Overview
Sudoku Fog ("the app") is a puzzle game. We collect only what is necessary to provide gameplay features — leaderboards and daily challenges — to show ads, and to understand how the app is used so we can improve it. We do not collect your name, phone number, or payment information. An email address is collected only if you choose to link a Google account (see below).
Data We Collect
| Data | Purpose | Shared? |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising ID AdMob | Show personalised or non-personalised ads | Shared with Google AdMob |
| Anonymous Firebase UID Firebase Auth | Link your game data across sessions without requiring sign-in | Not shared |
| Leaderboard nickname & best times Firestore | Display your scores on the global leaderboard (opt-in only) | Publicly visible on leaderboard; not sold or shared with third parties |
| Google account email Google Sign-In | Optional only — links your account to Google so your leaderboard identity survives reinstall / new devices | Not shared beyond Firebase Auth |
| App usage & event data, app-instance ID, approximate (city-level) location Firebase Analytics | Understand engagement & retention (which features are used, how often) so we can improve the app | Processed by Google as our analytics provider; not sold |
Leaderboard participation is opt-in. Opting out in Settings → Leaderboard stops further participation; to permanently remove your stored data, use Delete my leaderboard data (see Delete Your Data).
Data We Do NOT Collect
- Real name
- Email address (unless you choose to link a Google account)
- Phone number
- Precise location
- Payment or billing information (handled entirely by Google Play)
- Device contacts, camera, or microphone
Third-Party Services
- Google AdMob — displays ads and may use the Advertising ID. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- Firebase (Google) — provides anonymous authentication and Firestore database for leaderboards. See Firebase Privacy.
- Google Firebase Analytics — collects app usage and event data, an app-instance identifier, and approximate (city-level) location derived from IP address, to help us understand engagement and improve the app. This is anonymous usage analytics — it is not used to identify you personally. See Firebase Privacy and Google's Privacy Policy.
- Google Sign-In — optional account linking only. If you link a Google account, your Google email is used by Firebase Authentication as your account identifier so your leaderboard identity can be restored on another device. You can unlink and delete it at any time (see Your Rights).
Data Retention
Leaderboard data is retained until you delete it via Delete my leaderboard data in the app or a request at Delete Your Data. Old weekend "masterpiece" entries are auto-removed after about 8 weeks. Note: simply opting out or uninstalling does not delete data already stored on the server, especially if you linked a Google account. Local game progress is stored on your device only.
Children
Sudoku Fog is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Your Rights
You can permanently delete your leaderboard data at any time:
- In the app: Settings → Leaderboard → Delete my leaderboard data (instant).
- Web form: if you've uninstalled the app, request deletion at Delete Your Data; we process it within 30 days.
Deletion removes your nickname, times, career/streak totals and supporter badge from all boards and deletes the account, including any Google link.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy occasionally. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance.