The Connector's single purpose
The Connector identifies bibliographic metadata on the current browser page and saves references, web pages, PDFs, attachments, selected text, tags, or notes chosen by the user to the Hongdou desktop application running on the same computer. It does not fall back to an online library when the desktop application is unavailable.
Information handled by the Connector
The Connector handles only the information needed for that save workflow:
| Information | How and why it is handled |
|---|---|
| Current page URL, title, navigation, and frame information | Used in the browser to identify saveable content, update the toolbar state, and associate a save action with the correct page. The Connector does not build a general browsing-history profile. |
| Page content and bibliographic metadata | Used in the browser to identify titles, authors, publications, dates, identifiers, and related fields. Relevant data is sent to the local Hongdou desktop application only after the user initiates a save. |
| User-selected web pages, PDFs, and other attachments | Retrieved from the original website and transferred to the local Hongdou desktop application after the user initiates a save. |
| Cookies or other authentication information for the source website | Used transiently only when needed to retrieve a user-selected attachment from the same source website. The Connector does not retain cookies or send them to our servers or the Hongdou desktop application. |
| Destination collection, tags, and notes entered by the user | Used to complete the user-directed local save. |
| Connector settings, proxy settings, translator metadata/code, and diagnostic information | Stored in local browser-extension storage to retain settings, recognize references, and troubleshoot local issues. Remote error reporting is disabled. |
The Connector checks the current page during page load and navigation to determine whether recognizable bibliographic content is present and to update its toolbar icon. This processing occurs in the browser and the Connector's isolated environment and is not used for advertising, profiling, or behavioral analytics.
Where information goes
- Local Hongdou desktop applicationAfter the user initiates a save, the Connector communicates with the Hongdou desktop application on the same computer through
http://127.0.0.1:18500/. A loopback address does not route data over the internet. Saved data is then managed by the desktop application. Any cloud synchronization separately enabled by the user is governed by that application's settings and privacy policy. - The source website visited by the userThe Connector may request a user-selected page or attachment from its original URL and uses the connection method supported by that website and browser. Site cookies are used only for the matching source site.
- Our serversThe Connector does not upload page content, browsing URLs, attachments, cookies, tags, or notes to servers operated by us. It has no cloud-library fallback and sends no remote error reports.
Bibliographic translator code
The Connector obtains translator metadata and code, which recognize bibliographic structures on different websites, from the Hongdou desktop application running on the same computer. The code is not downloaded from a public developer server and is executed only in the Chrome sandbox page declared in the extension manifest. The sandbox cannot access the network directly; any necessary page request is mediated by reviewed code packaged with the Connector.
Sharing, transfers, and advertising
We do not share or transfer the information handled by the Connector except as necessary to complete a user-directed local save, comply with applicable law, or address a security incident. We do not sell it or use it for personalized advertising, retargeting, credit decisions, user profiling, or market research unrelated to the Connector's single purpose.
Our personnel do not read page content handled by the Connector. Support personnel will view only specific diagnostic material that a user deliberately provides and authorizes for troubleshooting.
Local storage and retention
The Connector retains settings, translator cache, and local diagnostic state in Chrome's local extension storage until the user clears the relevant setting, resets translators, clears diagnostics, or uninstalls the Connector. Temporary page-processing state is removed when a page closes, a browser session ends, or it is no longer needed. Data saved to the Hongdou desktop application can be viewed, changed, or deleted there.
Permissions and security
The Connector requests permissions for web pages, tabs, cookies, scripting, web requests, navigation, offscreen documents, local storage, and context menus only to recognize and save content from the current page. Clipboard write access is optional and is requested and used only after the user selects the relevant command.
We use Chrome Manifest V3, extension content-security policies, an isolated translator sandbox, and local product/protocol validation to limit code and data access. Internet requests use the protocol supported by the destination website and browser; communication with the desktop application is restricted to the same-computer loopback address.
Your choices and rights
Users can choose not to initiate a save, disable or uninstall the Connector, view and clear local diagnostics, reset translators, and manage saved data in the Hongdou desktop application. To exercise applicable access, correction, deletion, or other legal rights, contact us below.
Chrome Web Store Limited Use requirements
The Connector's use of user data complies with the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy and Limited Use requirements. Permissions and data are used only to provide or improve the single purpose described here, are not used for advertising or unrelated purposes, and are not transferred except where the policy permits and the transfer is necessary.
Changes and contact
If the Connector's data handling changes materially, we will update this policy before the change takes effect and provide notice or obtain consent when required.