Privacy Statement

Last updated: May 10, 2025

Introduction

AnduinOS is a free and open-source Linux distribution based on Ubuntu.
We are committed to protecting your privacy.
This document explains how AnduinOS handles user data, clarifies its technical design regarding privacy, and outlines considerations related to upstream components.

1. Data Collection by AnduinOS

AnduinOS itself does not collect, transmit, or store any user data.

  • All system operations, configurations, and user activities take place locally on your own device ("local execution").
  • AnduinOS does not include any telemetry, analytics, advertising, tracking, or behavior profiling mechanisms.
  • There are no hidden background processes or network communications initiated by the system for the purpose of gathering user information.

Thus, AnduinOS is fundamentally privacy-preserving by design.

2. Why Local Execution Matters

Local execution means that all features and services of AnduinOS are performed entirely on your computer, without requiring communication with any external servers owned by us or third parties.
This ensures:

  • Control: You retain complete control over your personal data.
  • Transparency: No data leaves your machine without your explicit action.
  • Security: Reducing external communications limits exposure to interception or exploitation risks.

In a world where remote telemetry has become ubiquitous, AnduinOS deliberately minimizes external dependencies to protect users.

3. Open Source Guarantees Your Freedom

AnduinOS is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-v3).
This license guarantees:

  • Freedom to inspect: You can review the source code to verify there are no hidden tracking mechanisms.
  • Freedom to modify: You can adjust the code to suit your needs, including removing any components you distrust.
  • Freedom to redistribute: You can share AnduinOS, either modified or unmodified, under the same license terms.

The open nature of AnduinOS empowers users to independently verify that the system respects their privacy.
There are no proprietary blobs or closed modules outside of upstream dependencies explicitly inherited from Ubuntu.

4. Upstream Software and Privacy Considerations

While AnduinOS itself does not collect any data, it integrates a wide range of upstream open-source software originating from Ubuntu, Debian, GNOME, Flathub, and other sources.
(Some examples and references can be found here).

Some upstream components may have independent data collection mechanisms.
Notably:

  • Canonical Ltd. (Ubuntu's developer) may collect certain system information for statistics and diagnostics purposes via tools like:
    • ubuntu-report
    • popularity-contest
    • Snap store background services (if Snap is manually installed by users)

We strongly recommend users review Canonical's Privacy Policy for details.

AnduinOS does not modify, enhance, or introduce additional telemetry into these upstream components.
It merely redistributes them in their original, unmodified state.

5. How to Handle Potential Ubuntu Telemetry

AnduinOS does not preinstall any telemetry-related packages such as:

  • popularity-contest
  • ubuntu-report
  • apport
  • whoopsie
  • Snap daemon
  • Canonical Livepatch service

Thus, by default, AnduinOS does not participate in any system reporting, usage statistics submission, or automated crash reporting.

However, if you manually install packages from Ubuntu repositories or enable certain Ubuntu-specific features, some of these telemetry mechanisms may be introduced.

To ensure full opt-out, you can review and, if necessary, remove these packages using:

sudo apt remove popularity-contest ubuntu-report apport whoopsie
`

Explanation:

  • popularity-contest: Periodically submits anonymous package usage statistics.
  • ubuntu-report: Collects basic hardware and software details at installation time.
  • apport & whoopsie: Automated error reporting services.

Note: If these packages are not installed (as is the case with a clean AnduinOS installation), no action is required.

AnduinOS is committed to keeping your installation clean and telemetry-free by default.

6. Responsibility Clarification

  • AnduinOS is a community-driven, non-profit project maintained in spare time by volunteers.
  • AnduinOS does not have a data collection infrastructure and does not share any information with governments, corporations, or any third parties.
  • For privacy concerns related to third-party applications, please refer to their respective upstream privacy policies.

7. Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Statement or AnduinOS's privacy practices, please contact: