◠ Halo

Terms of Service

Portsmouth Technologies LLC · Last updated September 2026

Halo
Operated by Portsmouth Technologies LLC
Last updated: September 2026
Website: https://haloconfirm.com
Contact: pardha@portsmouthai.com

These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Halo mobile application, related websites, and services (collectively, the “Service”) provided by Portsmouth Technologies LLC (“Portsmouth,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By downloading, accessing, or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Agreement to Terms; Eligibility

1.1 Binding agreement. These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and Portsmouth Technologies LLC.

1.2 Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, if higher) and capable of entering a binding contract to use the Service. The Service is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

1.3 Additional terms. Certain features may be subject to additional terms (including Apple’s Standard End User License Agreement for App Store purchases, linked in Section 8). If there is a conflict between those terms and these Terms regarding the purchase or management of a subscription through Apple, Apple’s applicable terms control for that purchase relationship.

2. Description of the Service

2.1 What Halo is. Halo is a protective mid-call check tool. During a call or similar interaction, a user may initiate a short-lived check that is signed using Face ID or another device biometric presence mechanism available on the user’s device. A safety word can then be texted to a phone number the user already trusts. The intended recipient can read the safety word back so the user can better assess whether they are interacting with someone who has live biometric presence and control of the registered phone-number path, as implemented by Halo.

2.2 Framing. Halo’s primary purpose is to help you confirm that it is really the other person—not to serve as a sender vanity feature or a “prove you’re real to impress others” product.

2.3 What Halo is not. Halo is:

2.4 No guarantee against fraud or loss; no liability for your financial decisions. Halo does not guarantee that any person is authentic, trustworthy, or free of fraudulent intent. Biometric presence checks and safety-word exchanges can be circumvented, misused, or misunderstood. You alone decide whether to trust anyone, transfer money, share information, or take any other action—including after or despite using a Halo check. Portsmouth is not responsible for financial loss, wire/ACH/crypto transfers, gift cards, social engineering, impersonation, or other harm that occurs despite, after, or in connection with use of the Service. A Halo check is not advice to pay, send, or trust.

2.5 No duty to monitor, investigate, or warn; user-initiated only. The Service is user-initiated. Portsmouth has no duty or obligation to monitor, investigate, detect, prevent, or warn you (or any third party) about fraud, scams, impersonation, social engineering, misuse of the Service, or any other harmful or unlawful activity. We do not continuously supervise calls, messages, or user conduct. Any check, safety-word exchange, or related feature occurs only when you (or another user) affirmatively initiate it through the Service as designed. Nothing in these Terms creates a special relationship, fiduciary duty, or affirmative duty to protect you from third-party wrongdoing.

3. Account Registration

3.1 Registration. To use certain features, you must register an account. Registration may involve providing a display name, verifying a phone number, and generating cryptographic keys on your device. Your private key never leaves your device. Our backend may store, for each registered user, a display name, a public key identifier (kid), the last four digits of your phone number (num4), and a salted hash of your phone number—not the raw phone number in the registry.

3.2 Accuracy. You agree to provide accurate information and to keep your account credentials and device secure. You are responsible for activity that occurs under your account to the extent caused by your failure to safeguard your device or credentials.

3.3 One account. You may not create accounts through automated means or misrepresent your identity in a way that violates these Terms or applicable law.

3.4 Account deletion. If you delete your account, we erase your registry entry from our backend as described in our Privacy Policy.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to, and not to attempt to:

We may suspend or terminate access for violations of this Section or for conduct that we reasonably believe harms users, recipients, carriers, or Portsmouth.

5. SMS / Text Messaging Program Terms

5.1 Program name. Halo SMS / Text Messaging Program (the “SMS Program”).

5.2 Primary safety-word check. The primary mid-call safety-word text is initiated from the user’s own Messages (or equivalent device messaging) so that the recipient’s number need not be stored by Halo as part of that check flow. Halo does not keep a send history of those recipient numbers.

5.3 Transactional / verification SMS. If Halo sends carrier SMS (for example, one-time passcodes or other transactional verification messages), those messages are transactional only. Recipient numbers used for such transactional SMS are not retained by Halo as a marketing or contact history.

5.4 Frequency. Message frequency varies. You may receive messages when you register or verify a number, when you initiate a check that triggers transactional SMS, or when you request help or account-related notices. We do not send marketing SMS unless you separately and explicitly consent (and we do not currently operate a marketing SMS list as part of Halo’s core product).

5.5 STOP / HELP. For SMS you receive from Halo’s transactional SMS channel (if used):

Opt-out requests are processed as promptly as practicable. You may also contact us at pardha@portsmouthai.com.

