Cookies and Similar Technologies Policy – MyAleef

Last updated: January 2026

Version: 1.1

This Cookies and Similar Technologies Policy explains how MyAleef ("we", "our", or "us") uses cookies and similar technologies across our mobile applications (iOS/Android) and website (including web app/PWA).

1. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?

• Cookies are small text files stored by your browser when you visit a website.
• Similar technologies include local storage, service workers, SDK/device identifiers, and app-level storage (e.g., SharedPreferences on Android, UserDefaults on iOS) used by mobile apps.
• These tools help us run core functionality, remember preferences, keep you signed in, and improve reliability and security.

2. What We Use in the App and on the Web

2.1 Essential (Strictly Necessary)

• Authentication/session continuity (e.g., Firebase Auth state)
• Security and fraud prevention
• Service availability, caching, and performance (including service worker and cache storage on the web)

2.2 Preferences

• In-app settings such as location privacy level (precise/approximate/city/disabled)
• UI preferences, language, and recent searches (stored on-device)

2.3 Performance/Analytics

• Website: We may use basic, privacy-minded analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand aggregate usage. These tools may set cookies in your browser.
• Mobile apps: We do not use advertising SDKs. Any analytics, if enabled, are used to improve reliability and features and are not used for cross-context behavioral advertising.

2.4 Notifications

• Mobile apps/Web: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) stores a device/browser token to deliver push notifications. This is not an advertising identifier.

2.5 Location and Matching Features

• Mobile apps: Location privacy settings and related flags are stored on-device. When enabled, location may be processed to compute distance-based matching. You can disable and clear it at any time in settings.

2.6 Content and Media

• GIF search uses the GIPHY API to retrieve media for chat. Requests may include your IP address and standard request headers. On the website, embedded third-party content may set their own cookies per their policies.

3. Managing Your Choices

3.1 In the Mobile App

• Location: Control precision or disable sharing in-app. Disabling clears stored coordinates and related caches.
• Notifications: Manage permissions in your device OS settings and in-app settings.
• Recent searches and preferences: Clear these in-app where options are provided, or by reinstalling the app.

3.2 On the Website

• Browser controls: You can view, delete, or block cookies in your browser settings. You can also clear site data (cookies, local storage, cache) via your browser's privacy controls.
• Consent tools (where required): We may present cookie choices to enable/disable non-essential cookies.

Note: Disabling certain cookies or storage may impact functionality (e.g., sign-in, notifications, or performance).

4. Third-Party Tools

• Firebase (Authentication, Firestore/Storage, Cloud Messaging): provides login, data storage, and notifications and may use browser storage or SDK storage. See their privacy policies for details.
• Google Maps/Location Services: used for location and distance features; on the web, Google may set cookies.
• GIPHY: used for GIF search in chat; may process requests and deliver media subject to their policies.
• Social sign-in (Google, Apple): used for authentication and may use their own identifiers pursuant to their terms and privacy policies.

These third parties control their own technical measures and may set cookies (web) or use device/SDK identifiers (apps) under their policies.

5. Advertising Cookies

• We do not use advertising cookies or cross-context behavioral advertising in the MyAleef mobile apps.
• On the website, we aim to avoid advertising trackers. If any are introduced in the future, we will update this policy and, where required, request consent.

6. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in technology, our services, or legal requirements. Updates will be posted with a revised date, and where required, we will notify you and/or request consent.

7. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact:
Email: contact@myaleef.com