# Privacy Policy — Shikaku Master
**Last updated: 15 August 2026**
This policy explains what information the Shikaku Master mobile app ("the app") handles, why, and what choices you have. It applies to the iOS and Android versions of the app.
The app is developed by Beka Tsiklauri ("we", "us").
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## The short version
We do not ask for your name, email address, phone number, or location. We do not have accounts or logins. Almost everything the app knows about you — your puzzle progress, coins, settings and statistics — is stored only on your own device.
Three things do leave your device: an anonymous ID and nickname if you use the online leaderboard, anonymous usage statistics, and advertising data used to show ads.
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## What is stored only on your device
The following never leaves your phone. It is stored in the app's local storage and is deleted when you uninstall the app:
- Puzzle progress, saved games and completed levels
- Coins, streaks, achievements and unlocked themes
- Best times and statistics
- Your settings (theme, sound, haptics)
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## What is sent off your device
### 1. Online leaderboard (optional)
If you choose to enter a nickname and use the ranking feature, we store the following in Google Cloud Firestore:
- A randomly generated anonymous ID (created by Firebase Anonymous Authentication — it is not linked to your Apple ID, Google account, email, or any real-world identity)
- The nickname you typed in yourself
- Your total score
**Your nickname and score are publicly visible to other players in the leaderboard.** Please do not use your real name or any personal information as your nickname.
If you never enter a nickname, nothing is written to the leaderboard.
### 2. Usage analytics
We use Google Firebase Analytics to understand how the app is used in aggregate — for example which game modes are played and how often puzzles are completed. This data is anonymous and is not used to identify you. It may include a device identifier, device model, operating system version, and approximate region derived from your IP address.
### 3. Advertising
The app shows advertising provided by Google AdMob. To serve ads, Google may collect and use a device advertising identifier along with technical information about your device.
We do not receive, store, or have access to any personal information through advertising.
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## Third-party services
These providers process data on our behalf, under their own privacy policies:
- **Google AdMob** — advertising: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads
- **Google Firebase** (Analytics, Anonymous Authentication, Cloud Firestore) — https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
- **Google Privacy Policy** — https://policies.google.com/privacy
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## Your choices
### Personalised advertising
**On iOS**, the app asks for your permission before any tracking takes place ("Allow Shikaku Master to track your activity…"). If you decline, ads are still shown but are not personalised. You can change your answer at any time in **Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking**.
**On Android**, you can reset or delete your advertising ID in **Settings → Google → Ads**.
Declining tracking does not limit any feature of the game.
### Removing your leaderboard entry
If you would like your leaderboard nickname and score deleted, email us at the address below and mention the nickname you used. You can also simply uninstall the app, which removes all local data from your device.
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## Children
The app is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Because the app displays third-party advertising, we recommend parental supervision for younger players. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us and we will remove it.
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## Data retention
Leaderboard entries are kept for as long as the leaderboard exists or until you request deletion. Analytics data is retained according to Google Firebase's standard retention settings. Local data lives on your device until you delete it or uninstall the app.
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## Your rights
Depending on where you live (for example in the EU under GDPR, or in California under CCPA), you may have the right to access, correct, or delete data relating to you, and to object to certain processing. Because we do not collect information that identifies you personally, the data we hold is limited to what is described above. To make a request, contact us using the details below.
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## Security
Data transmitted to Firebase is sent over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS). No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect the limited data we handle.
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## Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top will always reflect the most recent version. Significant changes will be noted in the app's release notes.
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## Contact
Questions about this policy, or requests regarding your data:
**bekatsiklauri95@gmail.com**