Privacy Policy

Modbus Connect is an independent software project run by Crabby, an individual developer based in the Netherlands. For the purposes of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Crabby is the data controller for the personal data described on this page.

You can reach us about anything on this page at crabby@modbusconnect.com.

The desktop app (Windows, macOS and Linux) is designed to work entirely on your own machine and network. It does not create an account, and it does not require you to sign in.

What the app collects

Nothing. The app contains no telemetry, no analytics, no crash reporting and no advertising SDKs. We do not receive any information about how you use the app, which devices you connect to, or what you do with it.

Network connections the app makes

The only outbound network traffic the app produces is:

• Modbus TCP connections to the device addresses and ports that you enter yourself; and
• ICMP ping requests to addresses inside a range you explicitly ask the app to scan, used to decide whether a host is reachable before trying Modbus on it.

Both stay on the network(s) you point the app at. The app never sends your device configuration, register data, workspaces or logs to us or to any third party, and it never contacts our servers.

Where your data is stored

Everything you enter in the app (devices, sessions, register configuration, workspaces and their automatic backups) is stored locally on your computer, in the app's data folder for your user account. It is not uploaded anywhere.

Data logs

When you enable data logging, the readings are written to files on your computer in the format you choose (CSV, JSON or tab-delimited). You choose the destination folder. In the Mac App Store build, which runs inside Apple's App Sandbox, logs are written to the app's own container folder and you can export them to a folder you pick. Log files are never transmitted off your machine by the app.

The app permissions we request

• Local network access - so the app can scan and reach your Modbus TCP devices.
• Files and folders you select - to save workspaces and data-log files where you choose.

The website is a marketing and download site. It has no user accounts and sets no cookies. The sections below describe the only places where any personal data is involved.

Analytics

We use Swetrix, a cookieless, privacy-focused analytics tool, to understand aggregate traffic to the site (for example, which pages are visited and roughly how many people visit). It records technical information such as the page visited, the referring page, the browser, operating system and device type, and an approximate country derived from the request. It does not set cookies, does not track you across other websites, and does not store an identifying profile of you. We use this information only in aggregate. Our analytics endpoint is served from analytics.maikian.life.

Legal basis: our legitimate interest in understanding how the site is used and keeping it working (GDPR Article 6(1)(f)).

Optional email updates

Before a download you may optionally enter your email address to receive updates about new features, bug fixes and releases. Email is never required to download the app; you can skip it.

If you subscribe, we store your email address, the platform you were downloading for, and the time of sign-up in our PostgreSQL database, and we use it to send you product updates. We also receive a notification at our own support inbox so we know a new subscriber joined. We do not share or sell this list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing crabby@modbusconnect.com; we will delete your address from the list. Legal basis: your consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a)), which you can withdraw at any time.

Download statistics

When you start a download, the site records that a download happened. The record contains a random identifier generated fresh in your browser for that visit, the platform, the app version, the file name and the page you started from. The random identifier is not stored in a cookie or in your browser storage, is not linked to your email address, and is not used to identify you. We use these records only to count downloads per platform and version.

Feature requests

If you submit a feature request, we store the name, email address, title and description you provide in our PostgreSQL database, and we send a notification to our support inbox and a thank-you reply to you. When a request is approved it is published on the public feature requests page: the title and description are shown publicly, while the name of public submitters is hidden. Your email address is never published. Legal basis: your consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a)).

Cookies

We do not set any cookies on this website, and we do not run advertising or cross-site tracking scripts. Our analytics tool is cookieless, so you will not see a cookie banner.

Server logs

Like almost every website, our hosting and database providers may keep standard technical logs (for example IP address, time of request and browser type) for a limited time for security, troubleshooting and operations. We do not use these to build profiles of visitors.

We do not sell or rent your personal data, and we do not share it for advertising. We use a small number of service providers to run the site and the mailing list:

• Swetrix (cookieless analytics) for aggregate site statistics.
• Our email delivery provider (SMTP) to send notification and reply emails.
• Our hosting and database providers to serve the site and store the data described above.

These providers only process the data on our instructions. Where data is processed outside the European Economic Area, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.

• Email updates: until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete your address.
• Feature requests: for as long as the project runs, so we can track and credit ideas. You can ask us to remove yours at any time.
• Download statistics: kept as aggregate counts; the random per-visit identifier is not linked to you.
• Analytics: kept in aggregate by our analytics tool and not linked to an identifiable person.
• Server logs: kept only as long as our providers need them for security and operations.

If you are in the European Economic Area (or another region with similar laws), you have the right to:

• access the personal data we hold about you;
• ask us to correct it if it is wrong;
• ask us to delete it;
• ask us to restrict or object to how we use it;
• receive it in a portable, machine-readable format;
• withdraw consent at any time, where our use is based on consent; and
• lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority. In the Netherlands this is the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl).

To exercise any of these rights, email crabby@modbusconnect.com. We will respond within one month.

Modbus Connect is a tool for industrial and technical users and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 16. If you believe a child has given us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

We may update this policy as the app and website change. When we do, we will change the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Material changes will be highlighted on the site.

For any privacy question or request, contact: