Privacy Policy
At The Tech Modders, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy details the information we collect from you, how we use it, and the safeguards we have in place to protect it. By registering for or using our forums, you agree to the terms outlined below.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information from you when you register on our site, log in, make a post, or edit your account details. The data we collect includes:
- Account Data: When you register, we require a username, a valid email address, and a password. You may also choose to provide additional information such as your date of birth, location, and a biography.
- Usage Data: We automatically collect information about your interactions with the forum, including IP addresses, browser type, device type, and operating system.
- Content: Any text, images, or other media you voluntarily post in public threads or private messages are stored on our servers.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
- Functionality: To allow you to log in, post content, and interact with other members.
- Communication: To send you important notifications regarding your account (e.g., password resets, security alerts) or the community (e.g., newsletters, if opted-in).
- Moderation: To prevent spam, harassment, and other violations of our rules. IP addresses and usage data help us detect and ban malicious actors.
- Improvement: To analyze forum traffic and usage patterns to improve the site's performance and user experience.
3. Cookies
We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) to enhance your experience.
- Essential Cookies: Required for you to log in and maintain your session as you browse.
- Preference Cookies: Remember your settings (e.g., language, theme selection).
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with the site.
- Third-Party Cookies: Embedded content from sites like YouTube or Twitter/X may set their own cookies.
You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, but this may limit your ability to use certain features of the forums (such as staying logged in).
4. Data Sharing and Third Parties
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal identification information to others. We may share generic aggregated demographic information not linked to any personal identification regarding visitors and users with our business partners and trusted affiliates.
We may disclose your information only in the following circumstances:
- Legal Compliance: If required by law, subpoena, or legal process.
- Service Providers: To trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website (e.g., hosting providers, email services), provided they agree to keep this information confidential.
5. Data Security
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information. These include:
- Encryption: All traffic between your browser and our servers is encrypted via SSL (HTTPS).
- Access Control: Access to personal data is restricted to authorized staff members only.
- Hashing: Passwords are stored using secure one-way hashing algorithms and are never stored in plain text.
6. User Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your data:
- Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: You can update your personal information through your account settings.
- Erasure: You may request the deletion of your account and associated personal data ("Right to be Forgotten"). Please contact the administration team to initiate this process. Note that public posts may remain visible but anonymized.
7. Third-Party Links
Our forums may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any website you visit.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information.
9. Changes to This Policy
The Tech Modders reserves the right to update this privacy policy at any time. We will notify users of significant changes by posting a notice on the forum or sending an email to registered users. Your continued use of the site after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new terms.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us via the "Contact Us" form located in the footer of the forum or by creating a support ticket.