PRIVACY POLICY FOR SNAPNOVA
Last Updated: October 30, 2026
At SnapNova ("we", "our", or "the extension"), we respect and protect your privacy. This Privacy Policy details our strict commitment to data protection, transparency, and minimal permission usage.
1. ZERO DATA COLLECTION & ZERO TRACKING
• SnapNova does NOT collect, harvest, store, or sell any personal data, email addresses, browser history, passwords, or website credentials.
• We do not operate any tracking servers, analytics services, telemetry beacons, or third-party advertising scripts.
• 100% of the screenshot captures, full-page scrolls, video recordings, animated GIF conversions, and image annotations are executed locally on your machine using your browser's native client-side APIs (HTML5 Canvas, OffscreenCanvas, and MediaRecorder).
• Your captures NEVER leave your computer unless you explicitly choose to upload or share them via your own third-party tools (e.g., Slack, email, or Google Drive).
2. DETAILED PERMISSIONS BREAKDOWN: WHY ARE THEY USED?
SnapNova was intentionally designed according to the "Principle of Least Privilege." We deliberately avoided broad, invasive permissions such as "<all_urls>", "webRequest", "cookies", or "management". Below is an exact explanation of each permission requested and why it is required:
• "activeTab":
- Purpose: Enables SnapNova to take a screenshot of the currently active tab when you explicitly click the popup button or press a hotkey (Alt+Shift+A / V / F).
- Scope: It grants temporary access ONLY to the active tab at the exact moment of your interaction. It NEVER tracks your browsing across other tabs, never runs in the background silently, and cannot inspect tabs you are not currently viewing.
• "storage":
- Purpose: Saves your personal preferences (such as preferred export format: PNG/JPEG/WebP, countdown timer delay: 0s/3s/5s, and editor preferences) and retains a quick recent-captures thumbnail strip (up to 20 items) locally.
- Scope: Operates strictly via `chrome.storage.local` on your hard drive. This data never touches any remote cloud server and can be cleared instantly with the "Clear" button in the popup.
• "downloads":
- Purpose: Allows SnapNova to save your completed screenshots, cropped areas, animated GIFs, and recorded screen videos directly into your default browser Downloads folder without unnecessary prompts.
- Scope: Only triggered when you click "Save", "Download PNG", or "Export". It does not read or manage any existing downloads on your computer.
• "scripting":
- Purpose: Injects the interactive crop selection box (allowing you to click and drag over the region you wish to capture) and the automated page-scrolling helper into the active tab.
- Scope: Used strictly on-demand during active capture sessions. It does not monitor keyboard input, inject ads, or alter website contents permanently.
3. ARE ALL THESE PERMISSIONS REALLY NECESSARY?
YES — but only the absolute minimum required to deliver the extension's core functionality:
• Could we remove "activeTab"? No. Without "activeTab", Chrome will block any extension from taking a screenshot of your visible tab or launching the crop selector.
• Could we remove "storage"? No. Without local storage, your chosen format (PNG/JPEG), countdown timer, and recent capture history would reset every single time you close the popup.
• Could we remove "downloads"? No. Without "downloads", saving high-resolution images and large GIF/video files directly to your computer requires hacky workarounds that frequently fail or prompt repeated security warnings.
• Could we remove "scripting"? No. In Manifest V3, injecting an in-page drag-to-select crop box and an auto-scrolling engine requires the "scripting" permission.
Crucially, SnapNova DOES NOT request:
✖ No "<all_urls>" or permanent host permissions (we cannot see what you browse).
✖ No "cookies" permission (we cannot read your logins or session tokens).
✖ No "webRequest" permission (we cannot inspect your network traffic).
✖ No "identity" permission (we do not access your Google Account).
4. LOCAL STORAGE & DATA RETENTION
All capture histories and settings are stored locally on your device within Chrome's sandboxed storage. You can delete your history at any moment by clicking "Clear" in the popup menu, or by uninstalling the extension.
5. THIRD-PARTY DISCLOSURE
SnapNova does not sell, trade, or transfer any user data to outside parties under any circumstances.
6. CONTACT & INQUIRIES
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this privacy policy or the extension's security practices, please feel free to reach out via our official Chrome Web Store support portal.