🛡️ Privacy First Commitment

NovaTab Privacy Policy

NovaTab was built with privacy at its core. We believe your browser dashboard should be a sanctuary, completely free from surveillance, profiling, and account lock-in.

Effective Date: January 2026 • Version 1.0.0

Our Fundamental Privacy Commitments

Unlike many modern extensions that require mandatory account registrations, monetize behavioral telemetry, or inject affiliate trackers, NovaTab operates on a straightforward principle:

No Accounts Required: You never need to submit your email, phone number, name, or password to use NovaTab.
No Behavioral Tracking: We do not track which websites you visit, which shortcuts you click, or your search queries.
100% Local Storage: All your custom bookmarks, notes, to-dos, Pomodoro statistics, and layout configurations are stored exclusively on your device.
Offline Ready: Core functionality functions seamlessly without internet connectivity.

Data Storage Mechanisms

NovaTab leverages standard browser APIs to store your personalized configuration within your own browser profile:

Browser LocalStorage & Chrome Storage API: Used for lightweight state such as widget toggle preferences, theme choices, shortcut lists, notes, and task lists.
IndexedDB: Used specifically for custom high-definition images and MP4/WebM live video wallpapers that you upload. They never leave your hard drive.

If you uninstall NovaTab or clear your browser data for the extension, all locally stored data is permanently deleted from your computer.

Permissions Required by the Extension

When reviewing NovaTab's manifest.json, you will notice only minimal permissions essential to its operation:

Permission	Purpose
`storage`	Saves your shortcuts, notes, to-dos, and visual preferences across browser sessions.
`alarms`	Powers the Pomodoro productivity timer and periodic widget refresh intervals.
`notifications`	(Optional) Plays sound or displays an alert when your Pomodoro focus period ends.

NovaTab does not request broad access permissions such as <all_urls>, web request interception, or browsing history access.

Third-Party Services

To provide convenient online functionality (such as real-time weather forecasts), NovaTab communicates with public APIs under strict boundaries:

Weather Data (Open-Meteo): Weather requests query Open-Meteo using coarse geographical coordinates. No cookies or personal identifiers are sent with these requests.
Search Engines: When you execute a search from NovaTab's search bar, you are directly redirected to your chosen search engine (Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, etc.) as you normally would.

Data Export & Removal

Because your data is stored on your machine, you have complete control at all times:

Export & Backup: You can export your full settings, shortcuts, and widgets as a JSON backup from the extension settings at any time.
Immediate Deletion: Removing NovaTab from your browser completely purges all associated local storage and database records.

Download NovaTab Installation Guide