Privacy Policy · Ru

1. The short version

Ru reads the files you allow and builds a private search index on your phone so you can search them by content. This all happens on your device.

Your files, their contents, and your searches are not uploaded to us. We do not run servers that receive them. We have no account system, no analytics, and no ads.

A few limited things use the network or another app: downloading the AI model (via Google Play), optional voice search (handled by your device's speech service), optional text-recognition model downloads (Google ML Kit), and when you choose to share a file to another app. These are explained below.

You are in control: clear the index anytime, revoke permissions anytime, and uninstalling Ru removes Ru's data from your phone.

2. What Ru processes, and where it stays

Everything below is stored and processed on your device (in Ru's private app storage), not sent to us:

3. What we do NOT do

• We do not upload your files, their contents, or your searches to our servers. We do not operate such servers.
• We do not have user accounts, logins, or sign-ups.
• We do not use third-party analytics or tracking (no Firebase, Crashlytics, Mixpanel, or similar) in release builds.
• We do not show ads or share your data with advertisers.
• We do not sell your personal data.
• We do not send your files or searches to the makers of the AI model. The model runs on your device.

4. When the network is involved (the honest exceptions)

Core search and indexing are on-device. These specific, limited features involve the network or another app:

AI model download

When you first set up Ru, the search AI model is downloaded to your phone via Google Play Asset Delivery. Only the model is downloaded. None of your files or searches are sent.

Voice search (optional)

If you use voice search, your device's speech recognition service (often provided by Google) converts your speech to text. This service may process audio online, under your device/OS provider's terms. This only happens when you tap the microphone.

Text recognition / OCR (optional)

When reading text from scanned PDFs, Ru uses Google ML Kit on your device. OCR models may download from Google; your document page images are processed on the phone, not sent to Strider.

Sharing a file

When you choose to share a file to another app (e.g. WhatsApp, Gmail), you send that file to that app. What happens next is governed by that app's own policies.

Apart from these, Ru's search and indexing do not send your information off your device.

Third parties that may process data (not Strider)

We do not control these providers. Review their privacy terms if you use voice search or OCR.

5. Permissions we request, and why

Ru requests only what it needs. Depending on your Android version, you may see some or all of the following:

Storage and files

• All files access (MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, Android 11+): So Ru can search across your device's user-accessible files, the core function of the app.
• Read external storage (Android 10 and below): Same purpose on older Android versions.
• Read media (images, video, audio) (Android 13+): Allows Ru to include media files in search where scoped access applies.

Network

• Internet: To download the search AI model via Google Play, and for optional network-backed services (voice, ML Kit model download).
• Access network state: To check whether a connection is available before starting a model download. Not used to track you.

Optional features

• Microphone: Only for voice search, when you tap the mic.
• Notifications: To show indexing and OCR progress.

Background work

• Foreground service (data sync): Keeps indexing and OCR running reliably while showing a visible progress notification. Work stays on your device. This is not a hidden upload.

You control all permissions in your phone's Settings → Apps → Ru → Permissions. Denying a permission may disable the related feature; Ru will not access anything you have not allowed.

6. Your rights and choices

Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and applicable law, you have rights over your personal data. Because Ru keeps your data on your own device, you are directly in control:

In-app controls

• Clear index (Settings): Deletes all indexed file records and related search data from your phone.
• Edit your name (Settings): Change or remove the optional display name.
• Turn off toggles: Stop semantic search, voice, content/OCR reading, or auto re-index.
• Revoke a permission: Stop Ru from accessing storage, mic, or notifications (in phone settings).
• Uninstall Ru: Removes Ru's data from your phone.

What "Clear index" deletes, and what it does not

Clear index deletes:

• All indexed file records (paths, names, metadata, snippets)
• Full-text search data, embeddings, entity signals, and OCR text in the index
• In-memory search results on screen

Clear index does not automatically delete:

• Your optional display name (change separately in Settings)
• App settings/toggles
• Downloaded AI models already on your device (app assets, not your personal index)

To remove everything Ru stored: clear the index, remove your name in Settings, and uninstall Ru.

Grievance Officer (as required under the DPDP Act)

We aim to acknowledge grievances within 72 hours and resolve them within 30 days, or inform you if more time is needed under applicable law.

For questions about your rights, contact us (Section 11). If a grievance is not resolved satisfactorily, you may have rights to approach the Data Protection Board of India under the DPDP Act.

Lawful basis

Ru processes digital personal data that may exist in files on your device (names, ID numbers, financial or health information in documents you permit Ru to read). Ru does not collect this from the internet. Processing is based on your permission to access storage and your use of Ru's search and indexing features to provide the service you request.

7. Security, retention, and backup

Security

Your index and files stay in Ru's private storage on your device, protected by your phone's own security (screen lock, OS encryption, updates). Because we do not copy your data to any server, there is no central database of your information to breach. We recommend keeping your phone locked and updated.

Honest limitations: Ru cannot protect indexed data if your device is unlocked and accessed by someone else, if your device is compromised by malware with broad storage access, or if you share a file to another app that mishandles it.

Retention

Ru keeps its index on your device until you clear it or uninstall the app. Ru may re-scan your device periodically to keep search up to date (locally, when auto re-index is enabled). This does not upload anything. We hold no data on our servers to retain or delete on our side.

Android backup and device transfer

Ru's indexed data is excluded from Android automatic cloud backup and device-to-device transfer for:

• The search index database (ru_index.db)
• Your optional display name and app preferences
• Downloaded model files

Your index is not intended to sync via Google Backup or move to a new phone automatically. You would re-index on a new device.

8. Children

Ru is intended for general audiences and is not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children through our own servers (we operate none). If a child uses Ru on a family device, any indexed content comes from files already on that device under the device owner's permission. Parents and guardians should control storage permissions and uninstall Ru if they do not want indexing on a shared device.

9. International users

Ru is designed primarily for use in India. If you use Ru outside India, your device's speech, OCR, and Play services may be governed by the laws and policies of your country and your device provider. Your indexed data still remains on your device unless you choose to share a file to another app.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as Ru evolves. We will update the "Last updated" date for any material change.

We consider these significant changes (non-exhaustive):

• Adding cloud sync, accounts, or server-side storage of files or searches
• Adding analytics, crash reporting, or advertising SDKs
• Sending file contents or embeddings to a third-party AI API
• Changing what data leaves your device by default

For significant changes, we will provide in-app notice where practical before or when the change takes effect. Please review this policy from time to time.

11. Contact us

For any questions about this policy or how Ru handles your information: