting us at support@heceapp.com.
Tracking permission (App Tracking Transparency)
On first launch, iOS asks whether PDF Scanner may track you across apps and websites. Your answer is recorded as an anonymous statistic (allowed or not allowed) by our analytics service, so that we can see how many people consent.
PDF Scanner does not read your advertising identifier (IDFA), does not use any advertising network and does not combine your data with data from other companies' apps or websites, whichever answer you give. You can change your choice at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
Because the app asks for this permission, its App Store privacy label lists the device identifier as used for tracking. In practice nothing changes: as stated above, no advertising identifier is read and your data is not combined with data from other companies.
Notification permission
If you allow notifications, iOS gives the app an anonymous push token, which is passed to OneSignal so that a notification can reach your device. Your answer to the permission request is also recorded as an anonymous statistic by our analytics service.
Notifications carry app news and reminders, never the content of your documents.
Camera permission
The app requires camera access to scan documents. Pages are captured with Apple's document scanner, processed on your device and saved as PDFs in the app. The camera is used for nothing else, and no captured image is uploaded to us.
You can change camera permission at any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
Data security and retention
Documents, signatures, categories and settings are stored locally on your device. They are never sent to our servers. The anonymous usage data described above is retained by our analytics service for as long as the app is in use. Crash reports are retained by Firebase Crashlytics for up to 90 days and are then deleted automatically.
You can delete any document from inside the app. When you delete the app, all locally stored app data is permanently removed. Anything you exported, shared or copied to iCloud must be removed where it was stored.
Children's privacy
PDF Scanner is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.
Your rights (GDPR)
The data controller is Bilal Akkoç, an independent developer based in France.
You can delete your documents at any time from inside the app. Under the GDPR you also have the right to access, correct, delete and port your data, to object to or restrict its processing and to withdraw your consent for analytics collection.
To exercise these rights, or for any question about this policy, write to info@bilalakkoc.com.
You can also lodge a complaint with the French data protection authority, CNIL (www.cnil.fr).
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When significant changes occur, the updated policy is published on this page and the “Last updated” date above is changed. Continued use of the app after a change means that you accept the updated policy.
Contact
For privacy questions, write to info@bilalakkoc.com.