Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Puzzle Lantern is operated by a sole trader based in New South Wales, Australia (“we”, “us” or “our”). This policy covers personal information handled through the Puzzle Lantern app, website and support communications (the “Service”). Contact us at tashukwork@gmail.com. Our Terms of Service explain the rules for using the Service.

2. Information we collect

We collect information you provide, information generated when you use the Service, and information needed to verify purchases. A pseudonymous account does not require your real-world identity, but information linked to that account may still be personal information.

• Account and preferences: an account identifier, username, display name, account dates, sign-in session records and favourite games. An account is created automatically when you begin using the app; no email address or password is required to play.
• Gameplay: Daily puzzle attempts, moves needed to check results, completion status, scores, time, mistakes, statistics and streaks.
• Social features: friendships, requests, invite-link records, blocks and reports, including any explanation you provide.
• Support and feedback: your message, any email address you provide, account identifier, username, submission date and, with in-app feedback, app version and platform. Please avoid sending sensitive information or information about others that we do not need.
• Purchases: purchase and transaction identifiers, subscription status and history, and technical information needed to validate purchases and restore access. Subscription processing uses a separate identifier from your gameplay account. We do not receive your full payment card details from the app marketplace.
• Notifications: if you enable friend activity notifications, a Firebase Cloud Messaging registration token, platform, app version and notification preferences let us deliver them to your installation. You can turn these off in the app or device settings. Daily reminders are scheduled locally on your device.
• Technical information: IP addresses, request times, error and security logs, and installation-verification and session information used to operate and protect the Service. Subscription processing may also involve device, operating system, app version, locale and currency information.

More puzzles progress and history, and settings such as sound, haptics and reminders, are stored on your device. We do not upload More puzzles play history to our gameplay servers. Device backups may be handled according to your device and backup settings.

We do not request access to your contacts, precise location, photos, microphone or health data. We do not serve third-party advertisements or use advertising identifiers to track you across apps and websites.

3. How we use information

• Provide games, maintain accounts, save results and show leaderboards.
• Manage friend requests, invitations and your chosen preferences.
• Validate purchases and provide or restore subscription access.
• Answer questions, investigate feedback and resolve problems.
• Check results, prevent cheating and abuse, and secure the Service.
• Understand website use with consent and improve the Service.
• Meet legal obligations and handle complaints or disputes.

Without account, gameplay or purchase information needed for a feature, we may be unable to provide that feature. Providing a support email and accepting website analytics are optional. We do not use support contact details to send unsolicited marketing.

4. What other people can see

Your username, display name and Daily results can appear on friends and global leaderboards. Your profile details can also appear in friend requests and invitation previews. Anyone with an invite link may be able to view the inviter’s name. Share links only with people you intend to invite, and choose a name you are comfortable displaying to others. Your support email and subscription status are not displayed to players.

You can remove friends and use blocking and reporting controls in the app. Blocking does not erase information someone has already seen or copied, and public leaderboard information may be viewed by other players.

Optional app analytics

When you allow app analytics in Settings → App analytics, Google Firebase Analytics collects app opens, puzzle starts and finishes, paywall views, an installation identifier, app and device information, and approximate location. We do not include your name, puzzle answers, invite tokens, contacts or messages. You can turn analytics off at any time without losing gameplay access. Analytics starts off until you choose to allow it.

Website campaign labels can identify which social channel led to a store visit. They do not automatically identify which post caused an installation or subscription.

5. Website cookies and analytics

We use Google Analytics and Ahrefs Analytics to understand website visits. We use browser storage to remember your analytics preference. Optional analytics loads only after you accept it. If you accept, analytics can record pages viewed, referring pages, store-link clicks, browser and device information, and approximate location derived from your IP address. Google Analytics cookies distinguish visits and returning browsers and may last up to two years unless cleared earlier.

You can decline without losing access to the website. Where analytics is offered, use Cookies in the footer to change your choice or withdraw consent. Withdrawal removes analytics cookies where the browser permits and prevents analytics loading on subsequent page loads; refresh the page to end a previously loaded analytics session. It does not undo earlier processing. You can also clear cookies and browser storage through your browser settings.

6. Sharing and overseas processing

Google Firebase Cloud Messaging processes installation identifiers and notification content to deliver optional friend activity notifications. We use Google Play Integrity on Android and Apple App Attest on iOS to verify the app and protect sign-in. These services process technical app and device information and return verification results. Their providers also handle information under their own privacy policies.

We use service providers for hosting, storage, security, subscription administration, support and optional website analytics. They handle information needed for those functions. App marketplaces also handle purchases under their own terms and privacy policies. We may disclose information where required by law, to obtain professional advice, or where reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety and security. We do not sell or rent your personal information.

Information may be stored or processed outside Australia, including in the United States and other countries where our providers operate. Applicable privacy laws may differ from those in Australia. We take reasonable steps to select providers with appropriate privacy and security safeguards and meet any overseas-disclosure obligations that apply to us. Contact us for further information about overseas handling.

7. Security and retention

We use reasonable safeguards, including encrypted connections, protected sign-in credentials and access controls. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure. Keep your device secure and contact us if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

We retain information for as long as reasonably needed for the purposes in this policy, including operating your account, resolving support requests, preventing abuse and meeting legal recordkeeping obligations. Retention depends on the type of record and the reason it is needed. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it. Where legally required, we will notify affected people and the relevant regulator of an eligible data breach.

8. Account deletion and your choices

You can delete your account from Settings → Account → Delete account. This revokes account access, replaces your profile names and removes Daily attempts and streak records. Deletion is permanent. It does not automatically erase every related record: account identifiers and some session, social, invitation, moderation, feedback, transaction or backup records may remain. Contact us to request deletion of remaining personal information; we will assess that request against any legal or legitimate retention requirements.

Uninstalling the app does not delete server-held information. Deleting your account or uninstalling the app does not cancel a subscription; cancel it separately through your app marketplace account. Device-only information can be removed by clearing app data or uninstalling, subject to your device’s storage and backup settings.

You may ask to access or correct personal information we hold about you. Depending on the law that applies, you may also have rights to deletion, portability, restriction, objection or withdrawal of consent. Contact us to exercise those rights. We may need proportionate information to verify account ownership; an email address alone may not identify a pseudonymous account. Do not send passwords or sign-in credentials. We respond within applicable legal time limits and explain any refusal and available complaint options.

9. Children

The Service is intended for people aged 13 or over, or the higher minimum age required where they live. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children below that age. If you believe a child has provided information in breach of this requirement, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate steps to remove it.

10. Questions and complaints

Email tashukwork@gmail.com with your question, request or complaint and enough detail for us to investigate. We aim to respond to privacy complaints within 30 days. If more time is needed, we will explain why and provide an update.

If you are dissatisfied, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner where the matter falls within its jurisdiction, or your local privacy regulator. The availability of statutory rights depends on the privacy laws that apply to the operator and your circumstances.

11. Changes to this policy

We will update this page and its revision date when our practices change. For material changes, we will provide a prominent notice in the app or on the website, and obtain consent where required. Changes do not remove rights you already have under applicable law.