Privacy Policy | Thankans Poojyam Vettu

1. Overview

Thankans Poojyam Vettu is a dots-and-boxes style game with offline play, optional AI gameplay, saved offline progress, and optional online room-based multiplayer. We do not require you to create an account, sign in, or provide a real name to play.

This policy is intended to be clear and practical. It describes what the app may collect or process, why it is needed, who may receive it, how long it is kept, and how you can contact us.

No account required You can play without registration, login, email address, phone number, or payment information.

Local progress stays on your device Offline settings, progress, and resume data are stored in app/browser storage on your device unless you clear them.

Online rooms need network data Online multiplayer sends room, nickname, gameplay, and connection information to the game server so rooms can work.

Ads may use third-party data If ads are enabled in the Google Play version, advertising providers may collect data as described below. Rewarded ads are optional and may grant in-game coins after successful completion.

2. Information We Collect or Process

The app collects or processes only the information needed for gameplay, online multiplayer, saved progress, app stability, and advertising where enabled.

Player names and nicknames You may enter a display name for offline or online gameplay. You should not enter your real name if you do not want it used in the game. In online rooms, your display name may be visible to other players in the same room.

Online room information When you create or join an online room, the app processes the room code, room password, selected room settings, player list, host status, and connection status. Room passwords are used only to help protect the room and should not be reused from any personal account.

Gameplay data The app may process moves, scores, current turn, board size, timer settings, AI settings, match results, and saved progress. Offline gameplay data is stored locally. Online gameplay data is sent to the game server so all players in the room see the same match state.

Technical and network data Online play and hosting services may automatically process technical data such as IP address, approximate network location derived from IP address, browser or device information, operating system, connection events, socket/session identifiers, logs, and diagnostics. This is used to connect players, keep the service stable, prevent abuse, and troubleshoot errors.

Settings and local storage The app stores settings such as theme, sound preferences, music volume, coin balance, unlocked board themes, daily reward timing, offline progress, player progress names, scores, win counts, best scores, last played dates, and active game resume data on your device using local app/browser storage.

Advertising data, if ads are enabled The Google Play build may show banner, interstitial, rewarded, or similar ads through a native advertising SDK such as Google Mobile Ads or AdMob. Rewarded ads may be used to grant in-game coins after a completed ad view is confirmed. Advertising providers may collect or receive data such as IP address, Android advertising ID or other device/account identifiers where available, app interactions such as app launches, taps and video views, ad views, rewarded ad completion status, device information, diagnostics, crash or performance data, and approximate location derived from IP address for ad delivery, measurement, analytics, fraud prevention, security, and compliance.

Messages you send to us If you contact us by email, we will receive your email address and the contents of your message so we can respond.

We do not use the game to access your contacts, precise GPS location, camera, microphone, SMS, phone call history, calendar, photos, videos, health data, or payment card information.

3. How We Use Information

We use information for the following purposes:

To provide offline gameplay, AI gameplay, saved settings, and saved progress.
To create, join, protect, and run online multiplayer rooms.
To synchronize online moves, scores, turns, timers, and match results between players.
To maintain, debug, secure, and improve the game and online service.
To show ads, grant optional rewarded ad coins, and measure ad performance if advertising is enabled.
To respond to support, privacy, or deletion requests you send to us.
To comply with legal obligations and enforce our rights where necessary.

4. Offline Storage on Your Device

Offline progress and settings are stored locally on your device. This can include your chosen player name, progress profile, match progress, board size, difficulty level, scores, win counts, best scores, last played dates, theme, and sound preferences.

Local storage may also include virtual coin balance, unlocked board themes, daily reward state, and active offline game resume data. These items are used only to provide gameplay features on your device.

We do not receive this local offline data unless you use an online feature that sends selected gameplay or display information to the multiplayer server, or unless you choose to send us information for support.

5. Online Multiplayer

Online multiplayer requires an internet connection and uses a game server to create and manage rooms. The app connects to the online service using Socket.IO or similar real-time networking technology.

When you use online mode, the server may process your display name, room code, room password, room settings, game moves, scores, current turn, timer information, connection status, socket/session identifiers, and IP address. This information is used to operate the online match and is visible only as needed for players in the same room and for service operation.

The online service is currently hosted on Render using the app's online server URL. Render or other hosting providers we use may process logs and technical data to deliver, secure, monitor, and troubleshoot the service.

Room passwords are used only to help protect private rooms. The server stores a hashed version of a room password while the room is active, not the plain text password. Do not reuse a personal account password as a room password.

6. Advertising and Third-Party Services

The app may display advertisements in the Google Play version. The game may include banner ads, interstitial ads, optional rewarded ads, or similar ad formats. Rewarded ads are voluntary; if you choose to watch one, the app may grant virtual coins only after the ad provider confirms the reward.

Advertising data may include IP address, device identifiers such as the Android advertising ID where available, app interactions, ad views, diagnostics, and approximate location inferred from IP address. Advertising providers use this information for ad delivery, measurement, fraud prevention, security, analytics, and compliance.

Google states that data collected by the Google Mobile Ads SDK is encrypted in transit using Transport Layer Security (TLS). Advertising identifiers can usually be reset or deleted from Android or Google settings, depending on your device.

Where required by law or platform rules, the app or advertising SDK may ask for consent before showing personalized ads or using certain advertising technologies.

You can learn more about Google's advertising practices at Google Advertising Policies and Google's privacy practices at Google Privacy Policy.

7. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share or allow processing of information only in the following situations:

With the online game server and hosting providers to provide online multiplayer.
With advertising providers if ads are enabled in the app.
With platform and service providers, such as Google Play and Android services, as needed for app distribution, security, ads, and platform functionality.
With other players in the same online room, limited to display names, gameplay state, scores, and room-related status.
When required by law, legal process, security needs, or to protect our rights, users, or the public.

8. Data Retention and Deletion

Local settings, offline progress, and active game resume data remain on your device until you delete them, clear app storage, clear browser/app data, reset progress where available, or uninstall the app.

Online room data is used to operate live rooms and matches. We aim to keep room and gameplay information only as long as needed for online gameplay, maintenance, security, troubleshooting, and legal compliance. Hosting providers may retain technical logs for a limited period according to their own operations and policies.

Because the app does not create user accounts, there is no account deletion process. To request deletion of information that may be associated with online multiplayer or a support email, contact us using the email address below and include enough detail for us to identify the relevant data, such as room code, approximate date, and display name.

9. Your Choices and Controls

You can use a nickname instead of your real name.
You can avoid online multiplayer if you do not want room or connection information processed by the online server.
You can choose not to watch rewarded ads. Rewarded ads are optional.
You can delete local data by clearing the app's storage/data, clearing browser storage for the app, resetting progress where available, or uninstalling the app.
You can manage Android advertising ID settings and ad personalization controls in your device or Google settings where available.
You can contact us to request access, correction, deletion, or more information about data we may hold.

10. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information, including using HTTPS/TLS for network connections where supported and limiting data use to the purposes described in this policy. However, no internet transmission, app, server, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

11. Children's Privacy

The app is intended for general entertainment and is not specifically directed to children under 13 or the minimum age required by local law. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Children should not enter real names, personal contact details, or personal passwords in the game. If you are a parent or guardian and believe a child has provided personal information through the app, please contact us and we will take reasonable steps to delete it where possible.

If the app is listed on Google Play as targeted to children or families, the app, ads, SDKs, and data practices must comply with applicable children's privacy laws and Google Play Families policies.

12. International Users and Legal Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have privacy rights such as the right to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability, or withdrawal of consent. To exercise these rights, contact us using the email address below.

For users in regions that require a legal basis for processing, we process information to provide the app and online multiplayer, based on our legitimate interests in operating and securing the game, based on consent where required for advertising or similar technologies, and as needed to comply with legal obligations.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date above and publish the updated policy in the app or at the policy page used for the Google Play listing.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or the app's data practices, contact:

Rikson Roy
Email: riksonroy54@gmail.com