Cookie Policy

01. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites or applications to store information about your preferences, session state, or browsing behaviour[cite: 4]. They are widely used across the web to enable functionality, remember user preferences, and — in many cases — track users across websites for advertising purposes[cite: 4].

This Cookie Policy explains how ShadowSurf Technologies handles cookies and similar tracking technologies in both our Android application and this website[cite: 4].

02. Our Position on Cookies

We believe that the widespread use of tracking cookies is one of the most significant threats to user privacy on the modern web[cite: 4]. ShadowSurf was built specifically to block these technologies for our users — and we hold ourselves to the same standard[cite: 4].

03. Local Storage & App Data

The ShadowSurf application stores certain data locally on your device to provide core functionality[cite: 4]. This data never leaves your device and is not accessible to our servers[cite: 4]. It includes:

• Browser session data — active tabs, scroll position, and form autofill (stored in Android's sandboxed app storage)[cite: 4].
• Bookmarks and browsing history — stored locally and never synced to our servers[cite: 4].
• App preferences and settings — your chosen theme, search engine, and privacy settings[cite: 4].
• Ghost Vault contents — encrypted files and media stored in isolated, sandboxed local storage[cite: 4].
• Website cookies set by third-party websites you visit — these are managed by the browser engine and are subject to the privacy policies of those websites, not ours[cite: 4].

You can clear all locally stored browser data at any time from within the ShadowSurf app settings under Privacy & Security → Clear Browsing Data[cite: 4].

04. Third-Party SDKs & Their Data Practices

ShadowSurf integrates a small number of third-party SDKs to provide specific features[cite: 4]. Each SDK's data practices are described below:

05. Analytics & Crash Reporting

We use Google Firebase Crashlytics on a strictly opt-in basis to collect anonymous crash reports[cite: 4]. This helps us identify and fix bugs quickly[cite: 4]. Crashlytics does not use cookies and does not track your browsing behaviour[cite: 4].

You can opt out of crash reporting at any time from within the app: Settings → Privacy & Security → Share Crash Reports → Off[cite: 4].

06. Advertising Identifiers (Free Tier Only)

Free tier users may be shown interstitial advertisements served by Google AdMob[cite: 4]. AdMob may use the Android Advertising ID (AAID) — a resettable, non-permanent identifier — to serve contextual advertisements[cite: 4]. This identifier is not linked to your name, email address, or any other personally identifiable information held by ShadowSurf Technologies[cite: 4].

You can reset or opt out of personalised advertising at any time through your Android device settings: Settings → Google → Ads → Delete advertising ID or Opt out of Ads Personalisation[cite: 4].

07. Your Choices & Controls

You have full control over the data stored by ShadowSurf on your device[cite: 4]:

08. This Website

This website does not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or third-party analytics scripts[cite: 4]. We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any similar tracking technology on this website[cite: 4].

The website may use strictly necessary technical mechanisms (such as session storage) to maintain your navigation state[cite: 4]. These are not tracking cookies and do not collect personal data[cite: 4].

09. Support & Inquiries

For questions regarding data practices, privacy rights, or policy inquiries, please bypass this document and connect directly through our secure terminal.

Last updated: April 30, 2026[cite: 4]. Subject to change based on cyber compliance laws.