Pwnagotchi Companion Privacy Policy
Educational Wi-Fi Security Tool - Privacy First
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Last Updated: January 1, 2025
About Pwnagotchi Companion
Pwnagotchi Companion is a companion application for the Pwnagotchi device - an open-source, educational, and experimental Wi-Fi network analysis tool. Our app serves as a monitoring and control interface to help users understand Wi-Fi security vulnerabilities and best practices through interaction with their personal Pwnagotchi device.
This application is designed solely for educational purposes, personal use, and ethical security research. It does not facilitate any illegal activities, unauthorized access, or malicious intent.
Information We Access and Process
Pwnagotchi Companion operates entirely within your local network and only accesses data from your personal Pwnagotchi device. Here's what information is processed:
Device Status Information
- Face Images & Screen Data: Visual representations (PNG images and ASCII art) generated by your Pwnagotchi to show its current state or "mood"
- System Statistics: Operational data including uptime, battery life, temperature, and hardware status
- Performance Metrics: Handshakes detected and other activity indicators from your device
Network Observation Data
- Access Point Information: Basic metadata of Wi-Fi networks passively observed by your Pwnagotchi (network names, signal strength, encryption types, channels)
- Important: No passwords, personal data, or sensitive network credentials are collected or displayed
- This data is equivalent to what any device with Wi-Fi capability can observe when scanning for available networks
Optional Location Data
- GPS Information: If you choose to enable this feature, location data (latitude, longitude, accuracy) may be sent from your iOS device to your Pwnagotchi
- Purpose: Provides geographical context for network observations, useful for personal security auditing
- Control: This feature requires explicit permission and can be disabled at any time
How We Handle Your Data
✓ What We DO
- Process data locally between your iOS device and Pwnagotchi
- Store connection settings (IP address, port) on your device for convenience
- Display real-time data from your Pwnagotchi device
- Request explicit permission for location services if you choose to use GPS features
✗ What We DON'T DO
- Store any data on external servers or cloud services
- Collect, transmit, or share personally identifiable information (PII)
- Access third-party network credentials or passwords
- Share your data with advertisers, analytics companies, or other third parties
- Retain data beyond the current session
Device Communication Methods
Pwnagotchi Companion connects to your Pwnagotchi device through two communication channels:
Bluetooth Tethering Connection
The Pwnagotchi Companion app connects through Bluetooth tethering via the Pwnagotchi's custom "pwnios.py" plugin, which runs a dedicated WebSocket server on port 8082. This connection method provides optimized real-time communication between the app and your device.
Standard Web API
Pwnagotchi Companion also utilizes the Pwnagotchi's default documented open-source web API (port 8080) to send commands and retrieve data such as face images (PNG files), system status, and other device information.
Both communication methods use standard HTTP/WebSocket protocols with your personal device, while connected through Bluetooth tethering.
Permissions We Request
Local Network Access
Purpose: Essential for discovering and connecting to your Pwnagotchi device on your local network
Required: Yes - core functionality depends on this
Location Services (Optional)
Purpose: Allows your Pwnagotchi to log geographical context of network observations for personal security auditing
Required: No - completely optional feature that you can enable or disable
Background Network Activity
Purpose: Maintains connection to your Pwnagotchi while the app is active, with optimized resource usage
Note: Image fetching stops in background to conserve battery
Your Privacy Rights
Since Pwnagotchi Companion operates entirely locally and doesn't collect personal data, traditional data rights like access and deletion don't apply in the usual sense. However, you have complete control over:
- Whether to grant location permissions
- When to connect or disconnect from your Pwnagotchi
- What data your Pwnagotchi observes and displays
- Deleting the app removes all stored connection preferences
Educational Use and Age Requirements
Pwnagotchi Companion is designed for educational and research purposes. Users should be at least 13 years old and understand the ethical and legal implications of Wi-Fi security research.
Important: This tool should only be used on networks you own or have explicit permission to analyze. Always comply with local laws and regulations regarding network security testing.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.
Continued use of the app after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, our data practices, or the Pwnagotchi Companion app, please contact us:
PellTech
Email: privacy@pelltech.ca
Address: 921 5 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0N9, Canada
Website: pelltech.ca
For technical support or questions about your Pwnagotchi device, please refer to the official Pwnagotchi documentation and community resources.