In an era of data breaches, surveillance capitalism, and privacy violations, trusting any app with your family's sensitive documents requires absolute certainty about how your data is handled. KinArchive was built on a simple principle: your documents are yours, and yours alone. Here's exactly how we ensure that promise.
Our Privacy Guarantee
We cannot access your documents. We cannot sell your data. We cannot share your information. This isn't marketing—it's architecture.
These aren't choices we make—they're technical impossibilities built into how KinArchive works.
The iCloud Architecture Advantage
KinArchive stores all your documents in your personal iCloud account, not on our servers. This fundamental design decision has profound privacy implications.
What This Means for Your Privacy:
Principle 1: We Never See Your Documents
Your documents flow directly from your device to Apple's iCloud servers. They never pass through KinArchive servers because we don't have any servers for document storage.
Technical Reality: Even if we wanted to access your documents (we don't), the architecture makes it impossible. Your documents are encrypted with keys only you and Apple possess.
Principle 2: We Can't Analyze Your Content
Many "free" document apps analyze your content to sell ads or data. KinArchive's OCR processing happens entirely on your device.
Technical Reality: When you scan a passport, your iPhone's Neural Engine processes the image locally. The extracted text never leaves your device for server-side processing.
Principle 3: We Can't Sell What We Don't Have
We don't collect data to sell. We make money from subscriptions, not from your information.
Business Model: You pay us for software. We serve you, not advertisers. Your privacy is our product, not our compromise.
How iCloud Encryption Works
Understanding the technical details helps you trust the system:
Document Upload Flow
Scan on Device
You photograph a document using KinArchive. The image is processed by your device's camera and immediately encrypted.
Local OCR Processing
Your iPhone's Neural Engine extracts text from the image. This happens entirely on your device—nothing is sent to our servers or Apple's servers for analysis.
Device-Level Encryption
The document is encrypted using keys derived from your device passcode and Apple ID. KinArchive never sees these keys.
Encrypted Upload to iCloud
The encrypted document is uploaded directly to Apple's iCloud servers. During transit, it's protected by TLS encryption. At rest, it's encrypted with your iCloud keys.
Sync Across Your Devices
iCloud syncs the encrypted document to your other Apple devices. Each device decrypts it locally using keys only you control.
Comparison: KinArchive vs. Traditional Cloud Storage
Privacy Architecture Comparison
| Feature | Traditional Cloud App | KinArchive |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Location | Company's servers | Your iCloud account |
| Who Holds Encryption Keys | The company | Only you (via Apple) |
| Can Company Access Your Files? | Yes, typically | No, technically impossible |
| OCR Processing | Sent to company servers | On your device only |
| Data Portability | Export features only | Standard iCloud backup |
| Subject to Subpoenas | Yes, company must comply | Only Apple has data |
| Government Requests | Company receives and processes | Handled by Apple's legal team |
| Data Mining Potential | Possible | Impossible (no access) |
What Data KinArchive Does Collect
Transparency requires honesty about what we do collect:
Minimal Technical Data:
- Crash Reports: Anonymous diagnostics to fix bugs (opt-in)
- Basic Analytics: Feature usage statistics to improve the app (no document content)
- Subscription Status: To manage your account and billing
- Support Tickets: If you contact us for help
What We Never Collect:
- Document content or images
- OCR-extracted text
- Document metadata (names, categories, tags)
- Family member information
- Sharing relationships
- Location data
- Contacts or calendar access
The Zero-Knowledge Principle
If we don't collect it, we can't leak it, sell it, or be forced to hand it over. Zero knowledge means zero risk to your privacy.
Apple's Role in Your Privacy
By using iCloud, you benefit from Apple's industry-leading privacy practices:
Apple's Privacy Commitments:
- End-to-End Encryption: With Advanced Data Protection enabled, even Apple can't access your documents
- No Advertising Business: Apple doesn't profit from your data
- Transparency Reports: Apple publishes government data requests
- Legal Protections: Apple has fought government overreach in court
- Regular Security Audits: Independent verification of security claims
Enabling Advanced Data Protection:
For maximum privacy, enable Apple's Advanced Data Protection for iCloud:
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Tap your name at the top
- Select iCloud
- Choose Advanced Data Protection
- Follow setup instructions
With Advanced Data Protection enabled, your KinArchive documents are encrypted end-to-end. Not even Apple can decrypt them.
Data Sharing: You're in Control
When you share documents with family members, the sharing happens through iCloud's secure sharing framework:
How Sharing Works:
- iCloud to iCloud: Documents stay in Apple's ecosystem
- Permission-Based: You control who sees what
- Encrypted in Transit: Sharing uses Apple's secure protocols
- Revocable Access: Instantly remove access at any time
- No KinArchive Servers: We never intermediate the sharing
Temporary Share Links:
Even temporary sharing links maintain privacy:
- Generated using iCloud's secure link system
- Encrypted during creation and access
- Automatically expire as scheduled
- No link data stored on our servers
Compliance & Certifications
KinArchive and iCloud meet strict privacy standards:
Privacy Regulations:
- GDPR Compliant: European data protection standards
- CCPA Compliant: California Consumer Privacy Act
- COPPA Compliant: Children's Online Privacy Protection
- HIPAA Considerations: iCloud can be used in HIPAA-compliant ways
Security Certifications:
- ISO 27001 (Apple's iCloud infrastructure)
- SOC 2 Type II (Apple's cloud services)
- Regular third-party security audits
What Happens If KinArchive Shuts Down?
A question worth asking: what happens to your data if we go out of business?
The Good News:
Your documents are safe. Since everything is stored in your iCloud account:
- All documents remain accessible via iCloud
- You can download them through Files app
- Export to any other app or service
- No data is lost or held hostage
This is fundamentally different from traditional cloud services where company bankruptcy means potential data loss.
Privacy Best Practices for Users
While KinArchive is built for privacy, you can enhance security further:
Device Security:
- Use Strong Passcode: 6+ digit passcode minimum
- Enable Face ID/Touch ID: Add biometric layer
- Keep iOS Updated: Security patches are crucial
- Enable Find My iPhone: Remote wipe if device is lost
- Review Device Access: Check which devices have access to your iCloud
iCloud Security:
- Two-Factor Authentication: Required for KinArchive, but verify it's enabled
- Unique Apple ID Password: Don't reuse passwords
- Review Trusted Devices: Remove old devices from your account
- Check App-Specific Passwords: Audit third-party access
- Enable Advanced Data Protection: For maximum encryption
KinArchive Settings:
- Require Face ID on Launch: Extra protection layer
- Set Auto-Lock Timeout: Don't leave app unlocked
- Review Shared Documents: Audit who has access monthly
- Revoke Old Share Links: Clean up expired temporary shares
- Enable Audit Logging: Track all document access
Transparency & Trust
We believe privacy requires transparency. Here's what we promise:
Our Commitments
- Plain Language Privacy Policy: No legalese hiding bad practices
- Notify Before Changes: 30 days notice for any privacy policy updates
- No Hidden Data Collection: If we collect it, we disclose it
- Right to Delete: Delete your account and all associated data anytime
- Data Portability: Export your data in standard formats
- No Third-Party Tracking: No analytics or ad networks in the app
- Open Communication: Privacy questions answered promptly
Frequently Asked Privacy Questions
Can KinArchive employees see my documents?
No. Your documents are stored in your iCloud account, encrypted with keys we don't possess. Even our engineers with system access couldn't view your documents if they tried.
Can law enforcement access my documents?
KinArchive doesn't store your documents, so we can't provide them. Law enforcement would need to work with Apple and present appropriate legal process. With Advanced Data Protection enabled, even Apple cannot access your documents.
Do you train AI on my documents?
Absolutely not. We don't have access to your documents, so we can't train AI on them. OCR processing happens on your device using Apple's on-device machine learning.
What about backups?
Your documents are backed up as part of your iCloud backup. These backups are encrypted and controlled by Apple, not KinArchive.
Can you recover my deleted documents?
No, because we don't store them. iCloud provides 30-day recovery for deleted files through iCloud.com.
Privacy-First Document Management
Experience document management built on a foundation of privacy, not compromise.
Download KinArchiveQuestions about our privacy practices? Contact us at privacy@kinarchive.com