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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about Ethikal.

General Questions​

What is Ethikal?​

Ethikal is a privacy-focused advertising platform that gives you control over your personal data and lets you earn from its value. We track what data advertisers collect about you, show you its monetary worth, and pay you fairly when they use it.

Is Ethikal free to use?​

Yes! Creating an account, using the platform, and installing the browser extension are completely free. All core features are free to use.

How does Ethikal make money?​

We take a small platform fee (15%) from advertising auctions. The majority (80%) goes to you, and a small portion (5%) goes to publishers. We don't sell your data - we help you benefit from it.

Is Ethikal available in my country?​

Ethikal is available worldwide. Some features may be limited based on local regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.), but core functionality works globally.

Account & Sign Up​

How do I create an account?​

You can sign up using:

  • OAuth providers (Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta)
  • Email and password

See: Create Your Account

Can I have multiple accounts?​

No, one account per person. Multiple accounts may result in suspension. You can connect multiple OAuth providers to one account.

How do I delete my account?​

Go to Account Settings > Profile > Delete Account. This is permanent and cannot be undone. Platform data is deleted after 30 days.

Privacy & Security​

Is my data safe?​

Yes. We use:

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Secure authentication
  • No third-party data selling
  • GDPR/CCPA compliance
  • Regular security audits

Your browsing history never leaves your device unless you explicitly consent.

What data does Ethikal collect?​

We collect:

  • Account information (email, name)
  • Privacy preferences
  • Auction data (anonymized)
  • Platform usage (for improvements)

We DON'T collect:

  • Exact browsing history
  • Personal messages
  • Passwords (OAuth)
  • Financial information
  • Location data (unless you share it)

Can advertisers see my personal information?​

No. Advertisers only see:

  • Aggregated demographics (age range, not exact age)
  • General location (city, not address)
  • Interest categories (not specific sites)
  • Intent signals (shopping, not what for)

Your identity remains private.

How is this different from VPNs?​

VPNs: Hide your IP address and encrypt traffic, but don't stop tracking or pay you

Ethikal: Blocks trackers, shows data value, pays you, but doesn't hide your IP

They serve different purposes and can be used together.

Browser Extension​

Which browsers support the extension?​

  • Chrome (88+)
  • Firefox (85+)
  • Edge (88+)
  • Brave (1.20+)
  • Opera (74+)

Safari coming soon.

Does the extension slow down my browser?​

No. The extension is optimized for minimal performance impact. Typical memory usage is 30-50MB, and CPU usage is less than 1% when idle.

Can I use it on mobile?​

Not yet. Mobile versions (iOS Safari, Android Chrome) are in development. You can use the Ethikal website on mobile browsers.

Will it break websites?​

Rarely. If a site breaks:

  1. Whitelist specific trackers
  2. Lower privacy level
  3. Temporarily disable protection
  4. Report the issue to us

Most sites work fine with balanced privacy settings.

Privacy Score​

What is a good privacy score?​

  • 80-100: Excellent privacy protection
  • 60-79: Good, with room for improvement
  • 40-59: Fair, needs attention
  • 0-39: Poor, urgent action recommended

Average user: 68. Aim for 80+.

How often does my score update?​

Daily. Significant changes to your privacy settings or tracking behavior will reflect within 24 hours.

Why did my score go down?​

Common reasons:

  • Disabled browser extension
  • Whitelisted many sites
  • Lowered privacy level
  • Haven't been using Ethikal
  • Allowed more trackers

Check your Privacy Dashboard for details.

Can I get a perfect 100 score?​

Yes! Requirements:

  • Extension installed and active
  • Maximum privacy level
  • Blocking 95%+ of trackers
  • 2FA enabled
  • Regular privacy practices
  • All privacy features enabled

Data Value & Earnings​

How much can I earn?​

Typical ranges:

  • Casual: $5-15/month
  • Average: $15-50/month
  • Active: $50-150/month
  • Power User: $150+/month

Depends on:

  • Browsing habits
  • Privacy settings (less privacy = more earnings)
  • Demographics
  • Location
  • Engagement level

When do I get paid?​

  • Minimum payout: $10
  • Automatic: Monthly (if above minimum)
  • Manual: Withdraw anytime (if above minimum)
  • Processing: 3-5 business days

How do I get paid?​

Options:

  • Cryptocurrency (ETH, USDC) - No fees
  • PayPal - Standard fees
  • Bank transfer - Standard fees
  • Gift cards - No fees
  • Charity donation - Tax deductible

Set payment method in Account Settings.

Why am I not earning anything?​

Check:

  • Extension is installed and active?
  • Allowing some tracking (can't earn blocking 100%)?
  • Browsing enough?
  • Profile complete?

See: Data Value Overview

Do I pay taxes on earnings?​

Possibly. In the US:

  • Earnings over $600/year: 1099 issued
  • Treated as income
  • Consult tax professional

Tax laws vary by country. We provide transaction history for tax filing.

