Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 19, 2026

What Mad Lab Backup is

Mad Lab Backup is a backup tool that its developer runs on a personal computer to protect the developer's own files. It is not a public service, it has no sign-up, and it is not offered to other people. There is no Mad Lab Backup website, server or database that receives your data. The tool runs locally and talks directly to Google Drive.

It is built from two open-source programs: restic, which creates encrypted backups, and rclone, which connects to Google Drive using the "Mad Lab Backup" Google OAuth client.

What Google data it accesses

Mad Lab Backup requests one Google permission: the Google Drive drive.file scope. With this scope the app can see and manage only the files and folders it created itself. It cannot read, list, change or delete any other file in your Google Drive.

It uses that access only for backup and recovery:

• Upload encrypted backup repository files to a Mad Lab Backup folder in Google Drive.
• Retrieve those files to check the backup and to restore from it.
• Manage those files: list them, check their integrity, and remove backup data and lock files the tool itself created.

The app does not request access to Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Photos, or any other Google service.

Encryption

Backup contents are encrypted on the computer before they are uploaded, using restic's built-in AES-256 encryption. Google Drive stores only encrypted data. File contents, file names and folder structure inside the backup can't be read by Google or anyone else without the repository password.

The repository password is never uploaded or sent to anyone. It is kept locally in the computer's system keyring, and a separate recovery password is held offline by the developer.

Where data is stored

• In Google Drive: the encrypted backup repository (encrypted data, encrypted indexes, and password-protected key files). It is stored in the developer's own Google Drive account.
• On the developer's computer: the Google OAuth token that lets rclone reach Drive, kept in rclone's local configuration file. Run logs, which hold operational details such as file counts, sizes, snapshot IDs and errors. A local restic cache of encrypted repository metadata. None of this is sent to the developer or to any third party.

Sharing, selling and advertising

Google user data is not sold, not used for advertising, and not shared with anyone. It is not used to build profiles and it is not used to train AI or machine-learning models. No analytics or tracking is built into the tool.

Mad Lab Backup's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

Data retention and deletion

• Backups are kept until the developer deletes them. No automatic retention or pruning policy is currently configured, so the tool does not delete old backups on a schedule.
• When backup files are deleted from Google Drive through the tool, they go to Google Drive's Trash by default. Google Drive then manages the Trash under its own rules.
• The backup files can also be deleted at any time directly in Google Drive, from any device signed in to the account.
• The OAuth token stays in the local rclone configuration until it is removed there or access is revoked (see below).
• Local run logs and cache stay on the developer's computer until the developer deletes them.

Revoking access

You can remove Mad Lab Backup's access to Google Drive at any time from your Google Account's Third-party apps & services page (Security → Your connections to third-party apps & services). After you revoke access, the app can no longer reach Google Drive.

Revoking access does not delete the backup files that are already in Google Drive. To remove them, delete the Mad Lab Backup folder in Google Drive.

No Google endorsement

Mad Lab Backup is an independent personal project. It is not affiliated with Google, and Google has not verified or endorsed it.

Changes to this policy

If the way Mad Lab Backup uses Google data changes, this page will be updated and the "Last updated" date above will change.

Contact

Questions about this policy or about Mad Lab Backup: mudmantim@gmail.com.