Privacy Policy

1. Summary

2. Introduction and scope

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is handled in Sudora: Sudoku Puzzle ("Sudora", "the app"), a single-player Sudoku game, and on this website. It describes what the app stores on your device, what data third-party services built into the app process, why, and what choices you have.

The policy covers the following versions of the app:

• Android (application ID com.dvexo.sudora). This is the version being prepared for Google Play and the main subject of this policy.
• Desktop (Windows, macOS and Linux). The desktop version shows no ads. Where its behaviour differs, this is stated.
• iOS. An iOS version is in development and has not been released. Statements marked "iOS" describe how that version is designed to work, and this policy will be reviewed before any iOS release.

Third-party services, such as Google's advertising services, process some data under their own privacy policies. We link to those policies below. This policy does not cover third-party websites or apps that an ad may lead you to.

3. Who we are

Sudora is developed and published by Dvexo ("we", "us", "our"). You can contact us about privacy using the details in section 22.

4. Information we collect

4.1 Information we, the developer, receive

We do not operate servers that receive personal information from the app, and the app has no user accounts. We do not receive your gameplay data, statistics, settings or device identifiers.

If you contact us by email, we receive the information you choose to send, such as your email address and message. We use it only to reply to you.

4.2 Information processed by third-party services in the app

Some data is processed by third-party services that are built into the app:

• Google AdMob (Android; iOS when released), to show and measure ads and to obtain consent where required. See section 6.
• Google Play In-App Updates (Android), to check whether a newer version of the app is available. See section 8.
• Apple's iTunes Search (lookup) service (iOS only, when released), to check for a newer version. See section 8.

4.3 Information we do not collect

The app does not request access to, and we do not collect, your name, email address, phone number, contacts, photos or media, precise location, microphone, camera, calendar, messages or health data. The app has no chat, user-generated content, social features or in-app purchases.

5. Data stored on your device

To make the game work offline, the app saves the following data only on your device:

• your current game and each daily challenge in progress, so you can continue later;
• finished-game records: difficulty, win or loss, time, mistakes, hints used, score and date, which are used for your statistics and streaks;
• daily-challenge progress and streaks;
• your settings, such as theme, sound, vibration, timer, highlights, mistake limit, reminder time and notification choices;
• your hint balance: free hints used today and hints earned by watching optional videos;
• technical counters that keep ads within our own limits, such as the number of app sessions, the number of finished puzzles and the time of the last full-screen ad, plus the time of the last update check.

This data is not sent to us. On Android it is stored in the app's private storage. On desktop it is stored in your user data folder (%APPDATA%\Sudoku on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/Sudoku on macOS, and ~/.local/share/sudoku on Linux).

Android backup. The app allows Android's built-in backup. If backup is turned on in your device settings, Android may include the app's settings and game database in your device backup, which Google stores in your Google account. It may also copy them during a device-to-device transfer. This is controlled by you and by Google under your Google account settings. We cannot access these backups.

6. Advertising (Google AdMob)

The Android app is free and supported by ads served through Google AdMob, using the Google Mobile Ads SDK. Consent is handled with Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP). The desktop version shows no ads.

6.1 Which ads are shown

• Rewarded videos that you choose to watch: one extra hint, a second chance after the mistake limit (once per game), or a doubled score on the result screen. A reward is given only when the video is completed.
• An occasional full-screen ad when you leave the result screen with "Continue" after finishing a puzzle. This ad is never shown while you are solving, never in your first session, and at most once every three minutes.
• We request ads suitable for general audiences, with a maximum ad content rating of "PG". The app has no banner ads.

6.2 Data processed by the Google Mobile Ads SDK

According to Google's data disclosure for the Google Mobile Ads SDK, the SDK version used in the app automatically collects the following data and shares it with Google for advertising, analytics and fraud prevention:

Google states that this data is encrypted in transit. On iOS, Google's iOS data disclosure lists similar categories: IP address, crash logs, performance data, a device identifier such as the advertising identifier, advertising data such as ads you have seen, and product interactions.

Google uses this data as described in the Google Privacy Policy and in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services. Depending on your consent choices and your region, ads may be personalised, based on data associated with your advertising ID, or non-personalised or limited, based on more general information such as the app you are using and your approximate location.

