What the app stores locally
Helios keeps a small amount of information in your browser so the experience stays fast and configurable.
- Theme & accent. Your light/dark mode and accent choice.
- Recent searches. Up to 25 recent queries to speed up follow-up searches.
- AI settings (optional). Provider choice, endpoint, model, and API key.
You can clear this at any time in your browser storage settings.
What moves across the network
Search requests
Queries go from your browser to the Helios server, then on to search providers.
Provider visibility
Search engines only see the server IP, not your personal IP.
Result clicks
When you open a result, that destination site receives your IP like any normal website.
AI requests
Server AI uses the server IP. Custom AI providers receive requests directly from your browser.
What we do not do
- No cookies or server-set identifiers.
- No analytics scripts or tracking pixels.
- No third-party fonts, scripts, or beacons on the app UI.
- No accounts or sign-in flow.
Logs & retention
The backend does not store a database of your searches. It may log queries to stdout for debugging.
Hosting providers can retain logs according to their own policies.
Your controls
- Clear local data via your browser storage settings.
- Disable custom AI providers in Settings at any time.
- Self-host Helios to keep infrastructure and logs under your control.
If you want a high-level overview, read the About page.