Privacy Policy
Last Updated: April 20, 2026
Introduction
Focus New Tab ("we", "our", or "the extension") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our Chrome extension.
Information We Collect
Focus New Tab is designed with privacy as a priority. The extension collects and stores the following data locally on your device only:
Data Stored Locally
- Extension Settings: Your preferences for features (quick access icons, bookmarks bar visibility)
- Proxy Configuration: The image proxy URL you configure (default: wallpapers.newtabextension.com)
- Optional API Key: If you choose to add a Pexels API key as a fallback, it is stored locally
- Photo Pool Cache: URLs and metadata of background images to avoid repeated API calls
- Bookmarks (Optional): When you enable the bookmarks bar feature, the extension accesses your Chrome bookmarks to display them. This data is read-only and never transmitted
Data We Do NOT Collect
- We do not collect your search queries
- We do not track your browsing history
- We do not collect personally identifiable information (PII)
- We do not use analytics or tracking tools
- We do not store cookies beyond what Chrome requires for extension functionality
How We Use Information
All data stored by Focus New Tab remains on your local device and is used solely for:
- Extension Functionality: Storing your preferences and settings
- Background Images: Caching wallpaper URLs to reduce API requests
- Bookmarks Display: Reading your bookmarks when you enable the bookmarks bar feature
We never transmit your personal data, settings, or browsing information to any external servers.
Third-Party Services
Focus New Tab integrates with the following third-party services:
Pexels API (via Proxy)
Background images are fetched from Pexels through our HTTPS proxy server (wallpapers.newtabextension.com). The proxy:
- Requests nature-themed photos from the Pexels API
- Does not log or store your IP address or any identifying information
- Does not track which images you view
- Operates solely to fetch and relay images to your browser
If you configure a direct Pexels API key as a fallback, requests go directly to Pexels and are subject to Pexels' Privacy Policy.
Google Services
Focus New Tab uses Google services for:
- Favicon API: Fetching site icons for the quick access grid (from www.google.com/s2/favicons)
- Search: When you perform a search, queries are sent to Google Search (or your default search engine)
These interactions are standard browser behavior and subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
Data Security
Since all extension data is stored locally in your Chrome browser using the Chrome Storage API, security depends on:
- Your device's security measures
- Chrome's built-in security protections
- Your Google account security (if you sync Chrome data)
Our proxy server uses HTTPS (TLS encryption) to ensure secure transmission of wallpaper images.
Permissions Explained
Focus New Tab requests the following Chrome permissions:
Required Permissions
- storage: To save your settings and preferences locally
- Override new tab page: To replace Chrome's default new tab with Focus New Tab
Optional Permissions
- bookmarks: Only requested when you enable the bookmarks bar feature. Allows read-only access to display your bookmarks
Host Permissions
- wallpapers.newtabextension.com: To fetch background images from our proxy
- api.pexels.com: Fallback for direct Pexels API access if you configure a key
- www.google.com: To load favicon icons for quick access sites
Data Retention and Deletion
You can delete all extension data at any time:
- Clear Settings: Use the "Clear fallback key & cache" button in extension options
- Uninstall Extension: Removing the extension from Chrome deletes all locally stored data
- Chrome Storage: You can manually clear extension storage via Chrome's developer tools
Children's Privacy
Focus New Tab does not knowingly collect any information from children under the age of 13. The extension is designed for general audiences and does not target children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Continued use of the extension after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Open Source
Focus New Tab's source code is available for review on GitHub. We encourage transparency and welcome community scrutiny of our privacy practices.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
- Email: privacy@example.com
- GitHub: Open an issue
Summary
In short:
- ✅ All your data stays on your device
- ✅ We don't track, collect, or sell your information
- ✅ Background images come from Pexels via our secure proxy
- ✅ No analytics, no tracking, no ads
- ✅ You can delete all data by uninstalling the extension