Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 1, 2026

1. Introduction & Overview

Welcome to Block Cheddam ("we," "our," or "us"). We are strongly committed to protecting your personal privacy while providing you with an effective, engaging, and rewarding digital wellbeing experience. This Privacy Policy governs your use of the Block Cheddam mobile application and our website located at blockcheddam.com.

Our core philosophy revolves around a "local-first" data architecture. Unlike traditional screen time managers that continuously stream detailed app activity to cloud servers, Block Cheddam processes all device activity locally on your smartphone. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how it is handled, the permissions required by the application, and your rights regarding your data.

2. Information We Collect and How We Use It

We strictly limit data collection to the minimum required to deliver seamless app blocking, virtual pet companions, focus tracking, and achievement features.

2.1 Data Stored Exclusively on Your Device (Never Uploaded)

The vast majority of data generated while using Block Cheddam is stored locally within Android's protected application sandbox environment using encrypted local databases and secure key-value stores. This local data includes:

• App Usage Statistics: Detailed logs of which applications you launch, duration of usage per app, daily screen time totals, and session interval counts.
• Custom App Blocking Rules: Specific target apps you select for restriction, custom daily screen time allowances, session timeouts, and strict schedules.
• Focus & Break Logs: Timestamps of completed focus sessions, break durations, mindfulness pauses, and daily streak calendars.
• Virtual Pet Companion State: Pet selection (Cat, Dog, Panda, Rabbit, Fox), custom companion names, level stage progression (Baby through Evolved), XP totals, health metrics (HP, Energy, Joy), and mini-game high scores.
• User Preferences: App display settings, language selection (English / Telugu), notification preferences, and local sound toggle settings.

2.2 Information Collected When You Create an Account (Optional)

You can use Block Cheddam without creating an account. However, if you choose to sign up or log in to sync your achievements and pet stats across devices, we collect limited authentication data via our secure cloud service provider (Supabase Auth):

• Account Credentials: Email address and encrypted password hash (for email/password registration).
• Social Authentication Data: Display name, email address, and profile picture avatar token (when signing in via Google Sign-In).
• Cloud Backup State: User profile display name, accumulated XP points, companion pet evolution stage, unlocked streak badges, and leaderboard rankings.

3. Android System Permissions & Purpose

To function as an effective app blocker and habit assistant on Android, Block Cheddam requires specific system permissions. We explicitly outline their necessity below:

3.1 Usage Access Permission (PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS)

Required to detect when a restricted application enters the foreground. Android grants access to foreground app events through the UsageStatsManager API. This data is evaluated in real-time on your device to trigger your virtual pet overlay when usage limits are exceeded. Usage stats are never transmitted externally.

3.2 Display Over Other Apps (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW)

Required to render the full-screen interactive pet companion overlay over blocked applications. This allows your pet companion to appear on top of distracting apps with mindful break activities, timers, and mini-games.

3.3 Post Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS)

Required on Android 13 (API 33) and above to send you mindful break reminders, focus session progress, daily streak celebration alerts, and persistent foreground service updates.

3.4 Foreground Service Permission (FOREGROUND_SERVICE)

Required to keep the background monitoring service active while your phone is locked or during extended focus sessions. Block Cheddam displays an unobtrusive status bar notification while the service is running, ensuring battery-optimized, reliable execution.

3.5 Run at Startup (RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED)

Required to automatically re-enable your configured app blocking rules and companion reminders after your device reboots.

4. Data Sharing and Third-Party Services

We strictly respect your data privacy. We do not sell, rent, trade, or monetize your personal information or app usage data to third-party advertisers, data brokers, or marketing networks. Limited data processing occurs only through essential service infrastructure:

• Supabase Inc. (Database & Auth): Hosts our cloud database infrastructure for user accounts, cloud backup sync, and leaderboard rankings. Data is encrypted in transit via TLS 1.3 and at rest via AES-256.

5. Data Retention & User Control

You maintain full control over your data at all times:

• Local App Data: You can clear all local app logs, blocking rules, and pet stats at any time by navigating to Settings → Reset App Data, or by clearing app storage via Android system settings. Uninstalling the app permanently erases all local data.
• Cloud Account Deletion: You can permanently delete your cloud account and all associated database records directly within the app by going to Settings → Account → Delete Account. This action immediately purges your profile, stats, and leaderboard entries from our servers.

6. Children's Privacy

Block Cheddam is designed as a general audience digital wellbeing tool. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verified parental consent, we will promptly delete that information from our servers.

7. Security Measures

We implement robust technical and organizational security measures to protect your data. Cloud database interactions are enforced via strict Row Level Security (RLS) policies, ensuring authenticated users can only access and modify their own stats. Local storage leverages Android's application sandboxing, preventing other installed apps from accessing Block Cheddam's internal files.

8. International Data Transfers

If you create a cloud backup account, your profile data may be stored and processed on secure cloud servers located in compliant data centers. By registering an account, you consent to the transfer of your data to these secure facilities in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect app updates, new system permissions, or evolving regulatory requirements. Whenever significant changes are made, we will notify you by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy and providing an in-app notice.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact our support team:

• Email: blockcheddam04@gmail.com