FAQ - Hawser

Is my data stored on your servers?

Mostly no. Almost everything Hawser knows about you stays on your own computer in a local SQLite database. We only store the minimum needed to run your subscription: your email, a hashed password, your active session token, and your Stripe customer ID. Your activity history, mission notes, chat messages, and screenshots stay on your machine. See the full Privacy Policy for the exact list.

Are screenshots uploaded to the cloud?

Only when you opt in. By default, Hawser analyzes your screen entirely on your local machine. If you enable cloud AI mode (Settings → AI Mode), individual screenshots may be sent to Anthropic as part of an API request - they're processed and discarded, never retained. You can toggle this off anytime in Settings → Privacy → "Vision chat" / "Screenshot analysis". Sensitive contexts (banking apps, password fields) are auto-detected and monitoring is silently limited there regardless of your settings.

Does Hawser slow down my computer?

Not noticeably for most users. Hawser runs as a lightweight background process - typically 60-120 MB of RAM at idle and well under 1% CPU. Active screen analysis (vision mode) briefly bumps CPU when it's actually capturing, then drops back to idle. If you're running on a battery-constrained laptop or older hardware, you can lower the analysis frequency in Settings → Privacy → Monitoring.

Can I disable monitoring entirely?

Yes, anytime. There's a one-click pause from the system tray, the dashboard, and inside chat ("take a break for an hour"). You can also turn off individual monitoring features in Settings → Privacy: screen analysis, window tracking, idle detection, and the chat companion are each independent toggles. The whole app keeps running but stops observing.

Can I pause tracking for a break?

Yes - and it's the recommended way to take breaks. Tell the chat companion something like "taking lunch for an hour" or "playing games for a bit," and Hawser pauses all monitoring and nudges for that duration, then auto-resumes. You can also right-click the tray icon → Pause Monitoring for a manual pause. Hawser is built to respect breaks - it doesn't guilt-trip you for taking them.

How do refunds work?

14-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Cancel within 14 days of your first paid charge and we refund the full amount. After day 14, cancel anytime via Account → Manage Subscription; you keep access until the end of your current billing period (no proration on partial months). The $49 Partner setup fee is generally non-refundable once paid, except where required by consumer-protection law. Full details, including how to request a refund and what happens to your data afterward, are in our Refund Policy.

Does Hawser work offline?

Partially. Local monitoring, the activity feed, warnings, hard blocks, daily missions, and the on-device chat companion (in Fully Local mode) all work without internet. The cloud AI features - hosted chat, vision analysis, cloud transcription - need a connection. If your connection drops mid-session, Hawser gracefully falls back to local features without crashing.

Does Hawser work on Mac or Linux?

Not yet. Today Hawser runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). macOS support is on the roadmap - it'll come once Windows is humming and we have a critical mass of paying users. Linux is further out. Want to be notified? Sign up for the waitlist on the homepage.

Why does website blocking need administrator privileges?

Website blocking works by editing the system hosts file, which Windows protects. Apps that aren't elevated can't modify it. When you install Hawser, choose "Run as administrator" (or launch via run.bat) to enable site blocking. App blocking and time-based moderation work fine without admin - only DNS-level site blocking requires elevation.

Can I bring my own AI key instead of using your hosted service?

Yes. Settings → AI Mode → "BYOK" lets you paste your own Anthropic API key. Hawser talks directly to Anthropic with your key - we never see it. You pay Anthropic directly for usage, but you don't pay our subscription. Useful for developers who already have Anthropic credit, or anyone who wants to keep their AI usage entirely under their own control.

What if I want to delete my account and all data?

From inside the app: Settings → Data & Privacy → "Wipe all data" removes your local profile, missions, chat history, activity logs, and credentials. For your account record on our backend (email + subscription), email [email protected] and we'll delete it within 30 days. We retain only what we're legally required to (e.g. tax records for completed payments).

Frequently Asked Questions