Privacy Policy

Your privacy is not a feature — it's a foundation.

Last updated: January 15, 2025 ~10 min read

1. Overview

PDF Size Reducer ("we", "our", or "the Service") is operated by PDF Size Reducer Technologies. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information about users ("you") who access our website at pdfsizereducer.com and use our online PDF tools.

We are committed to full transparency. This document is written in plain language — not deliberately vague legal jargon. If something is unclear, please contact us directly.

PDF Size Reducer does not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party. We do not use your uploaded files for advertising purposes. We do not train AI or machine-learning models on your document content.

By using PDF Size Reducer, you agree to the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

PDF Size Reducer is designed to be used without an account. In most cases, you provide only the files you wish to process. However, if you contact us via our contact form or subscribe to our newsletter, we collect:

  • Your name and email address (contact form / newsletter only)
  • The subject and content of your message
  • Any information you voluntarily include in your communication

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit PDF Size Reducer, our servers automatically record certain technical information:

Data TypePurposeRetention
IP addressSecurity, abuse prevention, geographic analytics30 days in logs
Browser type and versionCompatibility improvementAnonymised after 24 hrs
Pages visited and timestampsUnderstanding traffic patternsAggregated, 12 months
Referring URLUnderstanding how users find usAggregated, 12 months
File type and sizeCapacity planning (not linked to you)Aggregated only

We do not collect or store the content of your uploaded files beyond what is required for processing (see Section 3).

2.3 No Account Data

Because PDF Size Reducer does not require registration, we do not hold account records, passwords, profile data, or usage history linked to individual users.

3. How We Handle Your Uploaded Files

This section is the most important part of this Policy for most users, because it explains exactly what happens to your documents.

3.1 Upload and Transfer

All file uploads are transmitted over HTTPS using TLS 1.3 encryption. Files travel directly from your browser to our servers — there is no intermediate third-party storage step.

3.2 Server-Side Storage

Your file is saved to a private, isolated directory on our servers. Each file is assigned a randomised, cryptographically generated identifier. This identifier is not guessable and is not linked to your identity or IP address in any stored record.

The directory containing your file is not publicly accessible. It is not indexed by search engines. It cannot be accessed via a direct URL. Only our processing software — not human staff — can read the file during the processing window.

3.3 Processing

Your file is processed by automated software on our servers. For merge operations, multiple files are combined. For compression, image quality and redundant data are reduced. For split operations, pages are separated. At no point does a human employee access, view, or interact with your file content.

3.4 Deletion

Your original uploaded file(s) and the processed output are permanently deleted from our servers the instant you click Download. If you do not download within 60 minutes of processing, both files are automatically deleted by a scheduled cleanup job. There is no archive, no backup copy, and no recovery after deletion.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

PDF Size Reducer uses a minimal set of cookies. We do not use cookies for advertising or behavioural profiling. For full details, please read our Cookie Policy.

4.1 Essential Cookies

We use session cookies to maintain your upload state across the three-step tool workflow (Upload → Organise → Download). These cookies are strictly necessary for the service to function and are automatically deleted when you close your browser.

4.2 Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics (with IP anonymisation enabled) to understand aggregate traffic patterns — which tools are most used, which pages are visited, and general geographic distribution. This data is never linked to individual users. You may opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

4.3 Advertising Cookies

PDF Size Reducer displays advertisements provided by Google AdSense to fund the free service. Google may place cookies to serve contextually relevant advertisements. You can review and control Google's advertising preferences at adssettings.google.com.

5. Third-Party Services

PDF Size Reducer integrates a limited number of third-party services. Each is listed below with its purpose and a link to its own privacy policy:

ServicePurposeData SharedPrivacy Policy
Google AnalyticsWebsite analyticsAnonymised IP, page URLspolicies.google.com
Google AdSenseAdvertisingCookie data for ad targetingpolicies.google.com
CloudflareCDN, DDoS protectionIP addresses in transitcloudflare.com

We do not use any third-party service that receives or processes the content of your uploaded PDF files.

6. Data Security

We take the security of your data seriously and implement the following measures:

  • All data in transit is encrypted using TLS 1.3
  • Server storage is encrypted at rest using AES-256
  • Our infrastructure is hosted on a SOC 2 compliant cloud provider in the European Union
  • Access to server infrastructure is restricted by multi-factor authentication and role-based access control
  • We perform regular security updates and dependency audits
  • File directories are isolated and inaccessible from the public internet

No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we implement industry-standard safeguards, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain different categories of data for different periods based on their purpose:

  • Uploaded files: Deleted immediately on download, or within 60 minutes if not downloaded
  • Server access logs: Retained for 30 days for security purposes, then automatically purged
  • Contact form submissions: Retained for up to 12 months to resolve your query, then deleted
  • Newsletter email addresses: Retained until you unsubscribe
  • Aggregated analytics data: Retained for up to 26 months in anonymised form

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right of Access: You may request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
  • Right to Rectification: You may ask us to correct inaccurate personal data
  • Right to Erasure: You may request that we delete your personal data
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit how we use your data
  • Right to Data Portability: You may request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
  • Right to Object: You may object to processing based on our legitimate interests
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@pdfsizereducer.com. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.

9. Children's Privacy

PDF Size Reducer is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify users via a notice on the website. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. Continued use of PDF Size Reducer after changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us: