At SatarkScan, we believe fraud protection shouldn't cost you your privacy. This policy is written in plain English because the way our app handles your data is incredibly simple: we don't collect it.
The Zero Server Guarantee
SatarkScan does not have a backend server. There is no API, no cloud database, and no data collection dashboard. The app operates 100% offline on your device.
1. Data We Do Not Collect
Because the app operates entirely on your phone's processor, we do not (and physically cannot) collect, store, or transmit:
- Your personal information (Name, Email, Phone Number)
- Your UPI IDs, VPAs, or bank details
- The QR codes you scan
- Your scan history or risk scores
- Your IP address or device identifiers
2. Permissions We Request (And Why)
To provide fraud detection, SatarkScan requires specific on-device permissions. Here is exactly what they do:
- Camera Access: Required strictly to scan QR codes in real-time. The image feed goes directly to the on-device ML Kit Barcode Scanner and is immediately discarded. No video or images are recorded, saved, or uploaded.
- Storage/Gallery Access (Optional): Required only if you choose to analyze a QR code from a saved screenshot. The app only reads the specific image you select.
- Query All Packages (Android): Required for the "UPI App Picker" feature to detect which UPI payment apps (like PhonePe, GPay, Paytm) are installed on your phone, allowing you to launch them directly after a safe scan.
3. How Your Data is Stored Locally
All analysis is performed locally. If you choose to save your scan history (to keep a personal record of merchants you've checked), this data is saved securely in your device's local memory (SharedPreferences).
This data never leaves your phone. You have full control over this data and can permanently wipe it at any time using the "Delete All Data" button in the app's settings. Once deleted, it is unrecoverable.
4. Third-Party Services
We do not integrate third-party analytics (like Google Analytics) or third-party ad networks. We use Google's ML Kit for barcode scanning, which processes the QR codes locally on your device without transmitting image data back to Google servers.
5. Changes to This Policy
If we ever change the way SatarkScan works—for example, if we introduce a voluntary cloud-backup feature in the future—we will update this policy and explicitly ask for your permission inside the app. For now, the app remains 100% offline.
6. Contact
Since this is an independent project designed for public safety, we welcome your feedback. If you have questions about this policy or the app's source libraries, you can reach out via the contact details provided on our Google Play Store listing.