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Privacy Policy
Last updated: 2 June 2026
Easy ECAD Downloader is a browser extension that helps electronics and PCB designers export KiCad-compatible symbols, footprints, 3D models, and datasheets from supported component product pages.
This privacy policy explains what information the extension can access, how that information is used, and what is or is not shared.
Easy ECAD Downloader does not collect analytics, does not track browsing activity, does not sell user data, and does not operate a developer-controlled backend service.
The extension has no built-in mechanism for sending user data to the developer, to an analytics provider, to an advertising provider, or to any other unrelated third party.
The only exception is the optional Firefox SamacSys relay feature. If the user manually configures a relay, data required for that relay request may be sent to the user-configured relay.
The extension also makes ordinary user-initiated requests to supported component-data providers when needed to fetch the ECAD files, models, metadata, or datasheets requested by the user.
Depending on the page and browser, the extension may access:
- The active supported product page when the user opens the extension popup.
- Component identifiers shown on supported pages, such as LCSC part numbers, distributor part numbers, manufacturer names, and manufacturer part numbers.
- CAD metadata returned by EasyEDA, JLCPCB, LCSC, SamacSys, Mouser, Farnell, element14, Newark, or Component Search Engine services.
- User settings stored by the extension, such as download mode, library folder name, and advanced Firefox SamacSys relay settings.
- Extension-generated KiCad symbol-library text stored locally so repeated exports can append symbols into the same library.
- In Firefox only, where the user configures the optional SamacSys relay, matching Component Search Engine cookies and optional authorization credentials may be forwarded to the user-configured relay so SamacSys downloads can work through that relay.
The extension uses this information only to provide its core functionality:
- Detecting whether the current page is a supported component page.
- Requesting available symbol, footprint, 3D model, and datasheet data from the relevant component-data provider.
- Generating KiCad-compatible output files.
- Starting browser downloads for the files selected by the user.
- Saving user preferences for future exports.
- Supporting the optional Firefox SamacSys relay flow when the user chooses to configure it.
Easy ECAD Downloader stores ordinary settings in browser extension storage. This can include:
- The selected download mode.
- The configured Downloads-relative library folder.
- The optional Firefox SamacSys relay URL.
- Whether optional credentials should be remembered on the device.
- Generated symbol-library text used for library-mode exports.
Optional SamacSys credentials or relay authorization values are intended to be stored for the current browser session by default. They are only remembered on the device when the user explicitly enables the relevant “remember” option.
Users can clear stored settings or credentials through the extension settings page, by clearing extension storage in the browser, or by removing the extension.
Easy ECAD Downloader does not sell user data.
Easy ECAD Downloader does not use user data for advertising, tracking, profiling, creditworthiness decisions, or purposes unrelated to its component export functionality.
The extension has no developer-controlled server, telemetry endpoint, analytics integration, advertising integration, account system, or remote logging system through which it could share user data with the developer or with unrelated third parties.
Data is only transmitted in the following limited cases:
- When the user requests component assets from a supported component-data provider.
- When the browser sends the network requests needed to retrieve those requested assets.
- When the user manually configures and uses the optional Firefox SamacSys relay.
Other than the optional user-configured relay, Easy ECAD Downloader does not include any mechanism designed to forward user data to an external service controlled by the developer.
To perform exports, the extension may request component CAD data, model files, ZIP archives, or datasheets from supported third-party services, including EasyEDA, JLCPCB, LCSC, SamacSys, Mouser, Farnell, element14, Newark, and Component Search Engine.
Those third-party services may receive request information necessary to return the requested component data, such as part numbers, manufacturer names, request URLs, cookies, or authorization headers where applicable.
Easy ECAD Downloader does not control the privacy practices of these third-party services. Users should review the relevant third-party privacy policies if they need details about how those providers handle requests.
Some SamacSys-backed downloads may require an optional user-configured relay in Firefox.
Easy ECAD Downloader does not host, operate, or manage this relay. If a user configures a relay, the relay is controlled by that user or by the provider they choose.
When the relay feature is used, the extension may send the relay:
- The upstream SamacSys or Component Search Engine request URL.
- Request headers needed for the upstream request.
- Matching Component Search Engine cookies, where required.
- Optional SamacSys authorization credentials, where provided.
- An optional relay authorization header, where configured.
Users are responsible for ensuring that any relay they configure is trusted, secured, and operated in accordance with their own privacy and security requirements.
The extension requests browser permissions needed to provide its functionality, including access to the active tab, downloads, storage, cookies, and supported host pages.
These permissions are used to detect supported component pages, fetch component CAD data, manage extension settings, support downloads, and enable the optional Firefox SamacSys relay flow.
The extension is designed to keep ordinary processing local to the browser where practical. Optional credentials should be treated as sensitive.
Users should not enter relay or SamacSys credentials unless they understand where those credentials will be sent and trust the configured relay.
Generated ECAD files should always be reviewed before use in production PCB designs.
This policy may be updated when the extension’s functionality, permissions, or data handling changes. The latest version should be published with the extension listing or project documentation.
For privacy or security questions, contact:
Joe Shade joe@jshade.co.uk