What 4Search collects, and what it does not
On this page
This page follows the Privacy Policy and describes what 4Internet, LLC says it processes when you use a 4Search site. It stays close to the policy's own statements and adds nothing to them.
#What the site processes
| When | What is processed | Why the policy says |
|---|---|---|
| You search | The words you type, the filters you set, the tab and the page of results you ask for. A query may reveal sensitive interests, such as health or finances. | To return the results you asked for |
| Any page or request | Technical information: the IP address, browser details (user agent), the page that referred you and ordinary connection information. Of the referring page, only the site's name is kept (for example, google.com), never the rest of its address. | To route requests, prevent abuse, keep the site available and keep necessary business records |
| Links that carry campaign tags | The tags, with the referring site's name | To count, in aggregate, how visitors reach the site, and never to profile a visitor |
| Each page view | A small report from the page: screen and window size, whether you used a mouse, touch or keyboard, how far you scrolled and how long the page was open, among other signals | To tell people from automated software. The policy says nothing is stored in your browser for this and no pointer positions are recorded |
| You use a contact or privacy form | Your name, email address, any optional details, your message, and with it your IP address, browser details, the page you came from and the security code you entered | To respond, keep business records and prevent abuse |
| You choose a privacy option | Your choice, kept in your browser | To remember it |
| You allow AI answers | Your question and selected result context, sent to the AI provider named in the AI Transparency Notice | To generate the answer. See How AI answers use your question |
| Google results load | Google processes the query, the page address, the IP address and browser details | To return Google-hosted results. See Google search results and your privacy |
| You follow a store link in Shopping | The product and store, your search words, the page and position of the link, the site and the time. No cookie or identifier is set for it, and it does not include your IP address | To match a store's commission report to the click |
#What the policy says the site does not do
- It does not require an account for ordinary searches.
- It does not use search queries to create individual profiles, infer sensitive characteristics, determine eligibility or make decisions with legal or similarly significant effects.
- The current application does not use canvas, WebGL or comparable browser fingerprinting, and does not read inventories of your plugins, fonts, hardware, network, time zone or language.
- It does not sell personal information for monetary consideration.
- It does not intentionally collect government identification numbers, payment-card data, passwords, medical records or precise geolocation through its public forms. The forms ask you not to send them.
- Its commercial data products, which are licensed separately, do not include identifiable consumer search histories collected by the current application.
#How long records are kept
| Record | How long, according to the policy |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure and security logs | Ordinarily no more than 30 days, unless an incident, a legal obligation or an investigation needs longer |
| General and advertising messages | Up to 24 months after the matter is resolved |
| Privacy-rights and legal request records | Up to 36 months after final resolution, or longer when required |
| AI answer cache | Off by default. If an operator turns it on, it stores the question text and the answer |
| Your privacy choices | In your browser, until you change them or clear site data |
| Saved preferences | In your browser, until you remove them, turn the choice off or clear site data |
For the application's own operational request records, the policy lists what is recorded but not a number of days. It describes them as kept for security, abuse prevention, diagnostics and service operation. Section 7 of the policy has the exact wording.
#Who else receives information
The policy names these groups:
- Service providers for hosting, content delivery, security, databases and communications, under contractual restrictions.
- Google, for the Google-hosted results.
- The AI provider, only if you allow AI-assisted answers.
- Retailers and sites you choose to visit. When you select an external or affiliate link, your browser goes to that site, which handles information under its own terms.
- Legal and safety matters. Information may be disclosed when needed to comply with law or valid process, protect rights or safety, or establish or defend legal claims.
- Corporate transactions, such as a merger or sale, subject to legal requirements.
4Internet operates from the United States, so information may be processed in the United States and in other places where an authorized provider operates.
#Sensitive and health-related searches
A health-related search can count as "consumer health data" under some state laws. The separate Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy explains how 4Search treats it and what rights you have.
#Your rights
You can ask what the site holds about you, ask for correction or deletion, opt out of sale or sharing, or appeal a decision. See Make a privacy request.
#Common questions
Does 4Search know who I am when I search?
You do not sign in, so a search is not tied to an account. The site does record technical information such as the IP address with each request, for the purposes listed above.
Are my health searches treated differently?
They are processed like other searches, and the policy says they are not used to build profiles. A separate notice, the Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy, describes your rights. See the link above.
How can I find out if the site holds something about me?
Use the Privacy Request Form and choose Access or know. See Make a privacy request.