PRIVACY POLICY
==============

App: Maala - Japa Mala Counter & Meditation Timer
Package: com.ekansh.maala_app
Last updated: 09-09-2026
This privacy policy describes how information is handled when you use the Maala app on your Android device.

1. WHAT THE APP DOES
--------------------
Maala is a meditation companion app with two main features:
  - A japa mala counter (Mala Counter) that counts chants/malas.
  - A meditation timer with optional ambient soundtracks.

2. NO ACCOUNT, NO PERSONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------
Maala does not require an account, does not ask for your name, email,
phone number, or any identifiers, and does not process payments.
You can use the app completely anonymously.

3. DATA STORED ON YOUR DEVICE ONLY
----------------------------------
All app data is stored locally on your device. It never leaves your
device and is never sent to us.

This data includes:
  - Your chant counts, total malas, session malas, and daily totals.
  - Meditation streak data and last practice date.
  - Timer settings and in-progress timer state.
  - App preferences (haptics, keep-screen-on, language, theme, and the
    background image you selected).
  - Your selected ambient soundtrack.

This data is stored using Android's local storage (SharedPreferences).
It is used solely to reload your settings and history the next time you
open the app.

4. BACKGROUND IMAGES
--------------------
If you choose to use a photo from your device as a background image,
that image is read by the app for display on your device only. It is
never uploaded, transmitted, or shared with us or any third party.

5. ADS (GOOGLE ADMOB)
---------------------
Maala displays banner advertisements served by Google AdMob. When ads
are shown, Google may use cookies, device identifiers, and usage data to
deliver and personalise ads, in accordance with Google's own privacy
policy.

We do not collect or control this data. Please review Google's policies:
  - Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
  - Google Ads / Data Disclosure:
    https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads

Personalised vs. non-personalised ads are controlled by Google. If you
do not wish to receive personalised ads, you can adjust your ad
personalisation settings in your Google Account, or set "Opt out of Ads
Personalisation" at: https://adssettings.google.com

6. PERMISSIONS USED
-------------------
The app requests the following Android permissions:
  - Internet: required to load advertisements (AdMob).
  - Vibration: used to provide haptic feedback when you count with the
    mala counter.

The app does not request access to your contacts, messages, call log,
or precise location.

7. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
---------------------
Maala is designed for a general audience and does not knowingly collect
any personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian
and you believe the app has collected any such information, contact us
using the details below and we will investigate and remove it promptly.
Ad serving to children is handled by Google AdMob under its own
policies; you may adjust Google ad personalisation as described in
section 5.

8. DATA SHARING
---------------
We do not sell, rent, or trade your data to anyone. The only third
party that interacts with the app is Google AdMob for ad serving, as
described in section 5. We do not use analytics or crash-reporting
services, and we cannot see any data that the app stores on your
device.

9. DATA RETENTION AND DELETION
------------------------------
All data listed in section 3 remains on your device until you either:
  - clear the app's data, or
  - uninstall the app.
Uninstalling Maala permanently deletes all locally stored data.

10. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
--------------------------
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be
reflected by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this
document. Continued use of the app after changes means you accept the
updated policy.

11. CONTACT
-----------
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, you can contact us
at:
  ekansh.mittal01@gmail.com