Privacy Policy

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how Schoolar+ handles information when you use the Schoolar+ Chrome extension. Schoolar+ enhances supported Google Scholar profile pages with h-index frontier analysis, Citation Pulse, publication filters, locally observed history, and related profile-analysis features.

2. Information Schoolar+ handles

To provide its features, Schoolar+ may process information displayed on supported Google Scholar profile pages, including:

• researcher/profile names and Google Scholar profile identifiers;
• citation totals, h-index, and i10-index values;
• publication titles, authors, venues, publication years, and citation counts where displayed;
• the profile relationship selected by the user, such as My Profile or an explicitly tracked profile; and
• Schoolar+ settings and locally observed snapshots used for historical comparisons. Ordinary public profiles are not automatically added to longitudinal history merely because the user visits them.

Schoolar+ does not request or collect passwords, authentication credentials, financial information, health information, private communications, or precise location data.

3. How information is used

Schoolar+ uses the information it processes only to provide and maintain its extension features, including:

• calculating and displaying h-index frontier information;
• showing citation and publication insights on Google Scholar profile pages;
• comparing locally stored snapshots and displaying observed changes through Citation Pulse;
• searching and filtering loaded publication records;
• managing the user's designated profile and explicitly tracked profiles; and
• providing user-requested backup, import, export, and data-management functions.

4. Local storage

Local data may remain available between browser sessions until the user deletes it, replaces it through an import operation, removes the extension and its associated data, or Chrome otherwise clears the extension's storage.

5. Sharing, transfer, and sale of data

Schoolar+ does not sell user data. Schoolar+ does not transfer locally stored Google Scholar citation snapshots or publication history to advertisers, data brokers, or other third parties. Information handled by Schoolar+ is used for the extension's stated purpose.

Schoolar+ does not use or transfer user data to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes.

6. User-requested exports and backups

Schoolar+ allows users to export a backup of locally stored Schoolar+ information and to import a compatible backup. Export occurs only when initiated by the user. Once a backup file has been exported, the user controls where that file is stored, copied, or shared.

7. Retention and deletion

Users can manage stored snapshots and Schoolar+ data through the Schoolar+ Dashboard. Where available, individual snapshots may be deleted without deleting the entire profile history. Users may also delete Schoolar+ data through the extension's data-management controls. Removing the extension may also remove its locally stored extension data according to Chrome's behavior.

8. Chrome permissions and site access

Schoolar+ uses Chrome's storage permission to persist settings and locally stored history. It requests access to supported Google Scholar citation-profile pages so that it can read the citation and publication information displayed there and add Schoolar+ analysis and interface elements. Schoolar+ does not request access to unrelated websites for its profile-analysis functionality.

9. Google Scholar and third-party services

Schoolar+ operates on Google Scholar pages but is independent software. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Google or Google Scholar. Your use of Google Scholar remains subject to Google's applicable terms and privacy policies.

The Schoolar+ website may contain links to external websites. Following those links is subject to the privacy practices of the destination website.

10. Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated when Schoolar+ changes its features, permissions, or data practices. Material changes will be reflected on this page by updating the effective date above. The current version of this page should describe the data practices of the currently distributed extension.

11. Contact

Schoolar+ is developed by Manuel B. Garcia. Questions about Schoolar+ or this Privacy Policy may be directed through the developer website.