Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 4, 2026
PauseTab (the "Extension") is designed with user privacy as the top priority. This policy explains exactly what data the Extension handles.
TL;DR
- No personal information is collected.
- Settings and usage statistics stay on your device (or within your own Chrome sync space).
- No data is ever transmitted to the Extension's developer.
- No analytics, tracking, or advertising — anywhere.
1. What we record
The Extension records and processes the following settings and usage statistics on your device only. None of them leave to an external server controlled by us.
Settings (chrome.storage.sync)
- Your list of target sites (e.g.
youtube.com) - Presets (name, wait seconds, displayed message)
- Schedule rules
- Pause-intervention state
If you are signed into Chrome Sync, this data may be synced across your own Chrome instances by Google's Chrome Sync service. That is governed by Google, not by us.
Usage statistics (chrome.storage.local)
- Number of times you tried to open a target site
- Counts of "Not now" / "Open" / etc.
- Time spent (seconds the tab was visible)
- Per-hour buckets
These are kept only on the device that recorded them. They are not synced, and not transmitted anywhere external.
2. External requests
The Extension makes external requests (to a third party — not the developer) for one purpose only:
Fetching site favicons
When showing your list of target sites, the Extension fetches each site's favicon from the DuckDuckGo Icon Service (https://icons.duckduckgo.com/).
- Sent: only the target site's domain (e.g.
youtube.com) - Not sent: your personal info, browsing history, settings, or statistics
- Why DuckDuckGo: Google's Favicon API can carry tracking via cookies or account state. DuckDuckGo offers favicon fetches without tracking.
3. Why each permission is requested
When you install from the Chrome Web Store, the following permissions are requested. Here's why:
| Permission | Why |
|---|---|
storage |
To save the settings and statistics described above on your device |
alarms |
To periodically check schedule rules (auto-switching presets by time of day) |
tabs |
To close a tab or read the active tab's URL when you choose to skip a target site |
<all_urls> (host_permissions) |
So you can add any site as a target. The overlay only appears on sites you've explicitly registered |
All permissions are used solely for the Extension's stated purpose (asking you to take a breath before opening a target site).
4. Data sharing with third parties
We never share your browsing history, statistics, or user-identifiable data with third parties.
4-1. License activation data (Pro users only)
If you purchase Pro and enter your license key in the extension, the following data is sent to Lemon Squeezy (our payment and licensing provider) for license verification:
- Your license key
- A randomly-generated device identifier (e.g.,
PauseTab-a1b2c3d4)
When this happens:
- On license activation (one-time)
- On license deactivation (one-time)
- Periodically every 24 hours, to confirm the license is still valid
Endpoint: api.lemonsqueezy.com
Purpose: License validity verification only. Browsing history, statistics, or site names are never sent.
Free users: aside from favicon requests to the DuckDuckGo Icon Service when target-site lists are displayed, no license or other external communication is performed by the extension.
Lemon Squeezy's privacy policy: https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/privacy
5. Retention and deletion
Statistics are retained for at most 1 year. Anything older is automatically pruned.
You can delete your data at any time:
- Settings → Stats tab → Data → "Delete today's stats" or "Delete all stats"
- Uninstall the Extension via Chrome's extension management page (this clears all settings and statistics)
6. Children
The Extension has no minimum age requirement. As with all users, browsing history and usage statistics are never sent to the developer.
7. Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the "Last updated" date at the top will be updated. Material changes will be announced through an Extension update.
8. Contact
For questions about this policy or about Extension privacy, please contact:
- Email: pausetab@infoenv-studio.com
This policy is written to comply with the Chrome Web Store Single Purpose policy and User Data policy.