WhatsLauncher

Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 19, 2026

This policy explains how WhatsLauncher ("WL"), an Android launcher provided by AltosCode, handles information. WL is designed to simplify communication for older adults and people who benefit from a reduced, accessible interface. WL does not create an AltosCode account.

This policy covers currently distributed versions and the forthcoming 4.x release. A capability described below applies only when it is available in the version installed on your device. Version 4.x adds more explicit caregiver preferences, controlled Android backup, and clearer privacy and diagnostic controls.

1. Controller and contact

AltosCode, Merced 838-A oficina 117, Santiago, Chile, is responsible for its own processing activities. Privacy questions and rights requests may be sent to contacto@altoscode.com.

2. Information used on the device

With Android permission, WL reads contact names, telephone numbers, and contact photos to:

• display accessible contact cards;
• let the user choose WhatsApp video, WhatsApp voice, or the Phone app;
• remember favorites, visibility, usage order, and a preferred number.

Contact editing remains in the Android Contacts app. WL does not require permission to write contacts. Contact data and call choices are not sent by AltosCode to its own servers.

WL also stores local caregiver settings such as theme, reminder choices, favorite-only mode, selected app shortcuts, and whether Photos or Camera shortcuts are visible. An optional four-digit caregiver PIN is stored locally as a salted hash. It is intended to prevent accidental changes, not to provide strong security, and can be bypassed with ten consecutive taps as explained in the app. The PIN is not backed up.

Volume, brightness, battery, connectivity, airplane mode, and HOME-app status are observed locally to provide assistive prompts. WL does not use these signals to infer a medical condition or deliberately send them to advertising providers.

3. Android backup and device transfer

When Android Auto Backup or device-to-device transfer is available, Android may copy a versioned WL backup document to the user's Google-controlled backup service. It may contain normalized telephone numbers needed to match the same contacts, favorites, visibility, usage scores, preferred number, theme, reminder settings, shortcut visibility, and up to four selected application package names.

The Room database, contact photos, caches, the caregiver PIN, test contacts, and diagnostic data are excluded. AltosCode cannot read or guarantee the private Android backup. Backup and restoration depend on Android, Google, the device manufacturer, the user's account, connectivity, and device settings. System permissions and the HOME role must be granted again after reinstalling or changing devices.

4. Diagnostics

WL uses Firebase Crashlytics to identify crashes and technical failures. Crashlytics may process pseudonymous installation and session identifiers, app version, device model and technical state, operating-system information, timestamps, crash traces, and closed technical event categories.

WL is designed not to place names, telephone numbers, contact photos, PINs, contact content, advertising identifiers, or free-form user text in its Crashlytics logs. Firebase states that Crashlytics crash traces, extracted minidump data, and associated identifiers are kept for 90 days before removal from live and backup systems begins.

5. Banner advertising and consent

WL displays banner advertising to support the app. In version 4.x, Appodeal manages banner mediation and may work with Google AdMob, Meta Audience Network, and other enabled demand partners. Earlier installed versions may use some of these providers under their previous integration. No interstitial, rewarded, or app-open advertisement is intentionally shown.

Depending on region, consent, provider, and available inventory, advertising SDKs may process:

• IP address, advertising ID, and similar device identifiers;
• device, operating-system, network, language, and technical information;
• ad impressions, clicks, and other advertising interactions;
• diagnostic, performance, attribution, security, and fraud-prevention signals.

WL does not deliberately provide contacts, telephone numbers, photos, the caregiver PIN, or caregiver preferences to advertising providers. WL does not set an Appodeal user ID, report in-app purchases, or request device location for advertising. The installed mediation package may contain multiple network adapters; adapter presence does not prove that every network received data or served an ad.

Where required, Appodeal's consent flow and privacy options are provided. Refusing or revisiting advertising consent does not disable contacts, calls, device assistance, or access to the launcher.

6. Purposes and legal grounds

• Local contacts and settings: provide the requested launcher and communication features.
• Android backup: restore user-selected preferences when the platform service is enabled.
• Crash diagnostics: maintain security, reliability, and app quality.
• Advertising and measurement: fund banner delivery, measure it, and prevent fraud, subject to consent and other grounds required by applicable law.
• Rights requests: respond to and document legally valid requests.

WL does not use contacts for advertising and does not create health or disability profiles.

7. Providers and international processing

Google/Firebase, the Android backup service, Appodeal, and enabled advertising partners may process information outside Chile under their applicable terms and safeguards. Their roles, locations, recipients, and retention periods can vary by service and jurisdiction.

Provider information:

• Appodeal Privacy Policy
• Google Privacy Policy
• Meta Privacy Policy
• Firebase Privacy and Security

8. Retention and deletion

• Local data remains until it is changed, app data is cleared, or WL is uninstalled.
• Android backup retention is controlled by Android, Google, and the user's backup settings.
• Crashlytics applies the retention described in section 4.
• Advertising providers apply their own retention rules and consent choices.
• Rights-request records are kept only as needed to respond and demonstrate handling.

9. Security

WL limits permissions, uses atomic backup-file replacement, excludes unnecessary files from Android backup, restricts technical logging, and does not permit cleartext traffic globally. No technical measure can eliminate every risk created by a device, operating system, account, network, or external provider.

10. Your choices and rights

Depending on applicable law, you may request access, correction, deletion, objection, portability, or blocking by emailing contacto@altoscode.com. Please do not email your complete contact list, PIN, Google password, advertising ID, or backup file.

Edit or delete contacts in Android Contacts. Delete WL's local data through Android settings or by uninstalling the app. Manage cloud backup through Android/Google controls and review advertising choices through the in-app privacy entry point when the provider requires it. AltosCode cannot recover a caregiver PIN or remotely access the contact list or private Android backup.

11. Children's privacy

WL is not directed to children under 13 and is not configured as a child-directed app. If we learn that information relating to a child was handled improperly, we will assess and address it through the contact channel above.

12. Changes to this policy

Material changes will be posted here with a new date and communicated in an accessible way when required. This policy is intended to operate consistently with Chilean law, including Law No. 21,719 when it takes effect on December 1, 2026, and with other applicable laws.