Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

ScoutBar is developed and published by COBI Management SRL, trading as HighRoad Software ("we", "us", "our"). This policy explains how the ScoutBar macOS app and related website handle information.

2. Data we collect

ScoutBar does not require an account and does not collect analytics, advertising identifiers, tracking data, or telemetry from the desktop app.

Depending on how you use ScoutBar, the app may store the following information locally on your Mac:

• Folders you choose to search or index, stored using macOS security-scoped bookmarks.
• Search preferences, saved filters, and app settings.
• Local search indexes and snippets generated from selected folders.
• Disk usage scan results and cleanup review state.

3. Local processing

File metadata search, content indexing, disk usage analysis, and cleanup suggestions are processed on your Mac. Cleanup actions move selected files to Trash only after explicit confirmation — ScoutBar never permanently deletes a file on your behalf.

We do not receive your local file content during normal app use. ScoutBar makes outgoing network requests only through Apple's StoreKit framework, to verify Pro entitlements and (on your request) restore purchases. No file names, paths, snippets, or document text leave your Mac.

4. Third parties

We do not share information with third parties. The ScoutBar desktop app contains no third-party analytics, advertising, attribution, A/B-testing, error-reporting, or telemetry SDKs of any kind. Outgoing network requests are made only through Apple's own StoreKit framework — operated by Apple Inc., under Apple's privacy policy — to verify Pro entitlements when you launch the app and to restore your purchases when you ask.

5. Crash reports & diagnostics

If you have enabled Share with App Developers in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements, macOS may forward anonymized crash diagnostics to HighRoad Software for apps you have installed. These reports are collected by Apple and only contain technical information about the crash itself — never file content, file paths, search queries, or document text. You can disable forwarding at any time in System Settings.

6. Files we refuse to read

ScoutBar will not index files that look like secret material, even if they happen to live inside a folder you chose to index. The app refuses to read or index content from files matching any of the following patterns:

• Filenames such as .env, .env.*, .netrc, .pgpass, id_rsa, id_dsa, id_ecdsa, id_ed25519, authorized_keys, known_hosts, and known credential filenames.
• Extensions .pem, .key, .p12, .pfx, .asc.
• Any file located under .ssh/, .gnupg/, or .aws/ components.

This list is encoded directly in the app and applies regardless of your search criteria or indexing mode.

7. App Store purchases

ScoutBar Pro is offered through Apple In-App Purchase. Purchase processing, receipts, refunds, and family sharing are handled by Apple under Apple's own terms and privacy policy. ScoutBar stores purchase entitlement state locally so Pro features can be unlocked. Refunds processed by Apple are reflected in the app automatically; ScoutBar does not have access to your payment details.

8. This website

The ScoutBar landing page is statically hosted and does not set cookies, run third-party analytics, or load advertising scripts. See our cookies notice for details. Submitting the “Notify me at launch” form opens your mail client with a pre-filled email to support@highroadsoftware.com — your address is not sent to any server in the background.

9. Children

ScoutBar is a general productivity utility and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the app.

10. Your rights

Depending on where you live — EU/EEA (GDPR), United Kingdom (UK-GDPR), California (CCPA/CPRA), Brazil (LGPD), or other jurisdictions with similar protections — you have the right to request access, correction, deletion, objection, restriction, or portability for personal data we may hold about you. Because ScoutBar stores app data locally, most app data is controlled directly by you on your Mac and can be removed by deleting the app from your Mac. To exercise any of these rights with respect to data we may otherwise hold (for example, email correspondence with our support address), contact us at privacy@highroadsoftware.com.

11. Data retention & deletion

Local search indexes, snippets, and settings stay on your Mac until you delete them. You can clear cached data inside the app at any time via Settings → Maintenance → Restore Defaults, or remove everything ScoutBar stored by deleting the app and its container in ~/Library/Containers/com.fredericcollin.scoutbar. Support emails you send us are retained only as long as needed to handle the conversation and meet our legal obligations, and then deleted.

12. Changes

We may update this policy as ScoutBar evolves. Material changes will be reflected by updating the date on this page. Continued use of the app after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact