Terms and Conditions

1. Who operates this service

These Terms form an agreement between you and the operator of arkfile.net (the "Operator") concerning your use of the Arkfile service at arkfile.net (the "Service"). The Service is a hosted instance of open-source Arkfile software. Other Arkfile instances may have different operators and terms.

2. Eligibility and acceptance

You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of legal majority where you live, to create an account. By creating an account, accessing a shared file, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you use the Service for an organization, you confirm that you have authority to accept these Terms for that organization.

3. The Service

Arkfile provides client-side encrypted file storage, backup, and sharing. Encryption and decryption occur in your browser or in an independently installed Arkfile client. The server stores encrypted file data and encrypted file metadata, together with operational information needed to authenticate accounts, apply storage limits, transfer encrypted data, operate shares, maintain security, and administer billing. The Service may require administrator approval and always requires multi-factor authentication for account access.

4. Your passwords, keys, and recovery

The Operator does not receive or store your account password, custom file passwords, share passwords, Account Key, or unwrapped File Encryption Keys. The Operator cannot reset a forgotten account password or decrypt your files for you. If you lose the password used to protect a file, you may permanently lose access to that file. If you lose your second factor and backup codes, administrator-assisted multi-factor reset may be available after out-of-band identity verification, but it does not reset or recover your password. You are responsible for maintaining strong passwords, safeguarding backup codes and devices, and keeping independent backups when appropriate.

5. Accounts and security

You are responsible for activity performed through your account and for keeping your credentials and devices secure. You must promptly contact the Operator if you reasonably believe your account, share link, or device has been compromised. You may not attempt to bypass authentication, access controls, storage limits, rate limits, or security protections, or interfere with the Service or another user's use of it.

6. Files and sharing

You retain responsibility for files and other material you upload or share. You must have the legal right to store and share that material. A share can be accessed by anyone who obtains both the share URL and its password. Share identifiers and limited operational metadata can be available before a recipient enters the password, while the filename, file key, plaintext digest, and file contents remain encrypted. You are responsible for choosing strong share passwords, delivering passwords through an appropriate channel, setting expiration or download limits, and revoking shares when needed.

7. Prohibited use

You may not use the Service unlawfully or to violate another person's rights. Prohibited uses include distributing malware, facilitating unauthorized access to systems, fraud, harassment, exploitation, infringement, terrorist content, or child sexual abuse material. The Operator does not routinely inspect encrypted file contents and generally cannot do so. The Operator may act on account names, share identifiers, storage records, credible notices, court orders, or other information available to the Operator.

8. Storage, credits, and payments

The Operator may apply storage quotas, usage charges, account credits, or negative-balance limits disclosed through the Service. If manual Bitcoin, Monero, or other out-of-band payment options are offered, credit is applied only after the Operator verifies the payment and may not appear immediately. Digital-asset values and network fees can change. Unless the Service states otherwise, credits are for use only on this Service, have no cash value, and are non-refundable except where applicable law requires a refund. Additional payment-provider terms may apply if an automated payment method is offered.

9. Suspension, termination, and deletion

You may delete individual files through the Service. You may contact the Operator to request account closure. The Operator may restrict, suspend, or close an account or share when reasonably necessary to enforce these Terms, protect the Service or its users, address nonpayment, comply with law or a valid legal order, or respond to a credible abuse report. Account closure may permanently delete encrypted files and prevent later recovery. Limited billing, security, or legal records may be retained as described in the Privacy Policy or as required by law.

10. Availability and changes

The Service is provided on a best-effort basis without a guaranteed service level. Maintenance, failures, security events, provider outages, or legal requirements may interrupt access. Features, limits, storage providers, or payment options may change. The Operator will try to give reasonable notice of a material change when practical, but urgent security or legal changes may take effect immediately.

11. Open-source software and intellectual property

Arkfile software is made available under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, as identified in its source repository. That software license governs copying, modification, and distribution of the software. These Terms govern use of this hosted Service. You retain any rights you hold in your files, and you grant the Operator only the limited rights needed to receive, store, transfer, replicate, and delete encrypted data and associated operational records to provide the Service.

12. Disclaimers and limits of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Service is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties that it will be uninterrupted, error-free, or suitable for every purpose. Client-side encryption reduces particular risks but does not protect against every threat, including a compromised device, weak or disclosed passwords, malicious browser extensions, or an attacker controlling the live web origin and replacing client code. The Service has no formal security certification unless expressly stated otherwise.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Operator is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive loss, or for loss of access, data, profits, or opportunity. Where liability cannot lawfully be excluded, the Operator's total liability arising from the Service will not exceed the amount you paid to the Operator for the Service during the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded by law, including liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or death or personal injury caused by negligence, or limits mandatory consumer rights.

13. Governing rules and disputes

These Terms are governed by the law applicable to the Operator, without overriding mandatory rights you have under the law where you live. Before filing a claim, you and the Operator should try in good faith to resolve the issue through the administrator contact shown below. A court with lawful jurisdiction may hear any dispute that cannot be resolved informally.

14. Changes to these Terms

The Operator may update these Terms by publishing a revised version on this page and changing the effective date. If a change materially affects existing users, the Operator will provide reasonable notice through the Service when practical. Continued use after the revised Terms take effect constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.

15. Contact

Questions, account-closure requests, legal notices, and abuse reports should be sent to the administrator of arkfile.net.

Administrator contact: arkfile[at]pm.me / arkfile[at]tutanota.com