Terms of Service

Introduction

Homer is a privacy-first automation system that puts you in control of your data. These terms describe our agreements with you and your responsibilities as a user.

Our privacy promise

Homer works fundamentally different from cloud-based services:

  • Your data stays with you. The Homer server runs on your hardware, in your home.
  • Direct connection. You connect directly to your own Homer, not through an intermediary.
  • Local authentication. Your password is known only to your own Homer. We never see it.

The central server is only a connection broker. We cannot access your data, unless you explicitly allow it.

Your data is yours. We cannot access it, even if we wanted to.

System architecture and security

Homer provides secure remote access through a unique architecture:

Central server

  • Registration
  • Connection brokering
  • Software updates
  • Homer discovery

Your Homer server

  • Stores all your data locally
  • Controls your devices
  • Manages authentication
  • Processes all information

Security

  • Encrypted WebSocket connections
  • Passwords stored locally only
  • Direct connection after setup
  • Central server as bridge, not storage

Your responsibilities

Password security

  • Choose a strong, unique password
  • Remember your password — we cannot recover it because we don't have it
  • Protect access to your Homer server

System security

  • Ensure reasonable physical security for your Homer server
  • Keep your system up to date
  • Follow standard security practices

Network security

  • Secure your home network adequately
  • Use strong Wi-Fi passwords
  • Consider network segmentation for extra safety

Liability

We do our best to keep Homer safe and reliable, but cannot guarantee the service will always be error-free or uninterrupted. By using Homer you acknowledge:

Shared responsibility

  • Security is a shared responsibility
  • No system is completely risk-free
  • We are not liable for security incidents outside our direct control

Data

  • You are responsible for your data and its use
  • We are not liable for data loss
  • We recommend making regular backups of important data

Availability

  • The central server may be temporarily unavailable
  • Your Homer continues to work locally when the central server is offline
  • We are not liable for temporary interruptions

Data collection

Homer collects as little as possible. See our privacy policy for a complete overview.

Central server

Only what is necessary:

  • Your username
  • Your Homer's unique ID
  • Technical connection data

Your Homer server

  • All operational data stored locally
  • Temperatures, energy consumption, device status
  • Retained for up to 10 years by default, configurable

Analytics

  • Anonymized usage statistics for improvement
  • Opt-out always available
  • We never sell data to third parties

Financial services and Open Banking

Homer offers optional bank integration via Enable Banking (licensed AISP under PSD2). When using this feature:

  • You give explicit consent at your bank via Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)
  • Homer retrieves read-only information: account details, balances, and transactions
  • All financial data is stored exclusively locally on your Homer — never on the central server
  • The central server only acts as OAuth redirect during authorization
  • You can revoke access at any time via Homer or your bank
  • Consent is valid for a maximum of 90 days

See our privacy policy (section 2) for more details.

Updates and maintenance

Updates

  • Security patches
  • New features
  • Bug fixes
  • Performance improvements

Distribution

  • Updates via the central server
  • Your Homer checks regularly for updates
  • Critical security updates may be applied automatically

Termination

You can stop using Homer at any time by:

  1. Removing the Homer server from your hardware
  2. Contacting us to deactivate your account on the central server

We reserve the right to terminate service for users who:

  • Violate these terms
  • Attempt to abuse or attack our systems
  • Use Homer for illegal purposes

Changes

We may update these terms. We will inform you of material changes.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Get in touch:

Last updated: February 2026