🔒 Privacy Policy

Effective date: May 1, 2026 · FileTools (filetools.store)

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how FileTools ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, and shares information when you use our website filetools.store and the file processing tools we provide. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about every data practice on our site.

By using FileTools, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the service.

2. Who We Are

FileTools is a free online suite of 43 file processing tools accessible at https://filetools.store. We provide tools for converting, merging, splitting, compressing, and analyzing files including CSV spreadsheets, images (JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, JFIF), PDFs, plus various calculators, generators, and developer utilities.

For any privacy-related questions, contact us via our contact page.

3. Information We Collect

We collect only the minimum information needed to operate the service:

3.1 Files You Upload

When you use a server-side tool (CSV, image, or PDF tools), the file you choose is uploaded to our server, processed, and made available to you for download. The file is automatically and permanently deleted within 1 hour. We do not read, copy, analyze, share, or use your files for any purpose other than the operation you requested.

3.2 Automatically Collected Information

Our web server automatically logs the following technical information for security, abuse prevention, and operational monitoring:

• IP address — used for rate limiting and to block malicious traffic
• Browser type and User-Agent — for compatibility and abuse detection
• Pages requested and timestamps — standard server logs
• Referrer URL — the page that linked you to FileTools, if any

3.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

• We do not require accounts, names, email addresses, phone numbers, or any registration data
• We do not collect payment information (donations are processed entirely by PayPal)
• We do not access your camera, microphone, or geolocation
• We do not read or analyze the contents of files you upload

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

FileTools uses cookies and similar technologies for analytics and advertising. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time.

4.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site (which pages are popular, how long visits last, etc.) so we can improve the service. Google Analytics places cookies on your browser to identify return visitors and measure aggregate behavior. The data is anonymized and aggregated; we never see individual user identities.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing Google's official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

4.2 Google AdSense and DART Cookies

FileTools uses Google AdSense to display advertising on our tool pages. Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies (including the DoubleClick DART cookie) to serve ads based on your prior visits to our site or other sites on the Internet. Third-party advertisers may also use cookies to measure ad effectiveness or to personalize the advertising content you see.

You can:

• Opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings
• Opt out of third-party vendor use of cookies via aboutads.info or YourOnlineChoices.eu (Europe)
• Disable cookies entirely in your browser settings (some site features may not work as expected)

For more information about how Google handles your data when you use our partners' sites, please visit Google's privacy practices for partner sites.

4.3 PayPal Donations

Our optional donation widget is provided by PayPal. If you choose to donate, PayPal handles the entire transaction and may set its own cookies. PayPal's privacy policy applies to all donation interactions. We do not receive your payment details — only confirmation that a donation was made.

5. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following legitimate purposes only:

• To operate, maintain, and improve our file processing tools
• To prevent fraud, abuse, malicious uploads, and denial-of-service attacks
• To analyze aggregate site usage and improve user experience
• To display relevant advertising via Google AdSense (if you have not opted out)
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of use

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We share information only in these limited cases:

• Service providers: Google (Analytics, AdSense, Fonts) and PayPal, as described above. Each operates under its own privacy policy.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the safety of users or the public.
• Aggregated data: We may share aggregated, anonymized statistics that cannot identify any individual.

7. Data Retention

• Uploaded files: automatically deleted within 1 hour of upload
• Server access logs: retained for up to 30 days, then deleted
• Google Analytics data: retained per Google's default settings (typically 14 months for user-level data)
• AdSense cookies: retention managed by Google according to their policies

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have specific rights regarding your personal data. We respect these rights regardless of your location.

8.1 General Rights

• Right to access: Request information about what data we hold about you
• Right to deletion: Request deletion of any personal data we hold (since we don't store accounts, this primarily applies to server logs)
• Right to opt out: Disable analytics and personalized advertising as described in section 4

8.2 European Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to your data. Our legal basis for processing is legitimate interest (operating and securing the service) and your consent (for advertising cookies). You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, or object to processing of your personal data, and to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

8.3 California Users (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, the right to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information, and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell personal information in the traditional sense, but the use of advertising cookies may be considered "sharing" under CCPA. You may opt out of advertising cookies as described in section 4.

9. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption in transit: all connections use HTTPS via Let's Encrypt SSL certificates
• Automatic file deletion: uploads are wiped within 1 hour
• Server hardening: firewall, fail2ban, regular OS updates
• Rate limiting: prevents brute-force and DoS attacks
• Input validation: uploaded files are validated and processed in isolated workers

However, no Internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. We strive to protect your information but cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children's Privacy

FileTools is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in the relevant jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

11. International Data Transfers

FileTools is operated from servers that may be located outside your country of residence. By using the service, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, where data protection laws may differ. We rely on standard contractual clauses and the protections of our service providers (Google, PayPal) where applicable.

12. Third-Party Links

Our site may contain links to external websites that are not operated by us. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we do, we will post the updated policy on this page and update the "Effective date" at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of FileTools after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices — including exercising any of your privacy rights — please contact us via our contact page. We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days.