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HotWord

Privacy Policy

This policy applies to all HotWord Puzzle apps, including HotWord and CrossWords, unless otherwise specified in an individual app.

Overview

HotWord Puzzle ("we", "us") builds simple, offline-friendly word-puzzle apps for iPhone. Our apps are designed to work without an account and without asking for your name, email address or contact details. This policy explains the limited information involved in using the apps.

Apple App Store distribution

Our apps are distributed through the Apple App Store. Downloading the app, verifying receipts and any App Store analytics are handled by Apple under Apple's own privacy practices. See apple.com/legal/privacy.

Apple In-App Purchases

Optional subscriptions and one-off purchases are processed by Apple through your Apple Account. We receive an anonymous purchase receipt so the app can unlock the correct features and validate subscription status. We do not receive your payment-card details. Billing, renewal and refunds are handled by Apple.

Advertising (Google AdMob)

Some apps show rewarded advertising provided by Google AdMob. Rewarded ads are opt-in — you choose to watch an ad in exchange for an in-app reward. When you interact with an ad, AdMob may process:

  • Your device's advertising identifier (IDFA), where you have allowed it in iOS settings.
  • General device and app information, coarse location derived from IP address and ad interaction events.

Google's use of information from AdMob is described in Google's Privacy Policy at policies.google.com/privacy. See our Ad Privacy page for details.

Consent (Google UMP)

Where required (for example, users in the EEA, UK and Switzerland), we use Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP) to request your consent for personalised advertising and related data uses before ads are shown. You can accept, refuse or configure your choices. If you refuse personalised ads, non-personalised ads may be shown instead.

You can withdraw or change your advertising consent at any time. A future in-app Privacy Settings option will reopen the Google consent dialog so you can update your choices. You can also reset iOS-level tracking permission in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking, and reset your advertising identifier from the same iOS settings.

Advertising identifiers

Personalised advertising uses your iOS advertising identifier (IDFA) only if you have granted permission through Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt. If permission is not granted, ads shown will be non-personalised.

Analytics and crash reporting

We may use Apple's built-in App Analytics and crash reports (which you can opt out of in iOS settings) and standard, aggregated diagnostic tools to help us fix bugs and improve gameplay. Any such data is used only to operate and improve the apps.

Data we do not collect

  • We do not ask for your name, email or contact details.
  • We do not collect payment-card information — payments are handled entirely by Apple.
  • We do not sell personal data.

Children's privacy

Our apps are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Contact

Questions about this policy can be sent through the Support page or emailed to edhope@gmail.com.

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