Privacy Policy for ViaHimalaya

Last Updated: July 15, 2026

ViaHimalaya ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application (the "App").

Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the application.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you sign in to ViaHimalaya using Google Sign-In, we collect:

Email address - Used for account identification and authentication
Name - Displayed in your profile
Profile picture - Displayed in your profile

This information is provided by Google through Firebase Authentication and is used solely for user authentication and profile display purposes.

1.2 Location Data

We collect precise location data when you use the App for trek navigation:

GPS coordinates - Real-time latitude, longitude, and altitude
Location accuracy - GPS accuracy measurements
Location timestamps - When each location point was recorded
Trek paths - The complete route you follow during a trek

Important: Your location data is collected during active trek sessions and is synced to our servers to:

Enable trek history and statistics
Provide route analysis and insights
Improve trek route recommendations
Allow you to access your trek history across devices

1.3 Sensor Data

We collect data from your device sensors during trek tracking:

Accelerometer data - For motion detection and step counting
Gyroscope data - For orientation and movement tracking
Barometer data - For altitude and elevation measurements
Magnetometer data - For compass direction

This sensor data is used to enhance navigation accuracy and provide detailed trek statistics.

1.4 Trek Activity Data

We collect information about your trek activities:

Trek routes taken - Which treks you have completed
Trek statistics - Distance traveled, elevation gain, duration
Trek timestamps - Start and end times of your treks
Downloaded treks - Which trek maps you have downloaded for offline use

1.5 Device Information

We may collect:

Device model and manufacturer
Operating system version
App version
Device identifiers (for crash reporting and analytics)

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Core Functionality

Authentication - To verify your identity and provide secure access
Navigation - To show your real-time position on trek routes
Trek Tracking - To record your trek path and generate statistics
Offline Maps - To provide downloaded trek maps for offline use
Profile Management - To display your account information

2.2 Service Improvement

Route Analysis - To analyze popular routes and improve trek recommendations
App Performance - To identify and fix bugs and crashes
Feature Development - To understand which features are most used
Quality Assurance - To ensure accurate GPS tracking and navigation

2.3 User Experience

Trek History - To show your completed treks and statistics
Cross-Device Sync - To access your trek data on multiple devices
Personalization - To recommend treks based on your activity

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 We DO NOT Share Your Information With:

❌ Other users of the App
❌ Social media platforms
❌ Advertising networks
❌ Data brokers or third-party marketers
❌ Any entity for commercial purposes

3.2 We MAY Share Your Information With:

Service Providers:

Firebase (Google) - For authentication and cloud storage
Cloud hosting providers - For secure data storage and backup

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for providing services to us.

Legal Requirements:

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with legal obligations
Protect our rights or property
Prevent fraud or security issues
Protect user safety

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Where Your Data is Stored

Local Storage: Trek maps, downloaded routes, and cached data are stored locally on your device
Cloud Storage: Your account information, trek history, and synced trek paths are stored securely on our servers (Firebase/Google Cloud)

4.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted between your device and our servers uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
Encryption at Rest: Sensitive data stored on our servers is encrypted
Authentication: Secure authentication via Google Sign-In and Firebase
Access Controls: Limited access to user data by authorized personnel only
Regular Security Audits: Periodic review of security practices

            Please note: No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
        

5. Data Retention

5.1 How Long We Keep Your Data

Account Information: Retained as long as your account is active
Trek History: Retained indefinitely unless you request deletion
Location Data: Trek paths are retained to provide historical records
Sensor Data: Aggregated sensor data may be retained for analytics
Cached Data: Local device data is retained until you clear app data or uninstall

5.2 Data Deletion

You can request deletion of your data at any time by:

Deleting your account through the App settings or contacting us at rishuparashar7@gmail.com

Upon account deletion, we will:

Delete your account information within 30 days
Remove your trek history and location data
Anonymize any aggregated analytics data

Some data may be retained for legal or security purposes as required by law.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

6.1 Access and Portability

Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Right to Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format

6.2 Correction and Deletion

Right to Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data

6.3 Control and Objection

Right to Object: Object to processing of your data for certain purposes
Right to Restrict: Request restriction of data processing
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data collection at any time

6.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at rishuparashar7@gmail.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Children's Privacy

ViaHimalaya is not intended for use by children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the European Union). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such information.

8. Location Sharing and Social Features

Important Clarification:

❌ We DO NOT share your location with other users
❌ We DO NOT have social features that display user locations
❌ We DO NOT enable location sharing between users

Your location data is used only for your personal navigation and trek tracking. Other users cannot see where you are or where you have been.

9. Third-Party Services

9.1 Firebase Authentication (Google)

We use Firebase Authentication for secure sign-in. When you sign in with Google:

Google's Privacy Policy applies: https://policies.google.com/privacy
We receive only your email, name, and profile picture
Google may collect additional data as per their privacy policy

9.2 Google Cloud Platform

We use Google Cloud Platform for data storage and hosting:

Google Cloud Privacy Policy: https://cloud.google.com/terms/cloud-privacy-notice
Your data is stored securely on Google's infrastructure
Google acts as a data processor on our behalf

9.3 Map Data Providers

We may use third-party map tile providers for offline maps:

Map tiles are downloaded and cached locally on your device
No personal information is shared with map providers
Map usage may be subject to provider terms of service

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated policy in the App
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Sending an email notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: rishuparashar7@gmail.com
Website: https://viahimalaya.com/

Response Time: We aim to respond to all inquiries within 10 days.

12. Consent

By using ViaHimalaya, you consent to:

The collection and use of information as described in this Privacy Policy
The processing of your location data for trek tracking and navigation
The syncing of your trek paths to our servers for history and cross-device access
The use of cookies and similar technologies (if applicable)

You can withdraw your consent at any time by:

Disabling location permissions in your device settings
Stopping trek tracking in the App
Deleting your account
Uninstalling the App

13. Summary of Key Points

What We Collect:

Google account info (email, name, photo)
GPS location during treks
Sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer)
Trek activity and statistics

How We Use It:

Authentication and profile display
Real-time navigation and trek tracking
Trek history and statistics
Service improvement and analytics

What We DON'T Do:

❌ Share your location with other users
❌ Sell your data to third parties
❌ Use your data for advertising
❌ Track you when not using the App

Your Rights:

Access, correct, or delete your data
Export your trek history
Withdraw consent and delete your account
Contact us with privacy concerns