Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

HostedGG ("we," "our," or "us") is a gaming wiki, guides, and news platform. We also publish Signal Decay, our own offline-first idle RPG. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit hostedgg.com, read our content, create an account, subscribe to our newsletter, or support us through reader contributions.

We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws. By using our website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Data Controller

HostedGG is the data controller responsible for your personal data. If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Support: hostedgg.com/support

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• Account Information: Name or username, email address, and password (if you register an account)
• Newsletter Data: The email address you submit to receive our newsletter
• Contribution and Payment Information: Billing details handled by our payment partners when you make a reader contribution or donation. We do not store full card numbers.
• Communication Data: Messages you send to our support team or comments you post

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our website, we automatically collect:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, articles read, features used, time spent on site
• Cookies and Local Storage: See our Cookie Policy and the Google Reader Revenue Manager section below
• Server Logs: Access logs and error logs for troubleshooting and security

3.3 Third-Party Sign-In

If you sign in using Discord, we receive your Discord username, ID, email address (if permitted by your Discord settings), and profile picture.

Some reader features provided through Google Reader Revenue Manager may let you sign in with a Google account. In that case Google shares a basic identifier and email with us so we can link your contribution or subscription to your access. See Section 6.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

4.1 Service Provision (Contract)

• Create and manage your account
• Deliver our content, guides, and the Signal Decay game
• Process reader contributions and send receipts
• Send the newsletter you signed up for and provide customer support

4.2 Legitimate Interests

• Improve and optimize our content and website
• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
• Maintain the security and integrity of our platform
• Measure which content and reader prompts perform well

4.3 With Your Consent

• Send marketing communications (you can opt out anytime)
• Use non-essential cookies for analytics and reader monetization (including Google Reader Revenue Manager)

4.4 Legal Obligations

• Comply with tax and accounting requirements
• Respond to legal requests from authorities

5. Cookie Policy

We use cookies and similar technologies, including browser local storage, to improve your experience on our website.

5.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be disabled. They include:

• Session cookies for authentication
• Security cookies for CSRF protection
• Cookie consent preferences

5.2 Analytics and Monetization Cookies

With your consent, we use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our website, and we use Google Reader Revenue Manager to show newsletter, contribution, and access prompts. These technologies may set cookies or store data in your browser. They help us fund and improve our content but are not essential.

5.3 Managing Cookies

You can manage your cookie preferences through our cookie consent banner or your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may prevent some features from working properly.

6. Google Reader Revenue Manager

We use Google Reader Revenue Manager, a service operated by Google, to offer newsletter sign-up, reader contributions, subscriptions, and extended access to our content. To provide this, our pages load Google's publisher script (swg-basic.js).

When this service runs, Google may:

• Set cookies or store data in your browser to recognize you and show relevant prompts
• Collect engagement and device data about how you interact with our content and the prompts
• Process your Google account sign-in if you choose to use it for a contribution, subscription, or to claim access
• Process payments for any contribution or subscription you make through the service, acting as the payment provider

When you interact with these features, Google acts as an independent data controller for the data it collects, and its handling of that data is governed by the Google Privacy Policy. You can learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. If you do not consent to these technologies, you can decline non-essential cookies in our consent banner.

7. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information with:

7.1 Service Providers and Partners

• Google Reader Revenue Manager: For newsletter, contribution, subscription, and access features (see Section 6)
• Payment Processors: To process reader contributions and donations securely
• Email Services: To send the newsletter and transactional emails
• Hosting and Analytics Providers: Our hosting platform and privacy-conscious analytics that help operate and measure the site
• Discord: If you choose to sign in with Discord

7.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

7.3 Business Transfers

If HostedGG is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you of any such change.

8. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as necessary to provide our services:

• Account Data: Until you delete your account, plus 30 days for backup purposes
• Newsletter Data: Until you unsubscribe
• Contribution and Payment Records: 7 years for tax and legal compliance
• Support Communications: 3 years after last contact
• Server Logs: 90 days for security and troubleshooting

9. Your Rights (GDPR)

Under GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten"), subject to legal retention requirements.
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your data.
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for marketing.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent.

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. For data held by Google through Reader Revenue Manager, you may also exercise your rights directly with Google.

10. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL)
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security updates
• Access controls and authentication

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. International Transfers

Your data is primarily processed within the European Economic Area (EEA). Some partners, including Google, may process data outside the EEA. Where data is transferred outside the EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through our website. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, contact us:

• Privacy Email: [email protected]
• General Support: hostedgg.com/support