Privacy Policy

Introduction

freshnewtab.com ("we", "our", or "the extension") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our Chrome extension.

Information We Collect

freshnewtab.com is designed with privacy as a priority. The extension stores the following data locally on your device only:

Data Stored Locally

• Extension Settings: Your preferences for shortcut tiles, bookmarks bar visibility, and background settings
• Proxy Configuration: The image proxy URL you configure (default: wallpapers.newtabextension.com)
• Optional API Key: If you choose to add a Pexels API key as a fallback, it is stored locally
• Photo Pool Cache: URLs and metadata of background images to avoid repeated API calls
• Bookmarks (Optional): When you enable the bookmarks bar feature, the extension accesses your Chrome bookmarks to display them. This data is read-only and never transmitted

Data We Do NOT Collect

• We do not collect your search queries
• We do not track your browsing history
• We do not collect personally identifiable information (PII)
• We do not use analytics or tracking tools
• We do not store cookies beyond what Chrome requires for extension functionality

How We Use Information

All data stored by freshnewtab.com remains on your local device and is used solely for:

• Extension Functionality: Storing your preferences and settings
• Background Images: Caching wallpaper URLs to reduce API requests
• Bookmarks Display: Reading your bookmarks when you enable the bookmarks bar feature

We never transmit your personal data, settings, or browsing information to any external servers.

Third-Party Services

freshnewtab.com integrates with the following third-party services:

Pexels API (via Proxy)

Background images are fetched from Pexels through our HTTPS proxy server (wallpapers.newtabextension.com). The proxy:

• Requests nature-themed photos from the Pexels API
• Does not log or store your IP address or any identifying information
• Does not track which images you view
• Operates solely to fetch and relay images to your browser

If you configure a direct Pexels API key as a fallback, requests go directly to Pexels and are subject to Pexels' Privacy Policy.

Google Services

freshnewtab.com uses Google services for:

• Favicon API: Fetching site icons for shortcut tiles (from www.google.com/s2/favicons)
• Search: When you perform a search, Chrome sends the query to your default search provider

These interactions are standard browser behavior and subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

Data Security

Since all extension data is stored locally in your Chrome browser using the Chrome Storage API, security depends on:

• Your device's security measures
• Chrome's built-in security protections
• Your Google account security (if you sync Chrome data)

Our proxy server uses HTTPS (TLS encryption) to ensure secure transmission of wallpaper images.

Permissions Explained

freshnewtab.com requests the following Chrome permissions:

Required Permissions

• storage: To save your settings and preferences locally
• search: To submit typed searches through Chrome's default search provider
• Override new tab page: To replace Chrome's default new tab with freshnewtab.com

Optional Permissions

• bookmarks: Only requested when you enable the bookmarks bar feature. Allows read-only access to display your bookmarks

Host Permissions

• wallpapers.newtabextension.com: To fetch background images from our proxy
• api.pexels.com: Fallback for direct Pexels API access if you configure a key
• www.google.com: To load favicon icons for shortcut tiles

Data Retention and Deletion

You can delete all extension data at any time:

• Clear Settings: Use the "Clear fallback key & cache" button in extension options
• Uninstall Extension: Removing the extension from Chrome deletes all locally stored data
• Chrome Storage: You can manually clear extension storage via Chrome's developer tools

Children's Privacy

freshnewtab.com does not knowingly collect any information from children under the age of 13. The extension is designed for general audiences and does not target children.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Open Source

freshnewtab.com is built as a simple Chrome extension with local settings and clear permissions. We encourage transparency and welcome questions about our privacy practices.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@example.com