Privacy Policy

Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how the WinNewsWire desktop application (the “App”) and the website at winnewswire.com (the “Site”) handle your information.

WinNewsWire is a free, open-source RSS reader for Windows. It is designed to keep your data on your own device. We do not operate accounts for the App, we do not run analytics inside the App, and we do not sell or share your personal information.

Information the App collects

None that leaves your device by default. WinNewsWire has no servers of its own and does not require an account to use. The following data is created and stored locally on your computer:

• Your feed subscriptions and folder organization.
• Article content downloaded from the feeds you subscribe to.
• Read, unread, and starred status, plus your app preferences.

This data is kept in a local SQLite database and settings files within your Windows user profile. It is never transmitted to us. We do not collect analytics, telemetry, advertising identifiers, or usage profiles from the App.

Fetching feeds and articles

To do its job, WinNewsWire connects directly to the feed and website URLs you choose to subscribe to in order to download new articles. When it does so, those third-party servers may receive standard network information such as your IP address and a user-agent string, exactly as they would when you visit a website in a browser.

We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices of the publishers and websites you subscribe to. Embedded images, links, and media within articles are loaded from their original sources and are subject to those sources' own privacy policies.

Optional sync accounts

WinNewsWire can optionally connect to third-party feed-sync services (such as Feedbin) if you choose to add an account under Settings → Accounts. This is entirely optional — the local account works fully without ever signing in.

If you connect a sync account:

• Your credentials are stored securely on your device and used only to communicate with that service.
• Your subscriptions and read/starred state are exchanged with that provider so they can be kept in sync across devices.
• Your use of that service is governed by that provider's own privacy policy and terms.

The website

The WinNewsWire website is a static informational site. It does not require an account and does not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. The Site stores a small preference in your browser's local storage to remember your light/dark theme choice; this never leaves your browser.

If the Site is hosted by a third-party provider (for example, a static hosting or CDN service), that provider may collect standard server logs such as IP addresses and request information for security and operational purposes.

How we use information

Because we do not collect your personal data, we do not use it for profiling, advertising, or resale. Information that stays on your device is used solely to provide the App's features — managing subscriptions, displaying articles, and tracking read state.

Data sharing

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties. The only data exchanges that occur are those you initiate yourself: fetching the feeds you subscribe to, and syncing with an optional account provider you choose to connect.

Your control and choices

• Export your subscriptions at any time via File → Export Subscriptions (OPML). Your data is never locked in.
• Delete your local data by removing feeds, disconnecting accounts, or uninstalling the App.
• Disconnect any optional sync account from Settings → Accounts whenever you like.

Children's privacy

WinNewsWire is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Significant changes may also be noted in the project's release notes.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please open an issue on our GitHub repository.