Privacy Policy

Version 1.0 · Last Updated: October 26th, 2026

Golby Systems LLC, dba Appbite ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") operates the Appbite website at appbite.com, including its articles, apps, and the Appbite Search topic-based search engine and website directory at appbite.com/search and travel8.com (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use the Service, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have.

This Privacy Policy should be read alongside our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Searches

When you search, we record:

• The words you searched for, the topic you chose, and any site filter you used
• Your search settings, such as the search method and result sources selected
• The number of results returned and how long the search took
• The date and time, and your IP address
• Your analytics visitor identifier (the uid cookie), only if you have allowed Analytics

Please do not type sensitive personal information, such as your health details, account numbers or other people's private information, into the search box.

1.2 Clicks, Ratings and Page Activity

We record how the Service is used so we can improve results and the Directory, including which results and listings are clicked, results shared, likes and dislikes you give a result, and pages visited. These records include the date and time, your IP address, and the page or result concerned.

• If you allow Analytics, these records are linked to your analytics visitor identifier so we can understand repeat visits.
• If you refuse Analytics, records are kept without a visitor identifier.
• You can turn off click logging in the Privacy section of Settings.

1.3 Information You Send Us

When you use our feedback form, report a result, or suggest a website or category for the Directory, we collect what you enter, such as:

• Your message, the page or website address concerned, and any category you suggest
• Your name and email address, if you provide them
• How you heard about us, if you tell us
• Your IP address and the time of the submission

1.4 Account Information

Where sign-in is available and you choose to create an account, we collect:

• Your name, email address and a unique account identifier
• Your account role (for example, member or moderator)
• The date, time and IP address of each sign-in

Sign-in is handled by our own sign-in system. We do not see or store passwords for other services.

1.5 Technical and Security Information

Like most websites, our web servers automatically record details of each request, including:

• IP address and approximate location derived from it (country, region, city, network operator)
• Browser type, operating system and user agent
• Page requested, referring page, date and time, and response details
• The security log identifier (the stid cookie)
• Security events, such as blocked requests, rate limit hits and suspected automated traffic

We use this information to keep the Service running, to detect and block abuse, bots and attacks, and to diagnose problems.

1.6 Information Stored on Your Device

Your recent searches list and your Settings are stored in your own browser using local storage. They are not linked to an account on our servers. You can delete them at any time from Settings or with our Cookie & Storage Checker. Your searches are still logged on our servers as described in Section 1.1.

1.7 Information We Do Not Collect

• We do not use advertising networks, tracking pixels or cross-site tracking.
• We do not use third-party analytics services.
• We do not collect precise location (GPS) data.
• We do not knowingly collect special category data, such as health information or religious beliefs, except where you choose to type it into a search or message.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes. Where required by law, we identify the legal basis we rely on.

• To provide search results and the Directory, and to remember your settings: necessary to provide the Service you request; legitimate interests
• To keep the Service secure, prevent abuse, enforce rate limits and block automated or malicious traffic: legitimate interests (protecting the Service and its users); legal obligation
• To measure and improve search quality, topic filtering, ranking and the Directory, using search and activity logs: legitimate interests (improving the Service)
• To recognise returning visitors with the analytics cookie: consent
• To review and respond to feedback, reports and Directory suggestions: legitimate interests; your request
• To operate accounts and sign-in, where available: necessary to perform our agreement with you
• To comply with the law and respond to lawful requests: legal obligation

We do not use your information to show you advertising, and we do not make decisions about you that have legal or similarly significant effects using automated processing. Our ranking and topic filtering methods decide the order of results for everyone; they do not build a profile of you.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for targeted advertising. We share information only as follows:

3.1 Search Partners

To provide results, we may send the words you searched for, and your search settings such as language and topic, to third-party search partners. We send these requests from our own servers. We do not send your IP address, cookies or visitor identifier with them.

3.2 Service Providers

We use service providers who process information on our behalf, including:

• Hosting: our servers are hosted in data centers in the United States.
• IP lookup: we may send IP addresses to an IP geolocation service to identify the country, network operator and hosting networks behind traffic, for security and abuse prevention.
• Web fonts: some pages load fonts from Google Fonts, which receives your IP address and browser details when your browser requests a font file.

3.3 Websites You Visit

When you click a result or listing, you leave the Service and go to a website operated by someone else. That website receives your visit directly and its own privacy policy applies.

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required to do so by law, or in the good-faith belief that it is necessary to:

• Comply with a legal obligation, subpoena, court order, or government request
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• Protect the personal safety of users or the public

3.5 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any change in ownership or control of your personal information.

