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Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 28, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to Competitive Sudoku ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application (the "App"). By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our service:

1. Account Information

  • Google Sign-In: When you sign in with Google, we collect your name, email address, and profile picture from your Google account
  • Apple Sign-In: When you sign in with Apple, we collect your name and email address (or private relay email if you choose to hide your email)
  • Email Registration: If you register with email, we collect your email address and encrypted password
  • Username: Your chosen display name for leaderboards and social features

2. Game Data

  • Game Progress: Puzzles completed, current game states, and saved games
  • Statistics: Completion times, difficulty levels played, win/loss records, and personal best scores
  • Gameplay Actions: Moves made, hints used, mistakes made, and game strategies employed
  • Achievements: Unlocked achievements, milestones, and progress tracking

3. Device Information

  • Device Identifiers: Unique device ID, advertising ID (for ad personalization)
  • Technical Data: Device type, operating system version, app version, screen resolution
  • Network Information: IP address, mobile carrier, connection type

4. Usage and Analytics Data

  • App Usage: Features used, time spent in app, session frequency and duration
  • Interaction Data: Button clicks, menu navigation, feature preferences
  • Performance Data: Crash reports, error logs, app performance metrics

5. Advertising Data (AdMob)

  • Ad Interactions: Ads viewed, clicked, or dismissed
  • Advertising ID: Used for personalized advertising and ad measurement
  • Ad Performance: Metrics about ad effectiveness and user engagement

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

  • Account Management: Create and manage your account, authenticate your identity
  • Game Functionality: Provide core game features, save progress, sync data across devices
  • Leaderboards & Competition: Display rankings, enable competitive features, match players
  • Personalization: Customize your experience, remember preferences, suggest difficulty levels
  • Analytics & Improvement: Analyze usage patterns, improve app performance, develop new features
  • Advertising: Display relevant ads through Google AdMob, measure ad effectiveness
  • Customer Support: Respond to inquiries, troubleshoot issues, provide assistance
  • Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
  • Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service

Third-Party Services & Data Sharing

We integrate the following third-party services that may collect and process your data:

1. Google AdMob (Advertising)

  • Displays personalized and non-personalized advertisements
  • Collects advertising ID, device information, and ad interaction data
  • Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
  • You can opt-out of personalized ads in your device settings

2. Google Sign-In (Authentication)

3. Apple Sign-In (Authentication)

4. Firebase (Backend Services)

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We only share data with service providers who help us operate the App, and they are contractually obligated to protect your information.

Data Storage and Security

We take data security seriously and implement multiple layers of protection:

  • Local Storage: Game data is stored locally on your device using encrypted storage
  • Cloud Storage: If you enable cloud sync, data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
  • Authentication: Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms (bcrypt)
  • Access Controls: Strict access controls limit who can access your data
  • Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits and updates
  • Data Centers: Data is stored in secure, certified data centers (Google Cloud Platform)

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your data for different periods depending on the type:

  • Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
  • Game Progress: Retained until you delete your account or request deletion
  • Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized after 26 months
  • Crash Reports: Retained for 90 days
  • Ad Data: Managed by AdMob according to their retention policies

After account deletion, we may retain some data for legal compliance, fraud prevention, or legitimate business purposes, but it will be anonymized and not linked to your identity.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations):

Rights You Can Exercise:

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of how we process your data
  • Right to Object: Object to processing of your data for certain purposes
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time
  • Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of personalized advertising

How to Exercise Your Rights:

  • In-App Settings: Access account settings to manage preferences, delete account, or export data
  • Email Request: Contact us at competitivesudoku@gmail.com
  • Ad Settings: Manage ad personalization in your device settings (iOS: Settings → Privacy → Advertising; Android: Settings → Google → Ads)

We will respond to your request within 30 days. For security purposes, we may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Our App is suitable for all ages, including children. We are committed to complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar regulations worldwide.

  • Age Verification: We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent
  • Limited Data Collection: For users under 13, we only collect data necessary for app functionality
  • No Behavioral Advertising: Children under 13 see only contextual (non-personalized) ads
  • Parental Controls: Parents can review, delete, or refuse further collection of their child's information
  • No Third-Party Sharing: We do not share children's data with third parties except as necessary for app operation

For Parents: If you believe your child has provided personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at competitivesudoku@gmail.comand we will delete the information promptly.

International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
  • Data Processing Agreements with all service providers
  • Compliance with EU-US Data Privacy Framework (where applicable)
  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • Right to Know: What personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
  • Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
  • Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at competitivesudoku@gmail.com

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for app functionality (authentication, game state)
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use the app
  • Advertising Cookies: Used by AdMob to deliver relevant ads
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can manage cookie preferences in your device settings, but disabling certain cookies may limit app functionality.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new privacy policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: competitivesudoku@gmail.com