DriveBuddy Privacy Policy
DriveBuddy is an independent Chrome extension. It is not made, endorsed or sponsored by Google. This policy explains what DriveBuddy stores and what it does not do.
Summary
- DriveBuddy has no servers, and it does not send any of your data anywhere.
- It contains no analytics, advertising, tracking or telemetry.
- It does not access your Google account, your Google Drive files or the content of any web page.
- It does not read or collect your browsing history.
- Everything it stores stays in Chrome’s local extension storage on your device.
What DriveBuddy stores locally
Using chrome.storage.local, DriveBuddy saves:
- Settings: display name (optional), greeting style, theme, sound, motion, mascot and timer preferences.
- Progress: points, level, streak, daily quests, achievements and daily counts of actions you take inside DriveBuddy (for example, “2 searches started from DriveBuddy today”). The text of your searches is not stored.
- Favourites: the names, Google Drive or Workspace links, icons and colours you choose to save.
- Checklist tasks and quick notes that you type.
- Game records such as best scores and today’s word puzzle guesses.
- Timer state, so the focus timer stays accurate if you close the side panel.
This data is not synced through your Google account and is not shared with the developer or anyone else.
Opening Google pages
When you use a shortcut, a favourite or the search box, DriveBuddy opens Google’s own website in a new browser tab. Your search terms are placed in that Google Drive address so that Google Drive can show results. What happens on Google’s websites is governed by Google’s own privacy policy. DriveBuddy does not see the results or any page content.
Permissions
- sidePanel – to show DriveBuddy in Chrome’s side panel.
- storage – to save the local data described above.
- alarms – to know when a focus timer ends while the panel is closed.
- notifications (optional) – requested only if you turn on timer notifications in Settings. You can turn it off at any time.
DriveBuddy does not request access to websites, tabs’ contents, browsing history or Google sign-in.
Exporting and deleting your data
In Settings → Your data you can export your data as a JSON file, import a previous backup, reset your progress or delete all DriveBuddy data. Exported files are saved where you choose and are not uploaded anywhere. Removing the extension from Chrome also deletes its local storage.
Children
DriveBuddy does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children, because it does not collect personal information at all.
Changes
If this policy changes, the updated version will be included with the extension and published with its Chrome Web Store listing, with a new effective date.
Contact
Questions about this policy can be sent through the support contact listed on DriveBuddy’s Chrome Web Store page.