Plain language summary: By using ProtectHQ, you agree to these terms. We provide a zero-knowledge password manager — we cannot access your vault data. You are responsible for keeping your master password and Secret Key safe. If you lose them, we cannot recover your data. Your data is stored on Canadian servers and governed by Canadian law.

1. Who we are and what these terms cover

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of ProtectHQ, a zero-knowledge password manager operated by ProtectHQ Inc. (Corporation No. 1782225-1), a federally incorporated Canadian company ("ProtectHQ", "we", "us", "our").

By creating an account or using our service at app.protecthq.ca, protecthq.ca, or through our Chrome extension, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the service.

For questions about these Terms, contact us at hello@protecthq.ca.

2. Description of service

ProtectHQ provides a zero-knowledge password manager and digital identity protection platform. The service includes:

All vault data is encrypted on your device before being transmitted to our servers. We use zero-knowledge architecture — we cannot access, read, or decrypt your vault data under any circumstances.

3. Your account and credentials

3.1 Account registration

To use ProtectHQ you must create an account with a valid email address, master password, and Secret Key. You must be at least 13 years of age to create an account.

3.2 Master password and Secret Key — critical warning

Your master password and Secret Key are never stored on our servers. If you lose your master password or Secret Key, we have no technical ability to recover your vault data. This is not a policy choice — it is a mathematical consequence of our zero-knowledge architecture. You are solely responsible for keeping your Emergency Kit and credentials safe.

3.3 Account security

You are responsible for:

3.4 One account per person

Each account is for use by a single individual. Business and Team plans, when available, will support multiple seats within a single account. These plans are currently in development.

4. Acceptable use

You agree not to use ProtectHQ to:

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

5. Plans, pricing and payment

5.1 Free plan

ProtectHQ offers a free plan with core vault functionality. The free plan is provided as-is with no guaranteed uptime SLA.

5.2 Premium and Business plans

Paid plans are available with additional features. A Business/Team plan with multi-seat support is on the roadmap and will be announced when available. Pricing for all plans is displayed at protecthq.ca. Founding member pricing, where offered, is locked for the lifetime of your account as long as your subscription remains active.

5.3 Billing

Paid plans are billed monthly or annually in Canadian dollars. You authorize us to charge your payment method on each billing date. All fees are non-refundable except where required by applicable law.

5.4 Cancellation

You may cancel your paid plan at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. Your data remains accessible until the end of the billing period.

5.5 Price changes

We will provide at least 30 days notice before increasing prices for existing subscribers.

6. Data, privacy and Canadian residency

Your use of ProtectHQ is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

All user data is stored exclusively on servers located in Canada (AWS ca-central-1, Montréal, Quebec). Your data is subject to Canadian law, including PIPEDA. Quebec Law 25 applies to the extent you are a Quebec resident. We contractually guarantee your data never crosses the Canadian border.

You own your data. We claim no rights to your vault contents. You may export or delete your data at any time.

7. Intellectual property

ProtectHQ and its logos, including the ProtectHQ name, the "P" logo mark, Identity Drift™, and other marks are the intellectual property of ProtectHQ Inc. You may not use our trademarks without written permission.

You retain all rights to the content you store in your vault. By using the service, you grant us a limited license to store and transmit your encrypted vault data solely to provide the service.

8. Availability and uptime

We strive to maintain high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access to the service. We may perform maintenance that temporarily interrupts service. We will provide advance notice of planned maintenance where possible.

We are not liable for any losses resulting from service interruptions outside our reasonable control.

9. Disclaimer of warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the service will be error-free, uninterrupted, or free from security vulnerabilities. While we implement industry-leading security practices, no system is perfectly secure.

10. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAW, PROTECTHQ INC. AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND EMPLOYEES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF PROFITS, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION.

Our total liability to you for any claims arising from these Terms or your use of the service shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) $100 CAD.

Important: Because of our zero-knowledge architecture, we cannot recover lost vault data. We are not liable for data loss resulting from forgotten master passwords or lost Secret Keys.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless ProtectHQ Inc. and its officers, directors, and employees from any claims, damages, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your violation of these Terms or your use of the service in a manner not permitted by these Terms.

12. Termination

You may terminate your account at any time by deleting it through the app settings. Upon termination:

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, with or without notice depending on the severity of the violation. We will provide notice and an opportunity to remedy minor violations where reasonable.

13. Governing law and dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the service shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, disputes shall be submitted to binding arbitration in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, under the rules of the ADR Institute of Canada.

Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in Ontario.

14. Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email and by posting a notice on our website at least 30 days before the change takes effect. Your continued use of ProtectHQ after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

For minor changes (such as clarifications that do not affect your rights), we may update the Terms without advance notice.

15. Contact us

For questions about these Terms:

ProtectHQ Inc. (Corporation No. 1782225-1) is a federally incorporated Canadian company. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and ProtectHQ Inc. regarding the service.