5.6 Rates. Message and data rates may apply. Check your wireless plan.

5.7 Carriers. Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Delivery is subject to your carrier’s network and your device settings.

5.8 Consent; mobile information. By providing a phone number for verification or transactional SMS, you consent to receive the related transactional messages. We do not sell mobile phone numbers or SMS opt-in data to third parties for their marketing. Consent to receive SMS is not a condition of purchase where prohibited by law, but certain account features may require phone verification to function.

5.9 Unsupported. Not all carriers or devices are supported. International messaging may be limited or unavailable.

6. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy at https://haloconfirm.com (or as otherwise linked in the app). By using the Service, you acknowledge that Privacy Policy.

7. Privacy Architecture (Service Design Summary)

Without limiting the Privacy Policy:

8. Subscriptions and Billing (Apple In-App Purchase)

8.1 Halo Pro. Paid features may be offered as “Halo Pro” or similar subscription products through Apple In-App Purchase.

8.2 Merchant of record. For App Store purchases, Apple is the merchant of record. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account. Pricing, taxes, billing cycles, free trials (if any), and renewals are presented in the App Store / subscription screen at the time of purchase.

8.3 Management and cancellation. You manage, cancel, or request refunds for App Store subscriptions through your Apple ID subscription settings, subject to Apple’s policies. Portsmouth does not process App Store card charges directly.

8.4 Apple Standard EULA. App Store subscriptions and licensed use of the app are also subject to Apple’s Standard End User License Agreement:
https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

8.5 Changes. Subscription prices and features may change; Apple and/or the App Store will present applicable pricing before you confirm a purchase or renewal where required.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Our rights. The Service, including software, design, trademarks, logos, and content we provide (excluding your content and keys that remain on your device), is owned by Portsmouth or its licensors and protected by intellectual property laws.

9.2 Limited license. Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Service for your personal, lawful purposes.

9.3 Feedback. If you send ideas or feedback, you grant Portsmouth a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to use that feedback without obligation to you.

9.4 Restrictions. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works of the Service except as allowed by law or with our prior written consent.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PORTSMOUTH DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN DISCLAIMERS; IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS, DISCLAIMERS APPLY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED.

11. Limitation of Liability

11.1 No consequential damages. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PORTSMOUTH AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, GOODWILL, OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STATUTE, OR ANY OTHER THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

11.2 Liability cap. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PORTSMOUTH’S TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO PORTSMOUTH (IF ANY) FOR THE SERVICE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM, OR (B) FIFTY U.S. DOLLARS (US $50). FOR CLARITY, AMOUNTS PAID TO APPLE FOR IN-APP PURCHASES ARE GENERALLY PAID TO APPLE AS MERCHANT OF RECORD AND MAY NOT CONSTITUTE AMOUNTS PAID “TO PORTSMOUTH”; WHERE THAT DISTINCTION APPLIES, THE US $50 FLOOR CONTROLS UNLESS APPLICABLE LAW REQUIRES OTHERWISE.

11.3 Essential purpose. THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY EVEN IF ANY REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

11.4 Carve-outs. NOTHING IN THESE TERMS LIMITS LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW (FOR EXAMPLE, LIABILITY FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT WHERE SUCH LIMITATION IS PROHIBITED, OR CERTAIN CONSUMER RIGHTS THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED).

11.5 Financial and trust decisions. Without limiting Sections 2.4 and 2.5, Portsmouth has no liability for money you send, receive, or refuse to send; for relying (or not relying) on a Halo check; or for any decision you make during a call or message exchange.

11.6 Allocation of risk. You acknowledge that Halo is a low-cost or freemium consumer tool and that the limitations in this Section are a reasonable allocation of risk and a material basis of the bargain.

12. Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Portsmouth and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your violation of these Terms or applicable law; (c) your misuse of safety-word checks or SMS features (including harassment or spam); or (d) disputes between you and any third party (including call participants or message recipients). We may assume exclusive defense at our expense; you will cooperate reasonably.

13. Termination and Suspension

13.1 By you. You may stop using the Service at any time and may delete your account where the product provides that option.

13.2 By us. We may suspend or terminate your access immediately if you violate these Terms, if we are required to do so by law, if the Service is discontinued, or if we reasonably believe continued access presents risk to users, recipients, carriers, or Portsmouth.

13.3 Effect. Upon termination, your license ends. Provisions that by their nature should survive (including Sections 9–12, 14–18, and limitations of liability) will survive.

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated Terms with a new “Last updated” date and, where required by law or where changes are material, provide additional notice (for example, in-app or by email if we have an address). Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance, except where applicable law requires affirmative consent.

15. Dispute Resolution; Binding Individual Arbitration

Please read this Section carefully. It affects your legal rights, including your right to file a lawsuit in court and to have a jury trial, to the extent permitted by law.

