Privacy Policy
Last Updated: October 26, 2026
Essential Dev Team ("we", "us", "our") operates the SafeGuard mobile application ("App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our App.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following categories of information:
| Data Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Email address | Account creation, authentication, and account recovery |
| Account password | Securely stored (hashed) for authentication |
| Contact names, email addresses, phone numbers, and relationship labels | Delivering legacy messages and SOS alerts to your designated recipients |
| Legacy message content | Storing and delivering your messages when triggered |
| Distress message content | Storing the message sent to your contacts when a distress PIN or SOS is triggered |
| Deadman-switch configuration | Storing your check-in schedule, deadlines, and trigger settings to operate the deadman-switch feature |
| Check-in timestamps | Monitoring your check-in activity to trigger message delivery if a deadline is missed |
| GPS coordinates (optional) | Including your location in SOS emergency alerts, only when you enable this feature |
| Security event logs | Recording failed login attempts and SOS events for your account security |
| Subscription status | Managing free vs. premium feature access |
2. How We Use Your Information
Your information is used to operate the Service:
- To authenticate your identity and secure your account
- To store and deliver your legacy messages to your designated contacts
- To send SOS emergency alerts to your emergency contacts
- To monitor check-in deadlines and trigger message delivery when appropriate
- To manage your subscription and provide access to the correct features
- To log security events for your protection
- To improve the App using anonymous usage statistics that are not linked to you (see section 8)
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.
Refund Requests
When someone asks Apple for a refund, Apple may ask us about the purchase. By subscribing, you agree that we may then tell Apple that the purchase was delivered, that a free version or trial was available beforehand, and that we prefer a refund of the unused part. We share nothing else, and only for purchases made after this consent appeared on the subscription screen. We are also notified when a refund is requested or granted, without learning who you are.
3. Third-Party Services
The App relies on the following third-party services to function:
- Supabase — Database hosting, user authentication, and serverless functions. Supabase Privacy Policy
- Resend — Email delivery service used to send legacy messages and SOS alerts. Resend Privacy Policy
- Twilio — SMS delivery service. SOS alerts and scheduled messages may be delivered by SMS through Twilio; your emergency contacts' phone numbers are transmitted to Twilio to deliver those messages. Twilio Privacy Policy
- Apple App Store — Subscription billing and payment processing. Apple Privacy Policy
These services process your data in accordance with their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.
4. Data Storage and Security
- Your data is stored on Supabase's cloud infrastructure with encryption at rest and in transit.
- Account passwords are securely hashed and never stored in plain text.
- Your app PIN and distress PIN are stored locally on your device.
- We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction.
However, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
5. Data Retention
- Your data is retained for as long as your account is active.
- If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data from our servers within 30 days.
- Security logs may be retained for up to 90 days for fraud prevention.
- Once legacy messages are sent via email, we have no control over copies held by recipients or their email providers.
6. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data.
- Portability: Request your data in a portable format.
- Objection: Object to certain processing of your data.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at essentialdevteam@gmail.com.
7. Location Data
GPS location data is only collected when:
- You have explicitly enabled location sharing in the App settings.
- An SOS distress alert is triggered.
Location data is transmitted only to your designated emergency contacts via the SOS email. We do not track your location continuously or use it for any purpose beyond the SOS feature.
8. Anonymous Usage Statistics
To learn which features help people and where the App goes wrong, the App sends anonymous usage statistics to our own server (hosted by Supabase). This is on by default and you can turn it off at any time in Settings › Privacy › Share Usage Data; turning it off stops collection and deletes anything not yet sent. These statistics are separate from your account and are never linked to your email or anything stored in your account.
What is sent: a random installation ID created for this app (it is deleted with the app); device model, iOS and app version; language, region and time zone; accessibility settings (such as larger text or reduced motion); when sessions start and end and the last screen viewed; the App's own events (for example that a check-in was completed, protection was started or paused, a contact was added or a message was created — never who, what, when or where); paywall views and taps; subscription start, trial, renewal status, cancellation and refund events; whether the App asked for a review; and Apple's anonymous crash and performance reports (MetricKit).
What is never sent: your name, email, phone or address; your location; the advertising identifier (IDFA) or the identifier for vendors (IDFV); prices you paid, receipts or transaction IDs; and anything you enter or create — no contacts, message text, attachments, SOS messages, PINs, check-in times or deadlines. Nothing is recorded while the App is opened with your distress PIN. Your IP address is not stored or used. Statistics are not linked to your identity and are not used for tracking or advertising.
Retention: usage statistics are kept for 13 months, crash and performance reports for 6 months. Deletion: email us the Installation ID shown in Settings › Privacy and we will delete everything recorded for it.
9. Device Permissions
The App may request the following device permissions. Each is optional and used only for the stated feature:
- Location — Attached to SOS alerts, only when you enable location sharing.
- Contacts — Used when you choose to import emergency contacts from your address book.
- Camera, Microphone, and Photo Library — Used when you choose to add photo, video, or audio attachments to your messages.
- Notifications — Used to remind you about upcoming check-in deadlines.
You can revoke any of these permissions at any time in your device's Settings.
10. Children's Privacy
SafeGuard is intended for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If we become aware that we have collected data from a minor, we will delete it promptly.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through the App or via email. Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, contact us:
Essential Dev Team
Email: essentialdevteam@gmail.com