Privacy Policy

Introduction

Zip Browser VPN (the “App”) is a privacy-focused web browser with a built-in VPN, ad blocker, tracker blocker, download manager, and ZipDrop nearby sharing, published by Qikks Studio (“we”, “us”, or “our”). This Privacy Policy explains what information the App handles, how it is used, and the choices you have. The App is designed so that the bulk of your activity stays on your device. You do not need to create an account or sign in to use the App.

Data Stored On Your Device

The following is created and stored locally on your device and is not transmitted to us. You can view or clear it at any time from within the App (Settings → Clear browsing data):

• Browsing history, open tabs, and tab groups
• Bookmarks and bookmark folders
• Quick-access shortcuts and recently visited sites
• Search history and search suggestions you have used
• Downloaded files and the downloads list
• Cookies, site storage, and cached files created by the websites you visit
• Your in-app settings, including VPN preferences and per-site controls
• Your ZipDrop device name and identity, the devices you have marked as trusted or blocked, your nearby-sharing history, and the files you have received

Activity performed in Incognito (private) mode is kept only for the life of those private tabs and is not added to your history, search history, or cookie store once the private tabs are closed.

The VPN Service

When you connect the VPN, your device’s internet traffic is routed through a secure tunnel to a VPN server you select. Our VPN is designed as a no-activity-logs service: we do not record the websites you visit, the content you transfer, or your DNS queries while connected.

• Connection statistics such as bytes transferred and session duration are calculated and displayed on your device for the live dashboard. They are not a profile of your browsing.
• Operational data needed to route traffic (for example, a temporary connection to the chosen server) is handled only for as long as a session is active.
• Kill switch and split tunneling preferences are applied locally to control which traffic uses the tunnel.
• The VPN tunnel encrypts traffic in transit between your device and the VPN server. It does not make you anonymous to websites that you log into, and destinations beyond the server (such as the websites you visit) operate under their own policies.

Ad & Tracker Blocking

Ad and tracker blocking is performed locally on your device using a filter list bundled with the App. Blocking happens at the network layer before requests load, and the “blocked” counters shown in the App are calculated on your device. We do not receive the list of domains you block or the pages on which blocking occurred. You can turn blocking off globally or allow it per site.

Nearby Sharing (ZipDrop)

ZipDrop sends pages, text, and files straight to another device near you. Transfers travel directly between the two devices over your local network or a direct Wi-Fi link. They are not uploaded to us, do not pass through our servers, and do not require an account.

• We never receive what you share. File names, file contents, links, text, and the identity of the devices you share with stay on the two devices involved. We have no record of any transfer.
• Every transfer is encrypted end to end between the two devices, and a six-digit code is shown on both so you can confirm you are connected to the right device before accepting.
• What other devices can see. To be discoverable, the App announces itself on the local network. If you choose “Everyone nearby”, that announcement includes your chosen device name, which anyone on the same network can see. The default, “Trusted devices”, does not broadcast your device name at all, and only devices you have already trusted can send to you.
• Your device identity is generated on your device, is not derived from any hardware or advertising identifier, and can be replaced at any time from Settings, which also clears the devices that trusted it.
• Files you receive are saved to your Downloads folder, under ZipDrop. Nothing is saved unless you accept it, or unless the sender is a device you have trusted and you have turned on the option to skip the prompt.
• Sharing an image from a web page downloads that image to your device first so the picture itself can be sent. It is fetched from the website hosting it, exactly as loading the page does.

Information Sent To Third Parties

Certain features necessarily involve sending data to third parties so the feature can work:

• Search & address bar suggestions. As you type, your query may be sent to your selected search engine’s suggestion service (for example Google) to return autocomplete results. Visiting a search results page sends your query to that search engine. These services operate under their own privacy policies.
• Websites you visit. Web pages you open send and receive data directly with their own servers, just as in any browser.
• Advertising (Google AdMob & mediation). The App shows ads via Google AdMob and may use mediation partners (including Meta Audience Network). These partners may use a mobile advertising identifier and similar data to serve and measure ads. Where required by law, we show a consent prompt (Google’s User Messaging Platform) and respect your choice; you can revisit it under Settings → Ad privacy choices.
• Analytics. The App uses Google Firebase Analytics to understand aggregate, app-level usage (such as crashes and feature usage) to improve the App. This does not include the contents of your browsing.
• Trending content. The App may request popular/trending search suggestions from our backend service to populate the search screen.

Permissions We Use

• VPN service: to establish the encrypted tunnel when you connect.
• Internet & network state: to load web pages and detect connectivity (for example, the offline banner and Wi-Fi-only downloads).
• Storage / file access: to save your downloads and open them, and to save files you receive with ZipDrop.
• Wi-Fi state & multicast: to find nearby devices on your local network for ZipDrop. This does not give us your network details.
• Nearby devices: requested only if you switch on ZipDrop’s Wi-Fi Direct option, which is off by default. It is used solely to detect a device in the room and is declared so that it is never used to derive your location.
• Notifications: to tell you about an incoming transfer and its result. A transfer in progress runs as a foreground service so it is not interrupted when you leave the App.
• Per-site permissions (camera, microphone, location): requested only when a website asks for them, and only with your approval.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect information, including encryption of VPN traffic in transit, encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS) when enabled, and end-to-end encryption of every ZipDrop transfer between the two devices involved. However, no method of transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children’s Privacy

The App is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can remove it.

Your Choices

• Clear any or all on-device data from Settings → Clear browsing data.
• Browse privately using Incognito mode.
• Disable search-history saving and ad/tracker blocking in Settings.
• Manage advertising consent under Settings → Ad privacy choices.
• Reset your advertising identifier from your device’s system settings.
• Choose who can find you with ZipDrop, rename your device, forget trusted devices, or reset your ZipDrop identity entirely under Settings → ZipDrop.

Changes To This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the “Last updated” date on this page, and where appropriate, within the App.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at support@qikks.com.