3.6 Aggregated Information

We may share or publish aggregated statistics, such as popular topics or search volumes, that do not identify any individual.

4. Data Retention

We keep information only as long as needed for the purposes in this policy:

• Search, click and activity logs: IP addresses and visitor identifiers are deleted or anonymized within 13 months. Anonymized search statistics may be kept longer.
• Web server and security logs: kept for up to 12 months. Records of blocked or banned traffic may be kept for up to 24 months.
• Feedback, reports and Directory suggestions: kept for as long as needed to handle them and for up to 3 years afterward. Accepted Directory listings are kept while they are listed.
• Accounts: account information is deleted within 30 days of account deletion, except sign-in security records, which follow the security log period above.
• Legal holds: we may keep information longer where required by law, court order or an active investigation.

5. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical and physical measures to protect information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), signed cookies, access controls on our administration area, and a web application firewall.

No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

If a personal data breach is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of it where required by law, and will notify affected people without undue delay where the breach is likely to result in a high risk.

6. Your Choices

• Cookie choices: use the cookie banner, or the Cookie Settings link in the page footer, to allow or refuse optional cookies at any time. See our Cookie Policy.
• Search history: in Settings, you can turn off saved history and delete your recent searches.
• Click logging: in Settings, you can turn off logging of the results you click.
• Global Privacy Control: if your browser sends a Global Privacy Control signal, we treat it as a refusal of all optional cookies.
• Do Not Track: we do not respond to the older browser "Do Not Track" signal. Please use Global Privacy Control or our cookie settings instead.
• Check your browser: our Cookie & Storage Checker shows and deletes what is stored in your browser.
• Accounts: you can delete your account at any time. See our Delete Account page.

7. Children's Privacy

The Service is a general audience website and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13, and accounts are not available to them. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us.

8. Third-Party Websites

Search results and Directory listings link to websites we do not operate. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any website you visit.

9. United States Privacy Rights

9.1 California (CCPA / CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the sources, the purposes, and the categories of third parties we share it with
• Delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions
• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Opt out of sale or sharing: we do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising
• Non-discrimination: we will not treat you differently for exercising your rights

9.2 New York and Other States

Residents of New York and other states with privacy laws may have similar rights. We will honour requests to access, correct or delete personal information as required by the law that applies to you.

To make a request, contact us using the details in Section 12. Because you can use the Service without an account, we may ask for details such as the approximate dates and times you searched, your IP address, or the email address you used in a form, so that we can find your information and verify the request.

10. EU/EEA and UK Residents: GDPR Rights

If you are located in the European Union, European Economic Area, or United Kingdom, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or UK GDPR.

10.1 Data Controller

Golby Systems LLC, dba Appbite, is the data controller responsible for your personal information. Contact details are in Section 12.

10.2 EU Representative

Our EU representative under Article 27 GDPR is currently to be appointed. In the meantime, EU/EEA residents and supervisory authorities may contact us directly at eu-gdpr-requests@appbite.com.

10.3 Your Rights

Subject to certain conditions and exceptions, you have the right to:

• Access (Article 15): request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Rectification (Article 16): ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Erasure (Article 17): ask us to delete your personal information
• Restriction (Article 18): ask us to limit how we use your information in certain circumstances
• Portability (Article 20): receive information you gave us in a structured, machine-readable format, where processing is based on consent or contract
• Objection (Article 21): object to processing based on our legitimate interests. We will stop unless we have compelling grounds that override your interests, or the processing is needed for legal claims

10.4 Withdrawing Consent

Where we rely on consent, such as for the analytics cookie, you may withdraw it at any time using the Cookie Settings link in the page footer. Withdrawal does not affect processing carried out before you withdrew.

10.5 International Data Transfers

We are based in the United States, and the Service is hosted in the United States. Information you provide is transferred to and processed in the United States, which may not offer the same level of data protection as your home country. Where we transfer personal data to service providers, we rely on the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses or another transfer mechanism recognised under applicable law. You may request a copy of these safeguards by contacting us.

10.6 Right to Lodge a Complaint

You have the right to complain to your local Data Protection Authority if you believe we have processed your personal information unlawfully. A directory of EU/EEA supervisory authorities is available at https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/about-edpb/members_en. UK residents may contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk.

We encourage you to contact us first so we can try to resolve your concern.

10.7 How to Exercise Your Rights

Contact us using the details in Section 12. We will respond within one month. In complex cases we may extend this by a further two months and will tell you if we do. We do not charge a fee for reasonable requests. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top. If we make material changes, we will show a notice on the Service. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the revised Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at:

privacy@appbite.com

Golby Systems LLC
dba Appbite
34-43 Crescent St
Astoria, NY 11106
United States