PRIVACY POLICY
Sound Booster - Volume & Bass Boost
Last Updated: October 2026
1. INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW
This Privacy Policy outlines how the "Sound Booster - Volume & Bass Boost" Chrome extension ("Sound Booster", "we", "us", or "our") operates. We are strictly committed to safeguarding user privacy. Our core philosophy is simple: your sound, browsing habits, and personal information belong solely to you. Sound Booster is engineered as a client-side audio tool that operates entirely locally inside your browser.
2. WHAT DATA DO WE COLLECT?
WE DO NOT COLLECT, TRANSMIT, STORE, OR SELL ANY PERSONAL DATA.
Specifically:
• No Personal Information: We do not collect names, email addresses, IP addresses, location data, or device identifiers.
• No Browsing History: We do not monitor, log, or track the websites you visit, your search queries, or the media titles you consume.
• No Audio Recording or Eavesdropping: The audio stream captured for boosting is processed transiently in volatile system memory (RAM) via the browser's native Web Audio API. It is never recorded, saved to disk, analyzed, or transmitted to any external server.
• No Third-Party Analytics: There are no advertising trackers, analytics SDKs, or telemetry tools integrated into the extension.
3. DETAILED EXPLANATION OF PERMISSIONS (WHY THEY ARE USED)
To deliver volume amplification beyond default limits, Chrome requires explicit permissions. Here is exactly what each permission does and why it is requested:
• "tabCapture"
What it does: Allows Sound Booster to access the audio stream of the specific browser tab you choose to amplify.
Why it is needed: By default, browser tabs play audio directly through system output at normal (100%) volume. To increase the volume up to 600% and apply bass enhancement filters across modern media platforms (including YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and Twitch), the audio stream must be routed into Chrome's built-in Web Audio API. The audio stream remains strictly local to your machine and is never saved or transmitted.
• "offscreen"
What it does: Allows the extension to create a hidden, background offscreen document to run the Web Audio API.
Why it is needed: Under Google's Chrome Extension Manifest V3 specifications, background service workers do not have access to the Document Object Model (DOM), AudioContext, or media streams. An offscreen document is Google's official, sanctioned mechanism enabling extensions to process audio streams continuously in the background so that audio boosting continues seamlessly even after you close the extension's popup window.
• "storage"
What it does: Grants access to Chrome's local storage engine (`chrome.storage.local`).
Why it is needed: Used solely to save your preferred volume levels, bass gain settings, and equalizer presets locally on your computer. This ensures your customized settings persist across browser sessions without requiring you to readjust them every time you restart your browser.
• "tabs"
What it does: Allows the extension to query open tabs.
Why it is needed: Used strictly to detect which browser tabs are currently playing audio (`audible: true`) and display their titles and favicons inside the popup window. This provides a convenient tab manager where you can see which tabs are producing sound and switch to or adjust them directly from the popup.
4. ARE ALL THESE PERMISSIONS STRICTLY NECESSARY?
YES. Every single permission listed above is strictly required for the core functionality of a sound booster extension under Chrome Manifest V3:
• Can `tabCapture` be removed?
No. Without `tabCapture`, an extension cannot amplify audio streams from protected or cross-origin media players (such as YouTube, Netflix, or Spotify) beyond system 100% volume.
• Can `offscreen` be removed?
No. In Manifest V3, background service workers are non-persistent and lack audio APIs. Without the `offscreen` permission, audio boosting would shut off the instant you click away from the extension popup.
• Can `storage` be removed?
Technically yes, but doing so would force users to reset and re-configure their volume and equalizer settings every single time they reopen a tab or browser.
• Can `tabs` be removed?
Technically yes, but the user would lose the ability to see which background tabs are currently playing audio and manage multi-tab playback.
IMPORTANT: What Permissions Did We Deliberately OMIT?
To adhere strictly to Google's Principle of Least Privilege:
• We DO NOT request broad host permissions (such as `<all_urls>`, `http://*/*`, or `https://*/*`).
• We DO NOT inject invasive content scripts into every web page you browse.
• We DO NOT request `cookies`, `webRequest`, `identity`, or `history` permissions.
This ensures you enjoy maximum audio amplification with zero exposure to privacy or security risks.
5. DATA RETENTION AND SECURITY
Because all settings are stored locally on your device via Chrome's native storage APIs, no information ever leaves your device. If you uninstall the extension, all locally stored preferences are permanently deleted by Chrome automatically.
6. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
We reserve the right to update this policy if technical improvements or Chrome Web Store policy revisions require it. Any modifications will be reflected in an updated version of this document.
7. CONTACT
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the technical operation of Sound Booster, please contact us at: