Privacy Policy

1. The short version

You do not need an account to use Shortifi. We do not ask for your name, email address, or phone number. We store the destination URL, the short code, timestamps, and an aggregate click count so the service can work and so we can understand overall usage.

2. What we collect

Links you create

When you shorten a URL, we store:

• the destination URL you submitted;
• the generated short code and resulting short link;
• the creation and expiry timestamps;
• an aggregate click count.

We do not attach your identity to these records because we do not have an account to attach them to. We do not sell link data.

Technical data

Like most websites, our hosting provider may process standard request information such as IP address, browser type, referring page, and timestamps for security, abuse prevention, and diagnostics. Our site is hosted on Netlify, which also provides the serverless functions and object storage used to run the service. The application uses a short-lived in-memory rate limiter keyed by IP address to stop automated abuse; those entries are not written to the link database and are discarded when the process restarts or the window expires.

Advertising

Shortifi may show ads through Google AdSense. Google and its partners may use cookies or similar technologies to serve ads based on your visits to this and other websites. You can learn more about how Google uses data at Google’s partner sites policy, and you can manage ad personalization at Google Ad Settings.

If you are in a region that requires consent for advertising cookies, the site uses Google’s consent management tools to collect that choice before personalized ads are served, and serves non-personalized ads where required.

3. Cookies and local storage

Shortifi does not use first-party cookies for accounts, analytics profiles, or cross-site tracking. Third-party advertising partners such as Google may set cookies when ads are displayed. Your browser settings let you block or delete those cookies; the core URL shortening tool will continue to work.

4. How we use information

• create, store, and redirect short links;
• generate QR codes for short links;
• count overall clicks and keep the service reliable;
• detect abuse, spam, and security problems;
• display advertising that keeps the service free.

5. Legal bases (EEA and UK users)

Where data protection law requires a legal basis, we rely on performance of a contract or your request to process link data, legitimate interests for security and service reliability, and consent for advertising cookies where consent is required. You can withdraw consent at any time through the advertising partner’s consent controls or your browser settings.

6. How long we keep data

Links and their click counts are hidden as soon as they expire, which is 30 days after creation. A daily scheduled cleanup permanently removes expired records, so a small amount of expired data may remain briefly after the expiry time. Hosting and security logs are retained according to the provider’s normal retention schedule.

7. Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell personal information. We may share limited data with:

• hosting and infrastructure providers that run the service;
• advertising partners such as Google, as described above;
• authorities or other parties when required by law or necessary to protect rights and safety.

8. International transfers

Our service providers may process data in countries other than yours. Where required, they use appropriate safeguards for international transfers, such as standard contractual clauses.

9. Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal information, or to object to certain processing. Because Shortifi does not require an account and does not store names or email addresses, we may need the short link in question to locate the relevant record. Send requests to hello@shortifi.xyz.

You can also control cookies through your browser. Blocking advertising cookies may affect which ads you see, but it will not stop short links or QR codes from working.

10. Children

Shortifi is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information, contact us and we will take appropriate steps.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the service evolves. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page shows the latest revision. If a change is significant, we will make it clear on this page.

12. Contact

Privacy questions or data requests? Email hello@shortifi.xyz.