Trust & data handling · Desktop apps

Your files never leave your computer. Here is exactly what does.

Batch PDF Merger, Multi PDF Converter, Bulk File Merger and Multi PDF Splitter do all their work on your computer. They do talk to our servers, briefly, to check your licence and look for updates. This page lists every one of those messages, shows you how to watch them yourself, and explains why a medical practice needs no Business Associate Agreement to use the apps.

Checked against the apps’ code and our own server logs on 16 September 2026. Batch PDF Merger 6.5.3 · Multi PDF Converter 7.4.0 · Bulk File Merger 5.3.1 Mac, 5.2.1 Windows · Multi PDF Splitter 2.6.0 Mac, 2.6.1 Windows.

CHECKED IN CODE & SERVER LOGS • 16 SEP 2026 •
Batch PDF Mergeropen, merge 3 files, save
  1. On opening
  2. sentlicense.batchpdfmerger.comlicence key, hardware code
  3. sentlicense.essexsoftware.comhardware code, app version, OS
  4. sentessex.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.comis there a newer version?
  5. While merging
  6. staysIntake forms, September.pdfnever sent
  7. staysReferral letters.pdfnever sent
  8. staysLab results, scanned.pdfnever sent
  9. staysDocuments/Clinic/folder name never sent
  10. stays41 pages of text and imagesnever sent
  11. When the merge finishes
  12. sentlicense.essexsoftware.com3 files, 41 pages
  13. staysMerged.pdfsaved where you chose

Illustration of a licensed copy. File names are examples.

01

What stays, and what we see

The apps never need your documents to check a licence, so they never send them. What does reach us is small, and none of it describes what is inside your files.

Stays on your computer

  • Everything inside your filesText, images, scanned pages, form fields, spreadsheet cells.
  • File names and folder names
  • The files the apps produceSaved only where you choose. Temporary working files stay on the same computer.
  • What your documents are about, and whose they are

Reaches our servers

  • Your licence key, if you have entered one
  • A scrambled hardware codeMade from your computer’s hardware ID with a one-way hash, so your licence works on the number of computers you paid for. It says nothing about your files.
  • App version and computer settingsBatch PDF Merger and Multi PDF Converter also send the operating system and version, processor type, language and country settings.
  • How many files and pages a job hadCounts only. Bulk File Merger sends only that a job ran.
  • Error reports, if you leave them onBatch PDF Merger and Multi PDF Converter only. Names and paths are removed first.
  • Your public IP addressLike any internet connection.
02

Every connection the apps make

This is the complete list. We built it by reading the apps’ code and checking it against the requests our servers actually received from each app.

WhenServerWhat is sentAppsCan you turn it off?
You open the app, with a licence key entered license.batchpdfmerger.comlicense.pdf-split.comThe second is Multi PDF Splitter’s. Licence key, hardware code, app version All four NoA licensed copy of Batch PDF Merger or Multi PDF Converter keeps working for 30 days without it.
You open the app license.essexsoftware.com Hardware code and app version. Batch PDF Merger and Multi PDF Converter add the operating system and version, processor type, app and system language, and country setting. All four NoIt runs the free trial and tells us which versions are in use.
You open the app essex.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com A request for the latest version number. Nothing about you or your files. All four YesSettings, automatic update, Off. Blocking it only stops update notices.
A job finishes license.essexsoftware.com How many files and pages the job had, and whether the copy is licensed. Bulk File Merger sends only that a job ran. Batch PDF Merger, Multi PDF Converter, Bulk File Merger No
Something goes wrong license.essexsoftware.com The error message, where in the app it happened, and the app’s recent log lines, with operating system and app version. File names, folder paths and email addresses are replaced on your computer before anything is sent. Batch PDF Merger, Multi PDF Converter YesSettings, “Send anonymous error reports”, Off.
You activate a key, reset a licence, or click Buy license.batchpdfmerger.comlicense.pdf-split.com Licence key and hardware code. After you click Buy in Batch PDF Merger or Multi PDF Converter, the app checks whether your order has arrived so it can unlock itself. All four You start it
You click Help, Pricing or another website link Your web browser opens our website. The app itself sends nothing. An ordinary website visit, covered by our privacy policy. All four You start it

Every request also carries your network’s public IP address, as all internet traffic does. The apps contain no advertising or analytics code.

03

Don’t take our word for it

You can watch every connection with free tools, or cut the connection entirely and keep working.

The unplug test

With a licensed copy of Batch PDF Merger or Multi PDF Converter:

  1. Open the app.
  2. Turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the network cable.
  3. Merge or convert your files. They finish and save as usual.
  4. The app keeps working like this for up to 30 days. After that, it needs one successful check with our licence server.

With a firewall monitor

  1. Install LuLu, which is free and open source, or Little Snitch.
  2. Open one of our apps and run a job. The monitor shows each new connection and the server it goes to.
  3. You will see only the servers listed below.
  4. Block them all, then run the job again in Batch PDF Merger or Multi PDF Converter. It still completes.

What you should see, and nothing else

  • license.batchpdfmerger.com
  • license.pdf-split.com
  • license.essexsoftware.com
  • essex.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com
04

For healthcare, legal and government teams

Short answers to the questions compliance reviews ask, and a signed letter for your records.

HIPAA

Do we need a Business Associate Agreement to use the apps with patient records?

No. Under HIPAA, a business associate creates, receives, maintains or transmits protected health information on your behalf. Our apps process files on your own computer and never send them to us, so we do none of those things. HHS says the same about software vendors:

“The mere selling or providing of software to a covered entity does not give rise to a business associate relationship if the vendor does not have access to the protected health information of the covered entity.”HHS Office for Civil Rights, HIPAA FAQ on business associates

Your own HIPAA safeguards still apply to the computers that run the apps. We suggest turning error reports off, and please don’t send patient files to support. A de-identified sample is always enough.

No-BAA letter, signed by our CEOPDF, 3 pages · covers all four desktop apps
SOC 2

Does Essex Software have a SOC 2 report?

No. A SOC 2 examination looks at how a service provider protects customer data held on its own systems. Our desktop apps keep your documents on your computers, so there is no hosted service holding them. For the small set of licence and usage details we do hold, listed in section 06, we will complete your vendor security questionnaire. Send it to support@essexsoftware.com.

GDPR

Do we need a data processing agreement under GDPR or UK GDPR?

Not for your documents, because we never receive them. The licence and usage details listed on this page are covered by our privacy policy, which explains your rights under GDPR and UK GDPR.

Legal

Can a law firm use the apps for privileged or confidential files?

Yes. Files never leave the computer, so no cloud provider or subcontractor ever holds a copy of them. Your firm’s own device and network security still apply.

05

For IT administrators

Everything you need to allow, restrict and check the apps on a managed network.

Servers to allow

license.batchpdfmerger.com, license.pdf-split.com, license.essexsoftware.com and essex.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com. Nothing else is needed.

Turn off error reports for every user

On Windows, set the environment variable BPM_NO_ERROR_REPORTS=1 for Batch PDF Merger and MPC_NO_ERROR_REPORTS=1 for Multi PDF Converter. On a Mac, switch off “Send anonymous error reports” in the app’s Settings. Bulk File Merger and Multi PDF Splitter send no error reports.

Turn off update checks

In each app’s Settings, turn automatic update off. Updates can then be deployed with your own tools from our installers.

Offline and restricted networks

A licensed copy of Batch PDF Merger or Multi PDF Converter works for 30 days without reaching our licence server, then needs one successful check. A network that can never reach the servers above can’t run a licensed copy today, so allow those servers even where nothing else gets out.

Code signing
  • Mac: every app is signed with the Apple Developer ID of The Essex Redevelopment Group, LLC (team 5YCV6SSJ43) and notarized by Apple. To check, run spctl -a -vv "/Applications/Batch PDF Merger.app" in Terminal.
  • Windows: every installer is signed by The Essex Redevelopment Group, LLC. To check, right-click the installer, choose Properties, and open Digital Signatures.
Where our servers are

The licence servers and our download storage are hosted by DigitalOcean in New York, United States.

06

What we keep about you

The records behind the connections above. None of them contains any part of your documents.

RecordWhat is in itWhy we keep it
Your licence Name, email address, licence key, country, postal code, phone number if you gave one, subscription status, and the hardware codes of the computers the key is active on. Card details stay with our payment processors, FastSpring and Braintree. To deliver and renew your licence and keep it to the number of computers you paid for.
Trial and usage Hardware code, IP address, operating system and version, processor type, language and country settings, app version, and the file and page counts of each job. Your name and email only if you gave them to us during a trial. If you downloaded after clicking one of our ads, that ad click’s reference. To run the free trial, spot problems after a release, and measure our advertising.
Error reports The report described above, with hardware code, operating system and app version. Batch PDF Merger and Multi PDF Converter only. To find and fix bugs.
Server logs IP address, the address requested, which includes the hardware code, and the app making the request. Deleted after 14 days. Security and troubleshooting.

We do not sell personal information. To see or delete what we hold about you or your computers, email support@essexsoftware.com. Full details are in our privacy policy.

Questions from your compliance or security team?

Send vendor questionnaires, risk assessments and anything this page doesn’t answer to support@essexsoftware.com.

This page covers the four desktop apps. Our free browser tools also process files on your device without uploading them, but their web pages load analytics and advertising tags, as our privacy policy describes. When a release changes the list above, we update this page and the letter.

The Essex Redevelopment Group, LLC
d/b/a Essex Software
9935D Rea Road, Suite 131
Charlotte, NC 28277, United States

Last checked 16 September 2026.