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Policy of Use

  1. Introduction

    The Secure Note service (hereinafter “Service”) is a SaaS solution developed and owned by Group-IB Europe B.V. (hereinafter “Group-IB”). The Service allows you to upload text or files and generate a one-time link for secure sharing. By using the Service, you agree to comply with this Policy of Use. This policy outlines the acceptable use of the Service and the actions we may take to maintain a safe and legal environment for all users.

  2. Acceptable Use

    You may use the Service for any lawful purpose, whether personal or corporate, commercial or non-commercial. Examples of permitted uses include, without limitation:

    • Securely sharing confidential business or personal documents;
    • Transmitting sensitive information;
    • Encrypting communications to protect privacy in personal or professional contexts.
  3. Prohibited Activities

    You are expressly prohibited from using the Service for any illegal activities or purposes. This includes, without limitation, the following:

    • Distribution of Illegal Content: Uploading, sharing, or transmitting any content that is illegal under applicable laws, including but not limited to child pornography, pirated software, and copyrighted materials without permission;
    • Fraud and Deception: Using the Service to perpetrate fraud, misrepresentation, or any other deceptive practices;
    • Cybercrime: Engaging in activities that involve hacking, distributing malware or viruses, phishing, or any other activities intended to harm or exploit other individuals or systems; Share or upload any files or content that could damage, disable, or impair the Service or interfere with any other party's use of the Service;
    • Harassment and Threats: Using the Service to harass, threaten, blackmail or stalk individuals.
    • Violation of Privacy: Uploading, sharing, or transmitting content that violates the privacy rights of others, including the unauthorized sharing of personal information.
    • Terrorism and Extremism: Using the Service to promote, incite, or support terrorism, extremist activities, or violence.
    • Illegal Transactions: Facilitating or conducting illegal transactions, including the sale of illegal goods or services.

    Violation of this clause may result in the suspension or termination of your access to the Service and may lead to legal action. We reserve the right to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in investigating and prosecuting users who violate restrictions specified or implied herein. If you have any questions about whether a specific use of the Service is permitted, please contact us at: law@group-ib.com.

  4. Data Protection

    Overview. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled in a safe and responsible manner. This privacy clause outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you use the Service. Data Collection. When you use our service to upload files and/or messages for encryption, the following types of data may be collected:

    • Uploaded Content: Files and messages you upload for encryption are temporarily collected only for the purpose of generating the one-time link.
    • Usage Data: Information about how you use our service, such as IP address, browser type, and access times, may be collected for security and analytical purposes.

    Data Use. We use the data we collect for the following purposes:

    • Service Provision: To facilitate the encryption of files and messages and generate a one-time link to the encrypted content.
    • Security: To monitor for and protect against security incidents.
    • Analytics: To understand usage patterns and improve the Service.

    Data Storage and Deletion.

    • Temporary Storage: Uploaded files and messages are temporarily stored on the servers of our hosting provider (Hetzner Online GmbH, Germany) only for the duration required to generate the one-time link.
    • Deletion Policy: Once the recipient accesses the encrypted file/message through the one-time link, the uploaded content is permanently deleted from the server immediately. If the link is not accessed within a specified period, the content is automatically deleted after seven (7) days.
    • No Archival Copies: We do not process, store, or make any copies of the uploaded files/messages after the recipient has accessed them or after the specified period for access has expired.

    Legal Basis for Processing. Our legal basis for processing your personal data which may be contained within files or messages shared via the Service at your discretion is the necessity for the performance of a contract. By using the Service, you are entering into a contract with us for the provision of encryption of files and/or messages.

    User Rights.

    Given the nature of the Service, which involves the immediate deletion of uploaded content once accessed, the following clarifications apply to your rights under the GDPR (if applicable):

    • Access: Users can request information about their personal data that we may hold (e.g., usage data);
    • Rectification: Users can request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data we may hold (e.g., usage data);
    • Erasure: Given the immediate deletion of uploaded files/messages, the right to erasure applies to other personal data we may hold, not the encrypted content itself;
    • Restriction: Users can request restriction of processing of their personal data we may hold, excluding uploaded content that is already deleted;
    • Data Portability: Users can request their personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, pertaining to the data we may hold, excluding encrypted content already deleted.

    Data Security. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of your personal data, including:

    • Encryption: All uploaded files and messages are encrypted using industry-standard encryption protocols.
    • Access Controls: Access to stored data is restricted to authorized personnel only.

    If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices or your personal data, please contact us at: privacy@group-ib.com.

  5. Consequences of Violation

    Violating this Policy of Use can result in:

    • Immediate termination of your access to the Service.
    • Reporting of your activities to appropriate legal authorities.
    • Potential legal action taken against you by affected parties.
    • Any other actions aimed at securing Group-IB’s rights and interests defined at our sole discretion.
  6. Limitation of Liability

    OTHER THAN AS PROVIDED IN THIS POLICY, THE SERVICE, ITS COMPONENTS, ANY UPDATES THEREOF AND OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED HEREUNDER ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” AND GROUP-IB MAKES NO WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE SAME OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR USAGE OF TRADE.

    UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL GROUP-IB BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, LOSS OF REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR LOST BUSINESS. GROUP-IB’S LIABILITY ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO DIRECT, OBJECTIVELY MEASURABLE DAMAGES, AND THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF EACH PARTY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ALL LICENSE FEES MADE BY THE LICENSEE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IN THE YEAR IN WHICH THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY OCCURS.

    THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY CLAUSE APPLIES WHETHER THE ALLEGED LIABILITY IS BASED ON ANY AGREEMENT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER BASIS, EVEN IF GROUP-IB HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. THE FOREGOING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY WILL APPLY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW IN THE APPLICABLE JURISDICTION.

  7. Changes to the Policy

    We reserve the right to update or modify this Policy of Use at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use of the Service after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the new terms.

  8. Governing Law

    This Policy is governed by the Dutch Law, without reference to its conflict of law provisions. Disputes arising from or in connection with your use of the Service shall be settled in the competent courts of the Netherlands.

  9. Contact Information

    If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Policy of Use, please contact our legal team at law@group-ib.com. By using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Policy of Use. Thank you for helping us maintain a secure and reliable service.