Privacy
Policy
- We never collect or store your browsing history or VPN traffic.
- We never sell your personal data to third parties.
- VPN tunnel traffic is encrypted end-to-end and never logged.
- The app works without any account registration.
- Ads are served by Google AdMob — we do not profile you for advertisers.
1. Overview
ShieldLink VPN ("we", "our", or "us") is developed and operated by ShieldLink Team. This Privacy Policy describes how ShieldLink VPN (the "App") handles information when you use our Android application.
We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy covers what data is collected, how it is used, and your rights as a user.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information We Do NOT Collect
ShieldLink VPN does not collect or store:
- Your VPN traffic, browsing history, or DNS queries
- Your real IP address or the IP addresses you connect to
- Connection timestamps or session duration logs
- Any personally identifiable information (no account required)
- Credentials, passwords, or payment information
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
| Data Type | Purpose | Stored Where | Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic usage statistics (bytes sent/received) | Display usage in the Traffic page | On device only (SQLite) | Never |
| App crash reports (anonymized) | Improve app stability | Aggregated, anonymized | Never |
| Advertising ID (GAID) | Ad personalization by Google AdMob | Google's servers | Google only (see §5) |
3. VpnService API Usage
ShieldLink VPN uses Android's VpnService API to create an encrypted tunnel between your device and our VPN servers. This is the core functionality of the App.
We use the VpnService API exclusively for the following purposes:
- Establishing an encrypted VPN connection to protect your internet traffic
- Routing your network traffic through a secure server
We do not use the VpnService API to:
- Track, log, or inspect the contents of your internet traffic
- Collect personal or sensitive user data through the VPN tunnel
- Redirect or manipulate traffic from other apps for monetization purposes
- Intercept or modify advertising traffic from other applications
4. Third-Party VPN Node Sources
ShieldLink VPN uses VPN node data from the following sources to provide connectivity:
| Source | Operator | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| VPNGate | University of Tsukuba, Japan (vpngate.net) | Publicly available volunteer-operated OpenVPN nodes |
| ShieldLink servers | ShieldLink Team | Proprietary encrypted nodes |
Node availability and performance are subject to third-party conditions. ShieldLink Team does not control the operation of VPNGate nodes. Please refer to VPNGate's own privacy policy at vpngate.net for details.
5. Advertising — Google AdMob
The free version of ShieldLink VPN displays advertisements provided by Google AdMob. AdMob may use your device's Advertising ID (GAID) to serve personalized ads based on your interests.
What AdMob may collect:
- Advertising ID (GAID) — a resettable device identifier
- General location (country/region level, not precise GPS)
- App usage signals for ad relevance
Your choices regarding ads:
- Opt out of personalized ads: Android Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization
- Reset your Advertising ID: Android Settings → Google → Ads → Reset advertising ID
We do not share your VPN usage data, browsing history, or any personally identifiable information with Google for advertising purposes. Ads are only served in the App's user interface and do not interfere with your VPN tunnel.
6. Data Retention
| Data | Location | Retention | How to Delete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic usage records | Your device (local) | Until you clear them | Settings → Clear Traffic Records |
| Connected node history | Your device (local) | Auto-deleted after 24 hours | Automatic |
| VPN node list cache | Your device (local) | Refreshed every 12 hours | Uninstall the App |
| App settings | Your device (local) | Until app is uninstalled | Uninstall the App |
We do not maintain any server-side database of user activity, session logs, or connection records.
7. Children's Privacy
ShieldLink VPN is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete such information.
8. Security Measures
We implement the following measures to protect your data:
- All VPN traffic is encrypted with AES-256 before leaving your device
- TLS 1.2 / 1.3 is used for all communications between the App and our servers
- No personal accounts are required, minimizing the personal data surface
- Local data is stored in an app-sandboxed SQLite database inaccessible to other apps
9. Your Rights
Since ShieldLink VPN does not collect personal data beyond what is described above, most data subject rights are exercised directly on your device:
- Delete traffic records: Settings → Clear Traffic Records
- Remove all local data: Uninstall the App
- Opt out of personalized ads: Android Settings → Google → Ads
- Reset Advertising ID: Android Settings → Google → Ads → Reset
For any privacy-related requests not covered above, please contact us using the details in Section 11.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this page. For material changes, we will provide notice through the App or on this page.
Continued use of the App after a policy update constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please reach out:
ShieldLink Team
Email: [email protected]
Website: getshieldlink.org
We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days.