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Frequently asked questions

These are the questions people ask about Forestorers.org itself: what it is, where your data lives, what it costs, and how the private community features work. Questions about restoration as a practice are answered on the dedicated pages, linked at the bottom.

What is Forestorers.org?

A private journal for tracking foreskin restoration. You log your Coverage Index, tugging and retaining sessions, and progress photos, and the app shows your change over time with charts, comparisons, and a timeline. It runs entirely in your browser, works offline, and needs no account. If you want it, there's an optional end-to-end encrypted network for connecting with restoration buddies.

Is it really free? What's the catch?

It's free. No ads, no trackers, no analytics, no data selling, nothing to upsell. It's open-source software released under the AGPL licence. It's one person building this in their spare time, so new features show up when they show up.

Where is my data stored, and is it private?

Everything you record stays in your own browser on your own device, in local storage the app controls. There's no user database on our servers and no copy of your journal anywhere else. If you set a password, your entries and photos are encrypted on your device, so even someone with access to the files can't read them. Don't take my word for any of this. The verify page walks you through confirming it yourself with your browser's own tools.

Can you see my photos or journal?

No. Your journal never reaches us, so there's nothing for us to look at. The only time data leaves your device is if you turn on the community features, and even then it's encrypted on your device before it's sent, so the relay that passes it along only ever handles unreadable ciphertext. We can't decrypt it.

What happens if I clear my browser or lose my device?

Because your journal lives in your browser, clearing your browser data or losing the device would take it with it. This is the flip side of storing nothing on a server. Protect against it in any of three ways: use Export Backup in the app to save an encrypted file, pair a second device so each holds a full copy, or, on desktop Chrome and Edge, set up an automatic backup file that the app keeps written to your disk. The app also warns you if your browser hasn't promised to keep the data permanently.

Can I use it on my phone? Can I install it? Does it work offline?

Yes to all three. It runs in any modern mobile or desktop browser, and you can install it to your home screen as an app (on iPhone, use Share then "Add to Home Screen"; installing also protects your data from Safari's automatic cleanup). After the first visit it works fully offline, on a plane or with the connection off. You can even download the whole app from Settings and run it from a folder on your computer with no internet at all.

Do I need to make an account?

No. There's no sign-up, no email, no password reset, no account of any kind. You open the app and start. The optional password you can set is only to encrypt your data on your device; it isn't an account, and if you forget it there's no way to recover it. We never have a copy.

What are the community features?

Optional ways to connect with other restorers for encouragement and progress sharing. If you go Public, you show up in the Restorer Network, where other public restorers can see your emoji and name and send you a text-only message request. To become buddies, you swap a one-time identity code with someone you trust, and after that your devices sync directly, encrypted specifically for that pair. You can chat, send a bit of encouragement on a session, and share as much or as little of your journal and photos as you choose. It's off until you turn it on.

Do I have to use the community features?

No. Everything works solo: the journal, tracking, photos, charts, comparisons, and timeline all work with no connection and no other people involved. Buddies are there if you want them.

Can I control what a buddy sees, and is it safe?

You control it per buddy. Basic stats like your Coverage Index and device list are shared once you connect; photos are only shared if you choose to, and you can allow just your latest photo, your full history, or nothing, and decide separately whether they may keep a copy. Shared photos are watermarked with the recipient's code so a leak can be traced. Anyone who can see a photo can screenshot it. Only share with people you trust. You can disconnect and have your data erased from their device at any time.

Can strangers find me or message me?

Only if you opt in. By default you're not listed anywhere. If you choose to appear in the optional public "restorer network," others can send you a buddy request, which you can accept, ignore, or block. Nobody can message you or see your data without you first accepting them as a buddy.

How do I move my journal to a new device?

Two ways. Pair the two devices in Settings and they sync automatically, keeping both up to date going forward. Or use Export Backup on the old device and Import Backup on the new one to move everything across in a single encrypted file. Backups are also the safe way to keep an archive independent of any one device.

Is it open source? Can I verify the privacy claims?

Yes. The app ships as readable, unminified source, so what your browser downloads is exactly what runs, and it's released under the AGPL licence. Don't take my word for it. The verify page shows you how to check: watch the network tab, run it offline, inspect your own stored data, and read the code. If you ever find behaviour that contradicts what we say, that's a serious bug and I want to hear about it.

And restoration itself?

The practical questions have their own pages:

Still stuck on a term? The glossary explains CI, RCI, tugging, retaining, dartos, dekeratinization, KOT, and the rest.