This policy explains how the LanternScan mobile application accesses, uses, stores, and shares data. LanternScan is developed by Impossible Labs Ltd. For privacy questions, contact us via the Impossible Labs website.
Local discovery
LanternScan listens for Bluetooth advertisements and probes devices reachable on the local Wi-Fi network. The resulting signals can include device names, local IP and MAC addresses, hostnames, advertised services, open ports, signal strength, manufacturer data, and identification guesses. By default, these signals are processed on your device and are not sent to us.
LanternScan does not require an account. This release contains no advertising SDK and no configured third-party analytics or crash-reporting provider.
Data stored on the device
LanternScan stores familiar or investigate choices, corrected device labels, onboarding state, and privacy preferences locally. Discovered-device sightings are held in memory for the current app session. Local data remains until you clear LanternScan’s storage or uninstall the app.
Optional online identification
Online identification is off by default. If you explicitly enable it, LanternScan may send mDNS service names and, when available, hostnames and MAC addresses for devices it cannot identify locally to the Fingerbank Cloud API over HTTPS. This is used only to return a more precise device identification.
Fingerbank states that submitted device data may be retained and used to improve its identification engine, is not made public, and is not associated with individual users. See the Fingerbank Privacy Agreement. You can disable online identification at any time in LanternScan’s Settings.
Permissions
- Bluetooth and nearby devices: discovers Bluetooth Low Energy advertisements and may connect to read standard device-information fields.
- Local Network on iOS: discovers and identifies devices reachable on the current Wi-Fi network.
- Location-related permission on Android: Android uses this permission for Bluetooth scanning on older versions and access to Wi-Fi metadata. LanternScan does not request or read GPS coordinates.
- Network access: performs local discovery and, only after opt-in, the Fingerbank lookup described above.
Sharing, sale, and tracking
We do not sell personal data and do not use LanternScan data for cross-app or cross-site tracking. The only off-device sharing in this release is the optional Fingerbank lookup described above.
Retention and deletion
Local LanternScan data can be deleted by clearing the app’s storage in system settings or uninstalling the app. We do not operate a LanternScan account database. Fingerbank controls retention of data submitted to its service; refer to its policy for details.
Children
LanternScan is a general-audience utility and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy when LanternScan’s features or data practices change. We will update the effective date and publish the revised policy at this same URL.