1Who We Are
Sound Tester ("we", "us" or "our") runs soundtester.net, a free set of online tools for testing speakers, headphones, microphones, noise levels and hearing. We are responsible for the personal information described in this policy, acting as the "data controller" under laws such as the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This policy works together with our Cookie Policy and Terms of Service.
2Information We Collect
Information you give us
- Contact messages: your name, email address, message, the topic and tool you choose and, if you leave the box ticked, your browser, operating system and screen size.
- Guest submissions: your name, bio, article and any profile links you send under our Editorial Policy.
Information collected automatically
- Server and security logs: IP address, browser type, device type, pages requested, referring page and the date and time of each request.
- Analytics data: pages and tools used, time on page, general location (country or city level), device and browser, collected by Google Analytics through cookies.
- Advertising data: cookie IDs, IP address and ad interactions collected by Google to show and measure ads.
Information that stays on your device
- Tool settings and results, such as your display mode, last Hearing Test result and Decibel Meter calibration, are saved in your browser's local storage. We cannot see them.
- Recordings you make in the Mic Test stay in your browser unless you download them yourself.
We do not ask for, and ask you not to send us, sensitive information such as health records, government ID numbers or payment details.
3Microphone And Audio
The Mic Test, Decibel Meter and Spectrum Analyzer need microphone access to work. Your browser asks your permission first, and you can withdraw it at any time in your browser settings.
Sound from your microphone is analyzed in real time by your own browser using the Web Audio API. It is not uploaded to our servers, not stored by us and not shared with analytics or ad providers. When you close the tab, the microphone is released.
Hearing Test answers are processed the same way, on your device. We do not collect hearing results, and they are not used for any medical, insurance or advertising purpose.
4How We Use Information
- To run, maintain and secure the website and its tools.
- To answer your messages, fix reported bugs and act on your requests.
- To understand which tools and pages are used so we can improve them.
- To show ads that keep Sound Tester free, and to measure them.
- To detect and prevent spam, abuse, fraud and security attacks.
- To comply with the law and protect our rights.
We do not use your information for automated decisions that have legal or similarly important effects on you.
5Legal Bases For Using Your Information
If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, we rely on these legal bases:
| Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|
| Answering your messages | Legitimate interests in helping you, or steps you ask us to take |
| Running and securing the site | Legitimate interests in a working, safe service |
| Analytics cookies | Your consent, which you can withdraw at any time |
| Advertising cookies | Your consent, which you can withdraw at any time |
| Meeting legal duties | Legal obligation |
6Cookies And Browser Storage
We use necessary cookies to run the site, local storage to remember tool settings, and, with your consent where required, analytics and advertising cookies. Our Cookie Policy lists each one, explains how long it lasts and shows you how to see and clear Sound Tester data saved in your browser.
If your browser sends a Global Privacy Control signal, we treat it as a request to opt out of advertising cookies where the law requires. Because there is no common standard for "Do Not Track" signals, we do not respond to them separately.
7How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only in these cases:
| Who | Why | What |
|---|---|---|
| Web hosting provider | To host and deliver the website | Server logs |
| Cloudflare | Security, bot protection and fast delivery | IP address, request details |
| Google Analytics | Usage statistics | Cookie IDs, usage and device data |
| Google AdSense | Showing and measuring ads | Cookie IDs, IP address, ad interactions |
| Email service provider | Receiving and replying to messages | Name, email, message |
These providers may only use your information to provide their service to us, except Google, which also uses data under its own policy. Learn more at How Google uses information from sites that use its services.
We may also share information if the law requires it, to protect the rights, safety or property of our users or others, or as part of a merger, sale or transfer of the website, in which case this policy will continue to apply.
8International Transfers
Our service providers may process information in countries other than yours, including the United States. Where the law requires, we rely on safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses, the UK International Data Transfer Addendum or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework to protect your information.
9How Long We Keep Information
| Information | How long |
|---|---|
| Contact messages | Up to 24 months after our last reply, then deleted |
| Server and security logs | Up to 90 days, unless needed to look into an attack |
| Google Analytics data | 14 months, then deleted automatically |
| Advertising cookies | As set by Google, up to 13 months |
| Tool settings in your browser | Until you clear them |
| Published guest articles | While the article is live on the site |
10Security
We protect information with HTTPS encryption on every page, security and bot protection, limited access to admin areas, strong passwords and two-factor login for our team, and regular software updates. Because our tools process audio on your device, the most sensitive data never reaches us at all.
No method of sending or storing data online is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a data breach affects your rights, we will tell you and the relevant authority where the law requires.
11Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, including the EEA, UK and other countries with privacy laws, you may have these rights:
How to use your rights
Email contact@soundtester.net or use the Privacy topic on our Contact page. We may ask you to confirm your identity, usually by replying from the same email address. We respond within one month, or within the time your local law sets, and we do not charge for reasonable requests.
12US State Privacy Rights
If you live in California or another US state with a consumer privacy law, such as Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia or Texas, you may have the right to:
- Know what personal information we collect, use and share.
- Ask us to delete or correct your personal information.
- Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for targeted advertising.
- Not be treated differently for using these rights.
We do not sell personal information for money. Advertising cookies may count as "sharing" for targeted ads under some state laws. You can opt out by rejecting advertising cookies in our cookie settings, turning on Global Privacy Control in your browser, or contacting us. In the last 12 months we have collected the categories described in section 2: identifiers, internet activity, general location and any information you send us.
13Children's Privacy
Sound Tester is not meant for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child under 13 has sent us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
14Other Websites
Our pages link to other websites, such as health organizations, standards bodies and product makers. We are not responsible for how they handle information, so please read their privacy policies.
15Changes To This Policy
We may update this policy when our tools, services or the law change. We will change the "Last updated" date at the top and, for important changes, show a notice on the site. Please check this page from time to time.
16Contact Us
For questions about this policy or your personal information, contact us: