TETHERED · Website & Android app

Privacy Policy

Draft prepared 17 September 2026 · Australia

Pre-launch draft: this page is being checked against TETHERED's actual business registration, data practices and services. It is not yet a final published policy.

TETHERED operates the TETHERED website and Android marketplace. This draft explains the types of information involved in accounts, hubs, messaging, orders, seller access and account-security features. We will verify the details against the production system before publication.

1. Privacy enquiries and support tickets

Business or trading name: TETHERED. To ask a privacy question, request access or correction, or raise a complaint, open TETHERED and create an in-app support ticket. Select the relevant privacy or account issue where available. If you cannot sign in, the website support form can submit a guest ticket to TETHERED DEV. Website-supplied usernames and emails are not verified account credentials.

2. Information involved in using TETHERED

Account and profile: username, account identifier, sign-in information and details or pictures you choose to provide.
Marketplace activity: hubs you join or create, product listings, orders, transaction status, posts, and information you exchange with other users.
Messages and support: messages, shared media and support requests where these features are used. Message content is described in the app as end-to-end encrypted; that does not imply that usernames, message routing information, orders or every other type of data is end-to-end encrypted.
Seller-access purchases: payment-related records such as purchase status, amount and transaction references where required to provide access, support or refunds. Payment information submitted to PayPal is also handled under PayPal's own privacy practices.
Security and technical information: authentication and account-protection state, Recovery PIN verification outcomes, and technical, security or access logs created by the services operating the app or website.

What TETHERED holds can depend on which features you use. Please do not put passwords or Recovery PINs in ordinary messages or support tickets.

3. How information is collected and used

Information may come from you when you register, use the app, contact support or request a purchase; from the people you interact with; and from the app's authentication, hosting, payment and security systems. It is used to operate accounts and hubs, deliver messaging and orders, process seller access, handle support, protect accounts, investigate abuse and meet applicable legal obligations.

4. Website and Remote DMS

The website's Remote DMS form asks for a username, password and four-digit Recovery PIN. The current website client uses an in-memory Firebase Authentication session and clears the password and PIN fields after an activation attempt. The Recovery PIN is checked by the server-side account-security process. Remote DMS is designed to lock access in the app; it should not be treated as a guarantee that every copy of information held by other users, payment providers, backups or other services has been erased.

Website hosting and Firebase may separately create ordinary service, security or access logs. Do not assume private browsing, closing a tab or using Remote DMS deletes those records.

5. Sharing and service providers

Other TETHERED users may see the account, hub, listing, order or message information you choose to share with them, as permitted by the app's features. TETHERED uses Firebase/Google services for authentication and backend functions, a website hosting provider, and PayPal for applicable purchases. Service providers may process information to supply, protect and support their services. Information may also be disclosed when required or permitted by law.

6. International processing

If you submit a website support request, the form also collects the username, reply email, reason and message you enter, along with anti-abuse verification and request metadata. This information is used to create and protect a support ticket. Some service providers may process or store information outside Australia. The exact locations and any overseas disclosures are being verified before the final policy is published; no specific country or Australian-only storage guarantee is made in this draft.

7. Storage, security and retention

TETHERED uses account authentication and security features and describes chat content as end-to-end encrypted. No internet service can promise absolute security. The retention and deletion periods for different categories of account, messaging, transaction, support, log and backup data still need to be confirmed against the production system. Some information may need to be retained for legal, payment, security or dispute-resolution purposes.

8. Your information and complaints

To request access to, correction of or deletion of information linked to your account, or to raise a privacy concern, open the TETHERED app and create a support ticket. Include your username and a description of your request; never include your password or Recovery PIN. We may need to verify account control before acting and explain any applicable limits or legal retention requirements. If you cannot access the app, use the website support form. A website request does not verify that you control the stated account. DEV replies to guest tickets are not automatically delivered to the supplied email address; an outbound reply channel requires separate configuration.

If the Australian Privacy Act applies to TETHERED, applicable rights and complaints procedures under that law will also apply. The business's Privacy Act coverage and formal complaint-handling process are being checked before publication.

9. Changes

We will update this page if our data-handling practices change and indicate the effective date of the final policy.