Privacy Policy

1. What We Collect

We collect information you provide directly:

• Account details (name, email, username, password hash)
• Profile information (bio, avatar, social links, location)
• Projects, challenge entries, and comments you post
• Support messages and contact form submissions

We also collect usage data automatically: IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, and interaction events.

2. How We Use It

• Providing and improving the Platform
• Authenticating your account and preventing fraud
• Sending transactional emails (verification, password reset, notifications)
• Calculating XP, leaderboard rankings, and challenge results
• Complying with legal obligations

3. Cookies

We use strictly necessary cookies for authentication (session tokens). We may use analytics cookies to understand how the Platform is used. You can manage cookie preferences via your browser settings.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with service providers necessary to operate the Platform (hosting, email delivery, payment processing) under strict confidentiality agreements.

5. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data. To exercise these rights, contact us. EU/EEA residents have additional rights under GDPR. California residents have rights under CCPA.

6. Data Retention

We retain your data as long as your account is active. You may delete your account at any time from Settings. After deletion, most personal data is removed within 30 days, except where required by law.

7. Security

We use industry-standard measures including encrypted connections (TLS), bcrypt password hashing, and rate limiting to protect your data. No system is 100% secure — report any vulnerabilities via our contact form.

8. Contact

Privacy questions? Contact us.