Technical Questions​

Is the code open source?​

Parts of it:

  • Browser extension: Yes (GitHub)
  • Platform: No (proprietary)

We're committed to transparency where it matters most.

What happens if Ethikal shuts down?​

Your data:

  • Can export all data
  • Earnings paid out
  • Privacy settings preserved locally

Troubleshooting​

I forgot my password​

  1. Click "Forgot Password?" on login
  2. Enter email
  3. Check email for reset link
  4. Create new password

Or use OAuth login if connected.

My extension isn't working​

Quick fixes:

  1. Refresh the page
  2. Check extension is enabled
  3. Re-authorize extension
  4. Reinstall if needed

See: Browser Extension Troubleshooting

I found a bug​

Report it:

Include:

  • What you were doing
  • What happened
  • Screenshots
  • Browser/OS

Privacy Compliance​

Is Ethikal GDPR compliant?​

Yes. We comply with GDPR and support:

  • Right to access
  • Right to deletion
  • Right to portability
  • Right to be forgotten
  • Data export

EU users have full GDPR protections.

Is Ethikal CCPA compliant?​

Yes. California users can:

  • Know what data is collected
  • Delete their data
  • Opt out of data selling (we don't sell anyway)
  • Not be discriminated against

How do I exercise my data rights?​

Access Data: Account Settings > Export Data

Delete Data: Account Settings > Delete Account

Opt Out: Privacy Settings > Opt Out of Data Sharing

Portability: Export in JSON/CSV format

Email privacy@ethikal.com for assistance.

Do you sell my data?​

NO. Never. We show you the value of your data and pay YOU when it's used. Our business model is the opposite of selling data.

Support & Contact​

How do I contact support?​

Email: support@ethikal.com (24-48 hour response)

Discord: Join our community for quick help

Twitter: @EthikalSupport for status updates

Help Center: help.ethikal.com (this site!)

What are your support hours?​

Email: 24/7 (response within 48 hours)

Live chat: Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 5 PM PT (coming soon)

Is there a community forum?​

Yes:

  • Discord server (chat, support, announcements)
  • Reddit: r/Ethikal (discussions)
  • Twitter: @EthikalApp (updates)
  • GitHub Discussions (technical)

How can I provide feedback?​

We love feedback!

Feature requests: feedback@ethikal.com or Discord

Bug reports: support@ethikal.com or GitHub

General: Any channel above

Your input helps shape Ethikal!

Getting Started​

What should I do first?​

Follow this path:

  1. Create account
  2. Install browser extension
  3. Configure privacy settings
  4. Start browsing!

How long until I see results?​

Immediately:

  • Extension blocking trackers
  • Privacy score calculated
  • Dashboard active

Within 24 hours:

  • First auction data
  • Initial earnings
  • Privacy insights

Within 1 week:

  • Good privacy score
  • Regular earnings
  • Understanding patterns

Is there a tutorial?​

Yes! Multiple ways to learn:

Guided Tour: First login shows interactive guide

Video Tutorials: YouTube.com/Ethikal

Documentation: This help center

Webinars: Monthly live sessions

Who should use Ethikal?​

Perfect for:

  • Privacy-conscious users
  • People who want control over data
  • Those interested in earning from data
  • Web3 enthusiasts
  • Anyone tired of invasive tracking

Not for:

  • People who want 100% privacy + maximum earnings (trade-off exists)
  • Those unwilling to install browser extension
  • Users not comfortable with any data sharing

Advanced Topics​

Can I use the Ethikal API?​

Yes! API access available for:

  • Reading your privacy data
  • Accessing auction history
  • Exporting analytics
  • Building integrations

Generate API keys in Account Settings.

Docs: developers.ethikal.com

Can I integrate Ethikal with other services?​

Yes! Possible integrations:

  • Privacy analytics tools
  • Personal data dashboards
  • Web3 applications
  • Research projects

Contact partners@ethikal.com for collaboration.

Is there an affiliate program?​

Yes! Refer friends and earn:

  • $5 per signup
  • 5% of their lifetime earnings
  • No limit on referrals
  • Automatic payments

Get your referral link in Account Settings.

Can businesses use Ethikal?​

Coming soon:

  • Business accounts
  • Team privacy management
  • Enterprise features
  • API access for companies

Email business@ethikal.com to join waitlist.

Still Have Questions?​

Can't find your answer?

  1. Search this help center
  2. Check Common Issues
  3. Visit our Discord community
  4. Email support@ethikal.com

Want to suggest a FAQ?

Email: docs@ethikal.com with:

  • The question
  • Why it's frequently asked
  • Suggested answer (optional)

We update this FAQ regularly based on user questions!

Last updated: December 6, 2025

Have a question not answered here? Contact us