Vula K53 Privacy Policy

The short version

Vula K53 has no accounts and no sign-up. The app sends us nothing, so we do not collect, receive or sell your personal information through it. Your progress is saved on your phone only.

The free app shows ads from Google. Google’s ad code collects some data, as explained below.

Who we are

Vula K53 (the developer of this app) is responsible for this policy. Vula K53 is an independent study app for the K53 learner’s licence test. It is not affiliated with the Department of Transport.

Contact: vulak53.app@vulak53.co.za.

What the app saves on your phone

Your licence code, test date, answers, progress, mistakes, mock exam results, streak and reminder settings. This stays on your phone, and we cannot see it. The app has no analytics or tracking code of its own.

Android backup

If backup is on in your phone’s settings, the app’s saved progress can be included in your own Google or phone backup. Then your progress can move to a new phone. We cannot read your backup.

To stop this, turn backup off in your phone’s settings. To delete a backup, use your phone’s backup settings or your Google account.

The evening reminder

It is off until you turn it on. Your phone sets up the reminder itself, and no data leaves the phone. On Android 13 and newer, Android asks for permission to show notifications when you turn it on. You can turn it off in the app or in Android settings.

Sharing

When you tap Share, your phone’s share menu opens with a short message. You choose whether to send it and to whom. The app sends nothing by itself.

Ads

The free app shows ads from Google AdMob. We ask Google for non-personalised ads for everyone, limited to ads suitable for teenagers. Google says these ads are not based on your past behaviour. Instead, they use context, such as your rough location (about city level) and the app’s content.

Google says the app shares its name and your phone’s advertising ID with Google. Google does not use that ID to choose non-personalised ads. It still uses it to limit how often you see an ad and for combined ad reports. You can reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone’s settings, and see your Google ad settings. Read more from Google: How Google uses information from apps that use its services.

What Google’s ad code collects

For ads, ad measurement and fraud prevention, Google’s ad code in the app collects these and shares them with Google: your phone’s IP address, which can show your rough location; app and ad use, such as app opens, taps and ad views; performance data, such as launch time, freezes and battery use; and your phone’s advertising ID and app set ID.

Google says this data is encrypted when it is sent. Google’s use of it is covered by Google’s privacy policy.

Google’s consent message

Before any ad loads, the app asks Google whether ads may be shown. Google shows this consent message where the law requires it, for example in Europe. If it applies to you, Settings shows Privacy choices, so you can change your answer at any time.

Young learners

The app is for people aged 16 and over who are preparing for the learner’s licence test. South Africa’s POPIA treats anyone under 18 as a child. That is one reason we collect no personal information through the app and ask only for non-personalised ads. The app is not meant for children under 13.

Where the app is offered

On Google Play, in South Africa.

Emails you send us

If you email us, we receive your email address and your message. We use them only to answer you. We delete them within 12 months after your question is answered. We never add you to a mailing list or share your email.

Our email passes through Cloudflare’s email forwarding and is kept in a Google email account.

Keeping data safe

The app keeps your progress in its own private storage on your phone, which other apps cannot read. It stays there until you delete it. The app sends nothing to us, and Google’s ad code sends its data encrypted.

This website

We add no cookies and no analytics to our website, vulak53.co.za. Cloudflare, which hosts it, receives your IP address to send you the page. Cloudflare may set a security cookie in some cases, for example to check for bots. Cloudflare says these cookies are needed for the site to work and are not used to track you.

Deleting your data

Clear the app’s storage in your phone’s app settings, or uninstall the app. This removes everything the app saved on the phone. To delete a backup, use your phone’s backup settings or your Google account. To delete an email you sent us, ask us at vulak53.app@vulak53.co.za.

Your rights

Write to us at vulak53.app@vulak53.co.za with any privacy question. You may also complain to South Africa’s Information Regulator.

Changes

If the app changes what it does with information, we will update this policy and its date.