This policy explains what happens to your data when you use the tools on bigqtools.com: what we process, where, why and for how long. Here are the key points:
- Your files are uploaded to and processed on BigQTools servers, not in your browser.
- Every uploaded, imported and result file is deleted automatically 2 hours after it is created, or right away when you click “Delete now”.
- We never share or sell your files, and we use them only to do the processing you asked for.
- Google Drive is optional. If you use it, BigQTools asks only for the
drive.filepermission, which covers just the files you pick and the files BigQTools saves for you. - No account and no ads. BigQTools sets a single functional cookie and no tracking cookies.
Data we process
BigQTools has no user accounts, so you never have to give us your name, email address or phone number. We process the following data.
Your files
This means files you add from your device (by choosing, dragging and dropping, or pasting them), files our server downloads from a link you provide, files you pick from Google Drive, and the result files we create. We also receive the settings you choose for a tool, such as the password for protecting or unlocking a PDF. PDF and archive passwords are used only while the job runs and are removed from our systems once the job finishes, usually within about 10 minutes. Files can contain personal information, so we treat everything you upload as private.
Technical records
To run the service, prevent abuse and enforce usage limits, we record:
- details of each processing run: the tool used, the time, file names, sizes and types, and the status and any error codes;
- the anonymous session identifier stored in the
bq_sidcookie; - the IP address the request came from.
These records do not contain the contents of your files. We keep them only as long as they are needed to operate and secure the service and to produce aggregate statistics. File names can reveal personal details, so consider renaming a file before you upload it.
Emails you send us
If you email us, we receive your email address and the contents of your message, and we use them to reply to you.
How and where files are processed
When you run a tool, your files travel over an encrypted HTTPS connection to BigQTools servers and are processed there automatically, rather than in your browser. We use open-source software to do the work:
- FFmpeg for video and audio
- ImageMagick for images
- LibreOffice and Stirling PDF for documents and PDFs
- 7-Zip for archives
The site is delivered through Cloudflare, which provides network protection and delivery. This means your requests to bigqtools.com, including the files you upload, pass through Cloudflare’s network on their way to our servers.
Our team does not open your files unless it is strictly necessary to investigate abuse, or a technical failure that you reported to us. In those cases, access is limited to that investigation.
How long files are kept
- Every file you upload or import, and every result file, is deleted automatically 2 hours after it is created.
- You can delete your input and result files immediately with the “Delete now” button on the result screen.
- When a file is deleted, its download link stops working, so download your results before then.
Technical records are kept separately, as described above. Copies you save to Google Drive belong to you and are not affected by this deletion.
Google Drive
Google Drive is optional: you connect it only when you want to pick files from Drive or save results to it.
What BigQTools can access
BigQTools uses Google Identity Services to ask for your permission and Google Picker to let you choose files. It requests a single OAuth scope: https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file. With this scope, BigQTools can access only:
- the specific files you select in Google’s file picker, and
- files that BigQTools creates in your Drive when you click “Save to Google Drive”.
BigQTools cannot see, list or change any other file in your Drive. It does not ask for your name, email address or any other information from your Google Account.
Importing files from Drive
- You sign in to Google if asked, grant permission and pick files in Google’s picker.
- Your browser sends the IDs of the picked files and a short-lived access token to BigQTools.
- Our server verifies that the token was issued to BigQTools, reads each picked file’s name, type and size, and downloads the file. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides files are exported to PDF or an Office format.
- From then on, the file is treated like any uploaded file, including automatic deletion after 2 hours.
Saving results to Drive
When you click “Save to Google Drive”, our server uploads that result file to your Drive. The file in your Drive belongs to you. Our own copy is deleted on the normal schedule, and after that BigQTools keeps no copy.
Access tokens
The access token is kept only in the page’s memory during your current visit. It is sent to our server only to carry out an import or save that you requested; the server uses it for that request and does not store it in a database or in logs. Closing or reloading the page discards the token. You can revoke BigQTools’ access at any time at myaccount.google.com/permissions.
How we treat Google user data
- We use it only to import, process and save the files you choose.
- We do not use it for advertising, we do not sell it, and we do not use it to train models.
- We do not transfer it to third parties except as necessary to provide this feature.
- No one reads it, except in the narrow cases described above: to investigate a technical failure you reported to us, or when strictly necessary to investigate abuse.
BigQTools’ use and transfer to any other app of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Files imported from links
When you paste a link, our server downloads the file from that address. The site hosting the file sees a request from our server, not from your device, and may log that request under its own policies.
For security, the server refuses links that point to private or internal network addresses. It also refuses streaming sites such as YouTube, TikTok and Facebook. A file imported from a link is processed and deleted exactly like an uploaded file. Please import only files you are allowed to download.
Cookies
BigQTools sets one cookie, and the tools need it to work:
- Name:
bq_sid - Contents: a random, anonymous session identifier
- Purpose: links your files and processing runs to your browser so that only that browser can see and download them, and makes usage limits work
- Duration: 30 days
- Attributes: HttpOnly (scripts on the page cannot read it) and SameSite=Lax
We use no advertising cookies, and BigQTools sets no tracking or analytics cookies. If you block this cookie, the tools may not work properly.
When you click the Google Drive button, Google’s sign-in and Picker scripts load from google.com, and Google may set its own cookies under the Google Privacy Policy.
Sharing and service providers
We do not sell, rent or share your files, and we use them for nothing but the processing you requested. We rely on these service providers:
- Cloudflare delivers and protects the site. Requests to bigqtools.com, including uploaded files and your IP address, pass through Cloudflare’s network. See the Cloudflare Privacy Policy.
- Google is involved only when you choose to use Google Drive, as described in the Google Drive section.
No other third party receives your files.
Security
- All connections to bigqtools.com are encrypted with HTTPS.
- Files and processing runs are tied to your browser session, so other visitors cannot see them.
- Download links are signed and stop working when the file is deleted. Keep your download links to yourself.
- Access to our servers and stored files is restricted to what is needed to run the service and to the cases described in this policy.
No system is perfectly secure. If a document is highly sensitive, consider whether you need to upload it, and click “Delete now” once you have downloaded the result.
Your choices and rights
- Delete your files now. Click “Delete now” on the result screen, or let files expire after 2 hours. Because there are no accounts, this is the most direct way to remove your files.
- Skip Google Drive. You can always add files from your device or from a link instead.
- Revoke Google access. Remove BigQTools’ access at any time at myaccount.google.com/permissions.
- Contact us. For questions about your data, deletion requests or anything else, email [email protected]. Tell us which tool you used and roughly when, so we can identify the data your request is about.
Children
BigQTools is not directed to children under 13. If you are younger than the age your local law requires to use online services on your own, please use BigQTools only with a parent’s permission.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy. The date shown on this page tells you which version is current, and we will point out significant changes here.
Contact
If you have a question about privacy or a request about your data, email [email protected]. You can also visit our contact page or read our Terms of Use.