This policy explains what information ScanaBug (scanabug.com) collects, why, who receives it, and what choices you have. ScanaBug is owned and operated by Attique Ahmed Abbasi, an individual, who is the controller of the information described here.
1. The short version
- You do not need an account to use the identifier. We do not ask for your name, address or payment details to use it.
- Photos you upload are sent to an AI service provider to produce an identification result. We do not save your photos in our own database or file storage.
- We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how the site is used, and Google AdSense advertising may appear on the site. Both use cookies or similar technologies.
- We do not sell your personal information.
2. Information we collect
Photos you upload. When you use an identifier tool, the photo you choose is sent to our AI provider so that it can analyze the image and return a result. Please do not upload photos that show faces or other identifying features, documents or private places. If you use the Bug Bite Identifier, your photo may show your skin, so please crop it to the affected area. A photo of a bite can reveal health information, so only upload it if you are comfortable doing so. Photos can contain hidden data such as the location where they were taken. Our identifier does not use that data, but it is part of the file you choose to send.
Symptom checker answers. If you use the symptom checker on the Bug Bite Identifier, the answers you choose are processed in your browser to produce your result. They are not sent to our servers and are not saved in our database.
Information collected automatically. Google Analytics 4 collects information such as the pages you view, your device and browser type, your approximate location, how you reached the site, and identifiers stored in cookies. Our hosting provider also keeps standard server logs, which can include your IP address, browser type and the time of each request, for security and reliability.
Messages you send us. If you contact us by form or email, we receive your name, email address and message and use them to reply to you.
Advertising data. If ads are shown, Google and its advertising partners may collect information through cookies and similar technologies, as described in Section 6.
3. How we use information
- To run the identifier and return your result.
- To understand which pages are useful, and to improve the site.
- To keep the site secure and prevent abuse.
- To answer your messages and handle corrections and privacy requests.
- To show advertising that helps pay for the site.
- To meet legal obligations.
4. Who receives information
| Provider | Why | What they may receive |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI (AI identification) | Analyzes the photo you upload and returns a result | The photo you upload and technical details of the request |
| Google Analytics 4 | Measures how the site is used | Cookie identifiers, pages viewed, device, browser and approximate location |
| Google AdSense | Shows and measures advertising | Cookies, device identifiers, IP address and ad interactions |
| Hosting provider | Delivers the website | IP address, browser type and request logs |
| Email service | Delivers messages you send to support@scanabug.com | Your name, email address and message |
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with these providers, when the law requires it, or to protect the site and its users.
5. Uploaded photos and AI processing
When you upload a photo, it is sent securely to OpenAI's API for analysis. We do not save the photo in our own database or storage after your result is returned. OpenAI processes the photo under its own API terms and privacy policy, which may allow it to keep API data for a limited time for safety and abuse monitoring. We do not use your photos to train any model, and we do not sell your photos or use them for advertising.
6. Cookies and advertising
We use cookies and similar technologies for analytics and advertising. Our Cookie Policy lists them and explains how to manage them.
Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your previous visits to this site or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and other sites on the internet.
You can opt out of personalized advertising in Google's Ads Settings or at aboutads.info/choices (United States) and youronlinechoices.eu (Europe). You can learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. You can opt out of Google Analytics with Google's browser add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Opting out does not remove ads; it makes them less relevant to you.
If you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, we ask for your consent before Google Analytics or advertising cookies are used. You can change your choice at any time with the "Cookie settings" link in the footer.
7. Legal bases (EEA, UK and Switzerland)
We process information on these bases: your consent for analytics and advertising cookies; our legitimate interests in operating, securing and improving the site; and to provide the identification service you ask for when you upload a photo.
Where a photo or your answers reveal health information, we process them only because you chose to submit them to get a result. If you are in the EEA, UK or Switzerland, this is based on your explicit consent, which you give when you upload.
8. Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or receive a copy of your personal information, to object to processing, and to withdraw consent at any time. In the EEA, UK and Switzerland these rights come from the GDPR. Residents of California have rights under the CCPA and CPRA, including the right to know, delete, correct and opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information for money. Some advertising activity may count as "sharing" under California law; you can opt out through the "Cookie settings" link in the footer or in Google's Ads Settings.
To use any of these rights, email support@scanabug.com. We may need to confirm your identity, and we aim to reply within 30 days. You can also complain to your local data protection authority. We will not treat you differently for using your rights.
9. How long we keep information
- Uploaded photos: we do not keep them. The provider's retention is described in Section 5.
- Analytics data: kept for the period set in our Google Analytics account, which is no longer than 14 months.
- Messages you send us: kept as long as needed to deal with your request, then deleted or securely archived.
- Server logs: kept by our hosting provider for as long as its settings require for security and troubleshooting.
10. International transfers
Our service providers process information in the United States and other countries. By using the site you understand that your information may be processed outside your country, under the safeguards and contracts of those providers.
11. Children
ScanaBug is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, email us and we will delete it.
12. Security
The site is served over HTTPS and we collect as little personal information as we can. No system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
13. Links to other sites
Our guides link to other sites, such as university and government pages. We do not control their privacy practices. Please read their policies.
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy. The "Last updated" date above shows the latest version. If a change is significant, we will say so on this page.
15. Contact
Attique Ahmed Abbasi, owner of ScanaBug. Email: support@scanabug.com
About ScanaBug. ScanaBug is a free bug identification website created and run by Attique Ahmed Abbasi. It offers AI-assisted identifier tools and identification guides. Read more on the About page.