WebInvestigator privacy policy
WebInvestigator stores what you capture in your browser, on your device, and nowhere else. Nothing is transmitted to us or to anyone else, and nothing is sold. There is no account, no analytics and no server.
What the extension stores on your device
When you use it, WebInvestigator saves the following in Chrome's local storage for the extension, inside your browser profile:
- Cases you create: the case reference, description and status.
- Evidence you capture: screenshots, page snapshots, images, selected text and links, together with the page address, page title, capture time, a SHA-256 hash of the file, and technical details of the capture (browser version, operating system, window size, zoom and time zone).
- Notes and tags you write.
- A page-visit log, only while you have switched on "Log page visits" for a case. It records the address, title and time of each page you open. It is off by default and switches itself off when the browser restarts.
- An audit log of actions taken in each case, so changes can be accounted for.
- Settings, including the name and organisation you choose to show on reports.
None of this leaves your device unless you export it yourself as a report or evidence package, or switch on the option to save copies of captures to your Downloads folder.
What the extension sends
Nothing is sent to WebInvestigator or to any third party. The extension contains no analytics, advertising, tracking or remote code, and it does not use an account.
The extension makes a network request in one situation only: when you right-click an image on a web page and choose "Add image to case", it downloads that image from the website that hosts it, so the original file can be stored in your case.
Why the extension asks for its permissions
- Read and change data on all websites: needed to capture the page you are viewing when you ask it to, to let you select an area of the page, and to read the address and title of pages for the page-visit log when you have switched it on. The extension does not run on a page until you start a capture.
- Storage, including unlimited storage: to keep your cases and captured files on your device.
- Downloads: to save reports, evidence packages and, if you choose, copies of captures.
- Side panel and context menus: to show the capture panel beside the page and the right-click "Add to case" items.
- Page capture (optional): requested the first time you use "Page snapshot", to save a page as an MHTML file.
Keeping and deleting your data
Your data stays until you delete it. You can delete a single item, a whole case, or everything, from the extension's workspace. Removing the extension from Chrome, or clearing its site data, also deletes everything it has stored. Because the browser holds the only copy, export an evidence package for anything you need to keep.
Other people's information
What you capture may include information about other people. You are responsible for collecting, storing and sharing it lawfully and in line with any rules that apply to your work.
Earlier versions
Versions before 3.0 offered optional usage analytics, which were off by default, and a paid plan. Both have been removed. Version 3 does not read, send or use any analytics identifier or licence information left in storage by an earlier version.
If you bought a paid plan in the past, the record of that purchase is held by Stripe, the payment processor, as required for tax and legal purposes. The extension no longer connects to Stripe or to the former licence service. For questions about an earlier purchase, contact us at the address below.
Chrome Web Store user data policy
WebInvestigator's use of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. Data is used only to provide the capture and case features described here, is never transferred to third parties, and is never used for advertising or to assess creditworthiness.
Changes to this policy
If the extension's handling of data changes, this policy will be updated before the change is released, and the date above will change.
Contact
Questions and requests: webinvestigatorextension@gmail.com