6.3 Consent

Each time the app starts, the UMP SDK checks whether consent information is required for your region. In the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom and Switzerland, Google's consent form asks for your consent before your personal data, such as your advertising ID, is used for ads, and before cookies or other local storage are used where legally required. No ad is requested until the consent step allows it. When a privacy-options entry point is required for your region, Settings › Privacy › Privacy options reopens the form so you can review or withdraw your consent at any time.

iOS (when released): after the consent step, the app asks for permission through Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt before the advertising identifier (IDFA) can be used for tracking. The game works the same whatever you choose, and no reward depends on your answer.

7. Advertising identifiers, cookies and similar technologies

The app itself does not use cookies. Google, as a third party, may place and read cookies or use similar technologies, such as local storage, device identifiers, web beacons and your IP address, on your device in connection with the ads shown in the app.

• Android advertising ID. The Google Mobile Ads SDK declares the AD_ID permission, which lets it read the advertising ID. You can reset or delete it in your device settings (on most devices: Settings › Privacy › Ads, or Settings › Google › Ads). After deletion, apps receive a string of zeros instead of the ID.
• Android Privacy Sandbox. The SDK also declares permissions for Android's ad-services APIs (ad ID, attribution and topics). Where these APIs are available, you can manage them in your device's ad privacy settings.
• App set ID. Google uses this identifier for analytics and fraud prevention. Google Play policy does not allow it to be used for ad personalisation.
• iOS (when released). The advertising identifier (IDFA) is available only if you allow tracking in the ATT prompt. You can change this at any time in Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking.

You can also manage how Google personalises ads through My Ad Center.

This website sets no cookies and uses no analytics, advertising or tracking scripts. All of its fonts, styles and scripts are served from the website itself. Your browser and the hosting provider may still process standard technical data, such as your IP address, to deliver the pages.

8. Other services the app connects to

• Google Play In-App Updates (Android). The app asks Google Play whether a newer version is available, at most about once a day. According to Google's documentation, this library sends device metadata, the application version and the list of installed modules and asset packs to Google Play. Google states that this data is encrypted, is not transferred to third parties and is deleted after a fixed retention period. Google Play handles it under the Google Play Terms of Service.
• Apple lookup (iOS, when released). To check for updates, the app sends the app's bundle identifier and your device's country code to Apple's public lookup service (itunes.apple.com), at most about once a day. Like any internet request, this reveals your IP address to Apple. See the Apple Privacy Policy.
• Desktop update check. The desktop version can check for updates by downloading a small version file from a web address set by us. This check is switched off in the current desktop build. If it is enabled in a future release, the server hosting the file will receive standard technical data such as your IP address. We will name that server in this policy.
• Sharing the app. "Share" in Settings opens your device's share sheet with a short message. Where it goes is your choice; the app does not receive or store it.
• Links. Links in the app, such as this Privacy Policy, open in your browser.

9. Analytics, diagnostics and crash reporting

The app does not include any analytics, attribution or crash-reporting SDK, such as Firebase Analytics or Crashlytics, and we do not receive usage statistics or crash reports from your device. The diagnostic data that the Google Mobile Ads SDK collects for its own purposes is described in section 6. If you choose to share crash information with Google or Apple through your device settings, that is handled by them under their own policies.

10. Device permissions

11. How information is used

• To run the game: saving your progress, settings, hints, statistics and daily streaks on your device.
• To show ads and keep the game free: through Google AdMob, including measuring ads, limiting how often they appear and preventing fraud.
• To respect your choices: obtaining and storing consent, which Google's UMP SDK does on your device.
• To keep the app up to date: checking for new versions and, if you allow it, notifying you.
• To reply to you if you contact us.

We do not use your information for automated decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on you.

12. How information is shared

• With Google, through the Google Mobile Ads SDK and the UMP SDK, as described in section 6, and with Google Play for update checks.
• With Apple (iOS, when released), for update lookups and as part of the App Tracking Transparency system.
• When required by law, or to protect rights, safety and security, to the extent we hold any information.

We do not sell your personal information for money. Google requires apps that use its ad services to obtain any consent needed for this processing and to use providers that protect user data. We rely on Google's published commitments in its policies linked above.

