Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Privacy Policy for PingMeBud
Effective Date: January 28, 2026
PingMeBud is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines our data handling practices and reaffirms our commitment to user confidentiality.
Overview
We do not collect, store, or transmit your personal data.
PingMeBud operates exclusively as a local application on your macOS device. All audio processing, transcriptions, and keyword matching are performed locally. No information is transmitted to external servers, and the application does not utilize cloud services, user accounts, or tracking analytics.
Functional Scope
PingMeBud is a macOS desktop application designed to:
- Process system audio output internally.
- Perform local transcription via Whisper optimized for Apple Silicon.
- Identify user-defined keywords within the processed transcriptions.
- Issue local system notifications upon keyword detection.
All operations are executed on-device and processed within volatile memory (RAM).
Data Collection
| Type of Data | Collected? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Audio recordings | ❌ No | Audio is processed in real-time and never saved to disk |
| Transcriptions | ❌ No | Kept in RAM only; deleted when you end a session |
| Personal information | ❌ No | No accounts, no sign-ups, no email required |
| Usage analytics | ❌ No | We don't track personal usage patterns |
| Diagnostic logs | ✅ Local | Non-identifying error and debug logs are stored locally on your device. |
| IP addresses | ❌ No | Used only for model downloads; not logged or stored. |
Data Retention and Storage
- Session Data: Transcriptions and temporary processing data are stored exclusively in RAM.
- Data Erasure: Upon termination of a session, all transient data is immediately purged from memory.
- Local Logs: Non-identifying diagnostic logs are stored on the local disk. These logs assist in troubleshooting but do not include transcription data and are never transmitted from your device.
- Model Storage: Whisper machine learning models are downloaded and stored on your local disk for persistent offline access. The app works offline for up to 7 days before requiring a brief reconnection to revalidate your license.
Third-Party Services
PingMeBud maintains a strict offline-first architecture with minimal third-party interaction:
- Model Downloads: The application connects to Hugging Face to download Whisper models requested by the user. The application also connects to the internet to validate the Pro License.
- ❌ No cloud processing APIs
- ❌ No remote analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Mixpanel, etc.)
- ❌ No automated remote crash reporting services
- ❌ No advertising networks or data brokers
The app is signed and notarized by Apple, ensuring the software's integrity.
Your Rights
Because PingMeBud does not collect or store any personal data, traditional data rights—such as access, deletion, and portability—are inherently maintained as all data remains under the user's sole control on their local device.
For inquiries regarding our privacy practices, please refer to the contact information below.
Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy. Any updates will be reflected by the "Effective Date" at the commencement of this document. Our fundamental commitment to local data processing and user privacy remains unchanged.
Contact Us
Questions about privacy? Reach out:
- Email: shapefollowsdata [at] gmail [dot] com
- Website: pingmebud.com
Last updated: January 28, 2026