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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - ProfileScan

Welcome to the comprehensive FAQ for ProfileScan. This document covers everything from basic usage to advanced technical details.

📚 Table of Contents

  1. General Information
  2. Getting Started & Installation
  3. Features & Functionality
  4. Search & Accuracy
  5. Privacy & Security
  6. Troubleshooting
  7. Customization & Settings
  8. Data & Export
  9. Legal & Licensing
  10. Development & Technical

1. General Information

  1. What is ProfileScan? ProfileScan is a universal social media profile viewer that checks for the existence of a username across 200+ platforms.

  2. Is ProfileScan free to use? Yes, it is completely free for personal use.

  3. Who created ProfileScan? ProfileScan was created by Riyajul Ali (Aliriyaj007).

  4. Do I need to create an account to use it? No, ProfileScan requires no sign-up, login, or account creation.

  5. Is there a mobile app available? There is no native mobile app, but the web version is fully responsive and works like a PWA (Progressive Web App).

  6. Can I use it on a tablet? Yes, the interface adapts perfectly to tablet screens.

  7. Does it work on all browsers? It works on all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave).

  8. Is an internet connection required? Yes, an active internet connection is needed to check the platforms.

  9. How many platforms does it support? It currently supports over 200 social media platforms and websites.

  10. Is this tool legal? Yes, as long as it is used for personal purposes (like auditing your own footprint) and not for harassment or commercial background checks.

2. Getting Started & Installation

  1. How do I run ProfileScan? You can use the hosted web version or run it locally on your machine.

  2. Where is the hosted version? It is available at aliriyaj007.github.io/ProfileScan.

  3. How do I install it locally? Clone the GitHub repository and open index.html.

  4. Do I need to install Node.js? For the most accurate results (bypassing CORS), yes, you need to run the included Node.js server.

  5. How do I install dependencies? Run npm install in the project directory using your terminal.

  6. How do I start the local server? Run npm start in the terminal.

  7. What port does the server use? It runs on port 3000 by default.

  8. Can I run it without the server? Yes, but results will be simulated or less accurate due to browser security restrictions (CORS).

  9. Does it work on Windows? Yes, fully supported.

  10. Does it work on macOS/Linux? Yes, fully supported.

3. Features & Functionality

  1. What is the "Compare" feature? It allows you to compare the digital footprint of two different usernames (feature in development).

  2. What are "Themes"? You can change the look of the app. We offer 7 premium themes like Dark, Sunset, and Cyberpunk.

  3. Does it have Dark Mode? Yes, there is a dedicated Dark Mode toggle.

  4. Can I save my platform selection? Yes, you can save your current selection as the default for future searches.

  5. What is "Quick Search"? It populates the username field with a demo name ("john_doe") to test the app instantly.

  6. What does the "Show Icons" toggle do? It shows or hides platform logos in the list to save space.

  7. What is "Privacy Mode"? It blurs the username and results on the screen, useful if you are using the tool in a public place.

  8. Does it save my search history? No, ProfileScan does not keep a persistent history of your searches for privacy reasons.

  9. Can I select all platforms at once? Yes, use the "Select All" button.

  10. Can I select only popular platforms? Yes, the "Top 50" button selects the most popular sites.

4. Search & Accuracy

  1. Why do I see "Not Found" when I know the profile exists? This can happen due to anti-bot protections or if the local server is not running.

  2. Why do I see "Found" but the profile is empty? Some sites return a "success" code even for empty profile pages (Soft 404). We try to filter these but some slip through.

  3. Does it case-sensitive? Most platforms are case-insensitive, but ProfileScan sends the username exactly as typed.

  4. Can I search for email addresses? No, ProfileScan is strictly for username searches.

  5. Can I search for real names? No, it only works with username handles (e.g., "jdoe" not "John Doe").

  6. How fast is the search? It depends on your internet connection, but usually finishes in under 10 seconds.

  7. Does it search hidden/private profiles? No, it can only find public profiles.

  8. Can it search deleted accounts? No, deleted accounts will return "Not Found".

  9. Does it work with special characters? It encodes special characters, but many platforms do not support them in usernames.

  10. Why are some results yellow/orange? This usually indicates an error or a timeout connecting to that specific platform.

5. Privacy & Security

  1. Does ProfileScan steal my data? Absolutely not. It is a client-side tool.

  2. Where is my data stored? Settings are stored in your browser's localStorage.

  3. Does it use cookies? It does not use tracking cookies.

  4. Is my IP address logged? The app itself does not log IPs. However, the platforms you visit (e.g., Facebook) will see your IP request.

  5. Can anyone else see my searches? No, unless they have physical access to your device.

  6. How do I delete my data? Click the "Reset Data" button in settings or clear your browser cache.

  7. Does it connect to a central database? No, there is no central database of users.

  8. Is the connection encrypted? If you use the HTTPS hosted version, yes. Local version details depend on your setup.

  9. Can I use a VPN with it? Yes, and it is recommended for better privacy.

  10. Will platforms ban my IP? If you search excessively fast, some platforms might temporarily rate-limit your IP.

6. Troubleshooting

  1. The search is stuck at 0%. Check your internet connection or try restarting the page.

  2. I get "Connection Failed" errors. Ensure the local Node.js server is running (npm start).

  3. The "Export" button doesn't work. Ensure you have allowed pop-ups or file downloads in your browser.

  4. I can't open the settings menu. Try refreshing the page (Ctrl+R or F5).

  5. The layout looks broken. Ensure you are using an updated version of a modern browser.

  6. "npm start" fails with an error. Make sure you ran npm install first.

  7. I see "Error: Cannot find module express". Run npm install express cors axios to fix missing dependencies.

  8. Why does it say "Accuracy Disclaimer"? To remind users that automated tools are never 100% perfect.

  9. Can I run this on a Chromebook? Yes, via the web version.

  10. Does it work behind a corporate firewall? Firewalls may block connections to social media sites, affecting results.

7. Customization & Settings

  1. How do I change the theme? Go to Settings > Theme Selection.

  2. Can I create my own theme? Not via the UI, but you can edit the CSS variables in index.html.

  3. How do I add a custom platform? Use the "Add Custom Platform" feature in Settings (saved locally).

  4. Can I remove specific platforms? You can simply uncheck them in the list.

  5. How do I reorder platforms? Currently, you cannot reorder them; they are sorted by category/popularity.

  6. Can I change the default search settings? Yes, toggle options in Settings and they autosave.

  7. Does it support other languages? Currently, the interface is English-only.

  8. Can I disable animations? No dedicated toggle yet, but "Privacy Mode" reduces some visual clutter.

  9. How do I reset all settings? Click "Reset Data" in the Settings panel.

  10. Can I hide the legal modal? Once accepted, it stays hidden unless you clear your browser data.

8. Data & Export

  1. What formats can I export to? JSON, CSV, and HTML.

  2. What does the JSON export contain? It contains the full raw data of the search results.

  3. What does the HTML export look like? It generates a clean, printable report table.

  4. Can I import data? You can restore your settings via backup, but not past search results.

  5. How do I backup my configuration? Click "Backup Data" to download a config file.

  6. How do I restore my configuration? Click "Restore Data" and upload your backup file.

  7. Is the export file compatible with Excel? Yes, the CSV format opens perfectly in Excel or Google Sheets.

  8. Does export include "Not Found" results? Yes, it includes all checked platforms.

  9. Can I share my results link? No, results are local; you must export a file to share them.

  10. Where is the backup file saved? It saves to your computer's default "Downloads" folder.

9. Legal & Licensing

  1. Can I use this for my business? No. This tool is for Personal Use Only.

  2. Can I sell this tool? No. Selling or re-distributing is strictly prohibited.

  3. Can I use it for background checks on employees? No. This violates the personal use license.

  4. Can I modify the code? Yes, for personal learning and experimentation only.

  5. Who owns the copyright? Riyajul Ali owns the copyright.

  6. Is it Open Source? The source is visible (shared source), but it is not under an open-source license like MIT.

  7. Can I use the code in my own project? Only if your project is personal and private.

  8. Where is the full license text? See the LICENSE.txt file in the project folder.

  9. What happens if I violate the license? You risk legal action for copyright infringement.

  10. Can I donate to the developer? Contact the developer via the links in the app if you wish to support.

10. Development & Technical

  1. What is the tech stack? HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript, and Node.js (for the optimal backend).

  2. Does it use any frameworks? No, it is pure Vanilla JS (no React, Vue, etc.).

  3. Why Vanilla JS? To keep it lightweight, fast, and dependency-free.

  4. How do I report a bug? Open an issue on the GitHub repository.

  5. How do I request a new feature? Submit a feature request on GitHub.

  6. How can I add a new platform to the core list? You can submit a Pull Request (PR) with the new platform details.

  7. What is the URL pattern format? It uses {username} as a placeholder (e.g., facebook.com/{username}).

  8. How does the presence score work? It calculates the percentage of "Found" profiles against total platforms searched.

  9. Can I run this in a Docker container? Yes, standard Node.js Docker setups will work for the server.

  10. Will there be future updates? Yes, we actively maintain the platform database and features.