13. Legal bases (EEA, UK and Switzerland)

Where data protection laws such as the GDPR or UK GDPR apply, the legal bases are:

• Consent, for using your personal data, such as your advertising ID, for personalised ads, and for storing or accessing information on your device for ads where required. You can withdraw consent at any time in Settings › Privacy options. This does not affect processing that took place before.
• Legitimate interests, for showing non-personalised or limited ads that fund the free game, for preventing ad fraud, and for checking for app updates, balanced against your rights.
• Performance of our agreement with you, for saving your game data on your device so the app works as expected.
• Legal obligations, where we must keep or disclose information by law.

14. Your choices and controls

• Ad consent: answer the consent form when it is shown, and change your choice later in Settings › Privacy › Privacy options (shown when required for your region).
• Advertising ID: reset or delete it in your Android settings; on iOS, deny or revoke tracking permission.
• Ad personalisation by Google: manage it in My Ad Center.
• Rewarded videos are optional: you can play without ever watching one.
• Notifications: turn the daily reminder and update notifications on or off in Settings, or in your device settings.
• Your statistics: delete game history and daily progress in Statistics › Reset statistics.
• Everything at once: clear the app's storage in your device settings, or uninstall the app.

15. Retention and deletion

• Data on your device is kept until you delete it: through Reset statistics, by clearing the app's storage, or by uninstalling the app. On Android, uninstalling removes the app's data from the device, but a copy may remain in your Android backup until that backup is replaced or deleted under your Google account settings.
• Desktop: uninstalling may leave your data folder (listed in section 5) in place. Delete the folder to remove the data completely.
• Data held by Google for advertising and update checks is kept according to Google's retention policies. See the Google Privacy Policy. We cannot delete it on your behalf, but you can use Google's tools linked above.
• Emails you send us are kept only as long as needed to handle your request, and then deleted.
• No account to delete: because the app has no accounts, there is no account data on our side to delete.

16. Children

Sudora is a general-audience puzzle game and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Ads are requested with a maximum content rating of "PG". If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, for example by email, please contact us and we will delete it.

17. International transfers

Google and Apple operate globally, so data processed by their services may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States. These companies describe the safeguards they use, such as standard contractual clauses or adequacy decisions, in their own privacy policies.

18. Security

Game data is stored in the app's private storage, which your operating system protects from other apps. Google states that data collected by the Google Mobile Ads SDK is encrypted in transit using TLS, and that update checks are encrypted. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Keeping your device's operating system up to date and protected with a screen lock also helps protect your data.

19. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete or port your personal information, to object to or restrict certain processing, to withdraw consent, and to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

• Because we do not hold your game data or identifiers on our servers, most data can be viewed and deleted directly on your device, as described in section 14.
• For data processed by Google, use Google's tools (My Ad Center and your Google account) or the contact options in the Google Privacy Policy.
• US state privacy laws (for example California): we do not sell personal information for money. Some state laws may treat making identifiers available to advertising partners for personalised ads as a "sale" or "sharing". You can limit this by deleting or resetting your advertising ID, by using the privacy choices offered in the app where available, and through Google's ad settings.
• You can contact us using the details below. We will respond within the time required by applicable law, and we will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

20. Google Play and Apple disclosures

Google Play

Our Google Play "Data safety" section reflects the information above: data collected and shared through the Google Mobile Ads SDK (approximate location derived from IP address, app interactions, diagnostics, and device or other IDs) for advertising, analytics and fraud prevention, encrypted in transit. Data that stays only on your device is not collected by us. The app contains ads. Its target audience is ages 13 and over.

Apple App Store (iOS, when released)

If an iOS version is released, its App Store privacy details will disclose the data collected by the Google Mobile Ads SDK for third-party advertising, such as device ID, coarse location, product interaction, advertising data and diagnostics. The app will ask for App Tracking Transparency permission before any tracking. This policy will be reviewed and updated before that release.

21. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the app or the services it uses change. We will post the updated version on this page and change the "Last updated" date above. If a change significantly affects how your data is handled, we will also give notice in the app or on the store listing before it takes effect.

22. Contact us

For privacy questions or requests about Sudora: Sudoku Puzzle, contact:

Third-party policies: Google Privacy Policy · How Google uses data from apps · Google EU User Consent Policy · Apple Privacy Policy