15.1 Informal resolution first. Before filing a claim in arbitration or small-claims court, you agree to try to resolve the dispute informally by emailing pardha@portsmouthai.com with a brief description of the dispute and the relief sought. We will attempt in good faith to resolve the matter within thirty (30) days of receiving a complete notice.

15.2 Binding individual arbitration. Except for the carve-outs in Sections 15.5 and 15.6, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Service, or the relationship between you and Portsmouth (including the interpretation, formation, performance, breach, termination, or validity of these Terms)—whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, or any other legal theory—will be resolved exclusively by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules (or successor rules), or under comparable consumer arbitration rules of another mutually agreed administrator if AAA is unavailable. The Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1–16) governs the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration agreement.

15.3 Class action waiver. YOU AND PORTSMOUTH AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims or preside over any form of representative or class proceeding, except as otherwise required by applicable law or AAA rules that cannot be waived.

15.4 Jury trial waiver. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND PORTSMOUTH WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL for any dispute subject to arbitration under this Section, and for any dispute that proceeds in court under a carve-out or if this arbitration agreement is found unenforceable as to a particular claim.

15.5 Small-claims carve-out. Either party may bring an individual action in small-claims court of competent jurisdiction for disputes that qualify for that court’s jurisdiction, instead of arbitration. This carve-out does not authorize class or representative proceedings.

15.6 Injunctive relief carve-out. Either party may seek temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to protect intellectual property rights or to stop unauthorized access to or misuse of the Service, without waiving the right to arbitrate other claims.

15.7 Process; location; costs. The seat of arbitration is New Hampshire, USA. Arbitration may be conducted by telephone, video, based on written submissions, or in person in a reasonably convenient location for you (or as the AAA rules otherwise provide). Payment of filing, administration, and arbitrator fees will be governed by the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules; where those rules require us to bear fees for consumer claims, we will do so. Each party bears its own attorneys’ fees unless the arbitrator awards fees under applicable law or the AAA rules.

15.8 Opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement (Sections 15.2–15.7 and the related waivers in this Section 15) by sending a written notice to pardha@portsmouthai.com within thirty (30) days after you first accept these Terms (or first become bound by an updated version that newly includes this arbitration agreement). Your notice must include your name, the email or phone number associated with your account (if any), and a clear statement that you opt out of arbitration. Opting out does not affect any other provision of these Terms. If you opt out, or if this arbitration agreement is found unenforceable as to you, Section 17 (Governing Law and Venue) continues to apply to the extent permitted by law.

15.9 Severability of this Section. If any part of this Section 15 (other than the class action waiver) is found unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect. If the class action waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, then that claim (and only that claim) must proceed in court and not in arbitration, subject to Section 17.

15.10 Survival. This Section 15 survives termination of these Terms and your use of the Service.

16. Limitation Period for Claims

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE MUST BE FILED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUED; OTHERWISE, SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION IS PERMANENTLY BARRED. If applicable law does not permit a one-year limitation period for a particular claim, the shortest limitation period permitted by that law for that claim will apply instead. This Section does not shorten any limitation period that applicable law makes non-waivable for consumers.

17. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Hampshire, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law principles that would require application of another jurisdiction’s laws, except that the Federal Arbitration Act governs the arbitration agreement in Section 15. Subject to Section 15 (Dispute Resolution; Binding Individual Arbitration), and subject to any mandatory consumer protections in your place of residence, you agree that courts located in New Hampshire shall have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes that are not subject to arbitration (including small-claims actions under Section 15.5, claims as to which you validly opted out of arbitration, and claims as to which arbitration is found unenforceable), and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.

18. Miscellaneous

18.1 Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect, and the unenforceable provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable. Section 15.9 controls as to the arbitration agreement.

18.2 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any Apple terms applicable to your App Store purchase, constitute the entire agreement between you and Portsmouth regarding the Service and supersede prior understandings on that subject.

18.3 No waiver. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of the right to enforce it later.

18.4 Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate reorganization, or sale of assets.

18.5 Export and sanctions. You may not use the Service in violation of U.S. export controls or sanctions laws.

18.6 Third-party services. The Service may rely on third parties (Apple, device OS biometric APIs, Cloudflare, carriers, and messaging providers). We are not responsible for third-party outages or policies except as required by law.

18.7 Headings. Headings are for convenience only.

19. Contact

Portsmouth Technologies LLC
Email: pardha@portsmouthai.com
Website: https://haloconfirm.com

For App Store subscription support, also use Apple’s subscription and report-a-problem channels.

End of Terms of Service (including SMS Terms).

See also our Privacy Policy.