Privacy Policy

Introduction

PDF Lab (pdf-lab.com) is operated and maintained by Nikera Technologies, an independent UK software business. Nikera Technologies is responsible for operating the service and handling personal information as described in this policy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and handle your information when you use our online PDF tools.

Every PDF Lab tool and service is free to use and supported by advertising. We do not charge for access or require payment, card details, subscriptions, premium upgrades, or account registration.

We are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of our users. We believe in transparency about how we manage data and want you to understand exactly what happens when you use our services.

Information We Collect

PDF Lab is designed with privacy in mind. We collect minimal information necessary to provide our services:

• Files You Process: Many tools run entirely in your browser, so your file is never uploaded. Tools that need our server receive your file over an encrypted connection, process it temporarily and do NOT store it permanently.
• Technical Information: We may collect basic technical information such as browser type, device type, and general location (country level) for service optimization, analytics, advertising, and security purposes.
• Contact Information: If you contact us through our contact form, we collect your name, email address, and message content to respond to your inquiry.
• Advertising Data: Third-party advertising partners, including Google, may use cookies or similar technologies to serve, measure, and improve ads shown on PDF Lab.

How We Handle Your Files

File security is paramount to our service. Here's exactly what happens to your files:

• Browser-Only Tools: OCR, Unlock PDF, Edit PDF and the Image Tools run entirely in your browser, so your file is not uploaded (Edit PDF uploads only if you choose to share a link). Tools with a "Process locally" option, such as Merge, Split, Rotate, Rearrange, Sign, Watermark and Add Page Numbers, also keep your file in your browser while that option is on.
• AI PDF Summarizer: The text is extracted from your PDF in your browser. Only that text, not the PDF file, is sent to Nikera's own AI service (ai.nikera.co.uk), operated by Nikera Technologies, to create your summary. It is not sent to third-party AI providers.
• Temporary Processing: Files uploaded for processing are stored temporarily in server memory or temporary storage only during the active processing session.
• Immediate Deletion: For most tools, files are deleted immediately after you download the processed result or when your session ends.
• Batch Operations and Shared Links: Batch tools and optional sharing features may temporarily store generated files so you can download or share them. These temporary files are automatically removed by cleanup processes, typically within 24 hours.
• No Permanent Storage: We do not permanently store, archive, or backup any user-uploaded files.
• No Human Access: Our team does not view, read, or access the content of your uploaded files.

Service Providers

Like any website, PDF Lab relies on infrastructure providers that act on our behalf and do not use your files for their own purposes:

• Hosting: Our web servers are hosted by IONOS.
• Network and Security: Cloudflare delivers the website and protects it against abuse. Traffic to and from PDF Lab, including uploads, passes through Cloudflare's encrypted network.
• Advertising: Google AdSense shows ads, as described below. Ad partners do not receive your files.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

PDF Lab uses cookies and similar technologies for site functionality, analytics, and advertising:

• Essential Cookies: These are necessary for basic site functionality, such as maintaining your session while processing files.
• Analytics: We use analytics information to understand site performance, tool usage, errors, and general traffic patterns.
• Advertising Cookies: Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to PDF Lab or other websites.
• Personalized Ads: Google's use of advertising cookies enables Google and its partners to serve ads based on visits to PDF Lab and/or other sites on the internet.

You can learn more about how Google uses information from sites that use its services at Google's partner sites policy. You can manage or opt out of personalized Google advertising at Google Ads Settings.

Depending on your location, you may be shown additional choices for advertising cookies and personalized ads. You can also manage cookies through your browser settings.

Advertising Partners

PDF Lab uses Google AdSense to display advertising. Ads help keep PDF Lab free to use without payment, subscriptions, premium tiers, or account registration.

Google and other advertising partners may collect or receive information from your browser or device and use that information to provide ad measurement and personalized or non-personalized ads, depending on your settings, consent choices, and applicable law.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• HTTPS Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted using secure HTTPS connections.
• Secure Servers: Our servers are protected with firewalls, regular security updates, and monitoring systems.
• Limited Access: Only essential automated systems access uploaded files during processing. No human staff views your documents.
• Automatic Deletion: Cleanup processes remove temporary files used for processing, batch downloads, and shared links.

While we take extensive precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We encourage users not to upload highly sensitive documents without appropriate consideration.

Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your data:

• Access: You can request information about any personal data we may hold about you.
• Deletion: Since we don't permanently store files or personal data, deletion happens automatically. For contact form submissions, you can request deletion of your correspondence.
• Questions: You can contact us anytime with questions about your privacy.

Children's Privacy

PDF Lab is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can take appropriate action.

International Users

PDF Lab is accessible worldwide. By using our services, you consent to the transfer and processing of your data in the country where our servers are located. We strive to comply with applicable data protection laws in all jurisdictions we serve.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
• For significant changes, we may provide more prominent notice on our website.
• Your continued use of PDF Lab after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about our privacy practices.