Projects /Start Terminal - Privacy Policy

Start Terminal V1.2

Latest Update: 05/08/2025 

Thank you for choosing Start-Terminal ("the Extension"). This Privacy Policy outlines how your information is collected, used, and protected. Our commitment is to provide a powerful and personalized command-line experience for your browser while respecting your privacy and keeping you in full control of your data.

1. Information We Collect

To provide its features, the Extension collects and accesses certain types of data. Unless otherwise specified, all data is stored locally on your device using the secure chrome.storage API or within your personal bookmark tree.

  • A. User-Generated Configuration Data: This is data you explicitly create to customize your terminal environment. Using the config command, this data can be stored either in your browser's synchronized storage or within a special bookmark folder (~/.settings). This includes:

    • Command History (history): A log of the commands you execute.

    • Aliases (alias): Custom shortcuts you define for commands.

    • Environment Variables (export): Variables you set for use within terminal sessions.

    • User Settings: Preferences such as your chosen theme (theme), cursor style (cursor), and other configurations.

    • Custom Background: If you use the uploadbg command, the selected image is stored as data within your browser's local storage.

  • B. Accessed Browser Data: The Extension interacts with browser data to perform its core functions. It does not transmit this data externally.

    • Bookmarks: The core function of the terminal is to treat your bookmarks as a file system. The extension requires access to read, create, edit, and delete bookmarks and folders based on your commands (ls, cd, mkdir, rm, nano, vim, etc.).

    • Tabs (tabs command): Accesses the titles and IDs of your currently open tabs to allow you to list, switch, and close them.

    • Downloads (downloads, wget commands): Accesses your recent download history to list items and initiates new downloads at your request.

  • C. Optional Authentication Information: This data is collected only if you explicitly choose to use the login feature available in your version of the extension.

    • For the Google Chrome Version: If you use the glogin command, we collect your Google profile information (name/email) and OAuth 2.0 authentication tokens from Google.

    • For the Microsoft Edge Version: If you use the mslogin command, we collect your Microsoft profile information (name/email) and OAuth 2.0 authentication tokens from Microsoft.

    In both cases, we never have access to, nor do we store, your actual password. Tokens are stored securely in chrome.storage to maintain your login session.

2. How We Use Your Information

The data we collect and access is used strictly to provide and improve the core functionality of the Extension:

  • To Provide Core Functionality: Your bookmarks, command history, aliases, and variables are used directly to power the terminal's commands.

  • To Personalize Your Experience: Your theme, background, cursor settings, and authenticated user information are used to customize the appearance of your new tab page.

  • To Maintain Your Session: Authentication tokens are used to keep you logged in to your respective account within the extension.

3. Data Storage and Security

All your configuration data and authentication tokens are stored locally on your machine using the secure chrome.storage.sync and chrome.storage.local APIs, or within your own bookmark tree if you select "bookmark" mode via the config command. We do not transmit your personal data to any external servers, with specific, user-initiated exceptions detailed in sections 1C and 5.

4. Search Functionality

The search functionality differs between the two versions to comply with platform policies:

  • For the Google Chrome Version: All search functionality (via the search command or default on mode) is handled exclusively by the chrome.search.query() API. This ensures all searches respect the user's configured default search engine, in strict compliance with Chrome Web Store policies.

  • For the Microsoft Edge Version: This version provides convenience commands (e.g., google, bing, baidu) to search on specific engines and a default command to manage this behavior.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personally identifiable information to external parties. Your data remains under your control. The only exceptions are:

  • The secure, user-initiated authentication process with Google or Microsoft's official endpoints.

  • When you use the feedback command, which opens links to external, trusted third-party services (e.g., the official Add-on store, Google/Microsoft Forms).

6. Your Rights and Data Control

You have full and direct control over your data within the terminal.

  • Configuration Data: You can view, modify, or delete your settings at any time using commands like alias, unalias, export, unset, nano, and vim.

  • Authentication Data: Can be completely removed at any time by using the glogout (Chrome) or mslogout (Edge) command.

  • All Other Data: Can be cleared by uninstalling and reinstalling the extension.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by displaying a notice within the terminal upon startup after an update. The current version can always be checked with the about command.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please refer to the project's homepage or use the feedback command to get in touch.