MiniCross

Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to MiniCross ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

When you create an account or use our Service, we may collect the following personal information:

• Account Information: Email address and display name (optional) when you sign up through Firebase Authentication
• Authentication Data: Unique user identifier (UID) generated by Firebase Authentication
• Profile Information: Any optional profile information you choose to provide

2.2 Gameplay Data

To provide and improve our Service, we collect information about your gameplay:

• Puzzle Progress: Your answers, completion status, and time taken for each daily puzzle
• Game Statistics: Completion rates, average solve times, and streak information
• Feature Usage: How you interact with reveal, check, and clear functions
• Session Data: When you start and complete puzzles, app session duration

2.3 Technical Information

We automatically collect certain technical information to ensure Service functionality:

• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, app version
• Usage Analytics: App crashes, performance metrics, and feature usage patterns
• Network Information: IP address (for Firebase services) and general location (country-level only)

2.4 Information We Do NOT Collect

• We do not access your contacts, photos, or other personal files
• We do not track your precise location
• We do not collect sensitive personal information (health, financial, biometric data)
• We do not require personal identifying information beyond email for account creation

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Service Provision

• Deliver daily crossword puzzles and maintain your progress
• Authenticate your account and provide personalized experiences
• Save your puzzle completion status and game statistics
• Synchronize your data across devices (when signed in)

3.2 Service Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns to improve puzzle difficulty and user experience
• Identify and fix technical issues and bugs
• Develop new features based on user behavior insights
• Optimize app performance and loading times

3.3 Communication

• Send important service announcements and updates
• Respond to your questions, comments, or support requests
• Notify you of significant changes to our Service or this Privacy Policy

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Data Storage

Your data is stored securely using Google Firebase services:

• Firestore Database: Puzzle data and user progress stored in Google Cloud
• Firebase Authentication: Account credentials managed by Google's secure authentication system
• Local Storage: Game progress temporarily cached on your device for offline access

4.2 Security Measures

• All data transmission is encrypted using industry-standard TLS/SSL protocols
• Firebase security rules restrict access to your personal data to authorized users only
• Regular security audits and updates to protect against vulnerabilities
• Authentication required for all sensitive operations

4.3 Data Retention

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 30 days after deletion
• Gameplay Data: Stored indefinitely to maintain your progress and statistics
• Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained for service improvement

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

5.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for commercial purposes.

5.2 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our Service:

• Google Firebase: For database, authentication, and hosting services
• Analytics Providers: For aggregated, anonymized usage analytics
• Customer Support Tools: For responding to your inquiries and support requests

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Valid legal process, such as a court order or subpoena
• Requests from law enforcement or government agencies
• Protection of our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users
• Investigation of fraud, security breaches, or terms of service violations

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Account Management

• Access: View and download your personal data through your account settings
• Correction: Update or correct your profile information at any time
• Deletion: Delete your account and associated data through app settings

6.2 Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format by contacting us at the email address provided below.

6.3 Communication Preferences

• Opt out of promotional communications while still receiving essential service updates
• Manage notification preferences through your device settings

7. Children's Privacy

Our Service is designed for general audiences and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete such information from our records.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, where Google Firebase servers are located. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that appropriate safeguards are in place.

9. California Privacy Rights

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

• Right to know what personal information is collected and how it's used
• Right to delete personal information (subject to certain exceptions)
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

10. European Union Privacy Rights

If you are located in the European Union, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right of access to your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate personal data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent at any time

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
• Notify you through the app or via email for significant changes
• Provide a summary of key changes when material updates are made

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Third-Party Services

Our app integrates with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

• Google Firebase: Firebase Privacy Policy
• Google Analytics: Google Privacy Policy

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third-party services to understand their data practices.