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Privacy Policy

History Trail ("the Service") is a history map quiz game run by an individual. We process only the information needed to run the game. This policy explains what we process, why, and for how long.

1. Information we process

If you play without signing in

  • Device identifier: a random number stored in your browser (the anon_id cookie) to enforce one play per day and to count visits. It is not linked to your name or contact details.
  • Visit records: the date of your visit (UTC), the time of your first visit that day, and your device identifier or account ID. Multiple visits on the same day are recorded once.
  • Game records: the date you played, the coordinates you tapped for each question, distances and scores, whether you used hints, and start and finish times.

If you sign in with Google, additionally

  • Your Google account ID: an identifier received from Google when you sign in.
  • Your Google profile name and profile picture URL, shown as your display name on leaderboards and at the top of the screen. They are refreshed from your Google account each time you sign in, so a name change at Google shows up on your next sign-in. We do not request or store your email address.
  • A fallback display name generated by the Service (for example, Explorer1234), shown when no Google profile name is available.

Collected automatically

  • Your country: used only to choose the display language (Korean or English) and not stored.
  • Access logs: Vercel, which hosts the Service, may record IP addresses, timestamps and requested URLs for security and troubleshooting.

2. Why we process it

  • To run the game: server-side scoring, one play per day, and resuming where you left off.
  • Leaderboards: signed-in players' names, profile pictures, scores and times are shown to other players.
  • Past trails: your results and that day's rankings for the last 14 days.
  • Visit counts: showing the total number of visits at the bottom of the page and seeing usage by day and hour.
  • Usage statistics, through Google Analytics (see section 4).

3. Cookies and browser storage

  • Sign-in session cookie: keeps you signed in. It holds only your Service user ID, display name and profile picture URL and is removed when you sign out.
  • anon_id: the device identifier for visitors who are not signed in (game records and visit counts). Kept for one year.
  • locale: your chosen display language. Kept for one year.
  • analytics-consent (browser storage): whether you allowed analytics cookies. Never sent to our servers.
  • Google Analytics cookies (_ga and similar): set only while analytics is on (see section 4).

You can clear cookies in your browser settings, but this may sign you out and reset your daily play record.

4. Google Analytics

If you visit from the EU/EEA, the UK or Switzerland, or we can't tell where you are: we ask on your first visit and load Google Analytics only if you allow it. If you decline or don't choose, no analytics data is sent.

If you visit from anywhere else: Google Analytics is on by default, and you can turn it off from "Cookie settings".

Google Analytics collects usage information such as pages visited, device and browser type and approximate location. Wherever you are, you can turn it off at any time from "Cookie settings", which also deletes the related cookies.

5. Retention and deletion

  • Account information and game records are kept while the Service operates and deleted promptly on request.
  • If the Service shuts down, all stored information is destroyed.
  • Vercel access logs and Google Analytics data are kept according to those companies' own policies.

6. Service providers and international transfers

We use the following providers. Your information is processed and stored outside Korea, including in the United States, and is transferred over the network when you use the Service.

  • Vercel Inc. (USA): hosting and access logs.
  • Neon (USA; database located in the US East region): account information and game records.
  • Google LLC (USA): Google sign-in and Google Analytics.

To display maps and fonts, your browser downloads files directly from Esri (satellite imagery), OpenFreeMap (borders and country names), jsDelivr and Google Fonts (fonts), and TMDB (film posters on the results screen). These companies may receive general connection information such as your IP address. We do not send them your account or game records.

7. Your rights

You may request access to, correction or deletion of, or suspension of processing of your information. Contact us at the address below and we will act after verifying your identity. You can change your analytics consent yourself from "Cookie settings".

8. Children

The Service is not directed at children under 14, and we do not knowingly collect sign-in information from them. If we learn that we have, we will delete it promptly.

9. Security

  • All traffic is encrypted with HTTPS.
  • Sign-in session cookies are signed to prevent tampering and cannot be read by scripts.
  • Database credentials are kept only on the Service's servers.

10. Contact

Privacy questions and requests: luke · pulum0083@gmail.com

11. Changes

This policy is effective from 2026-10-15. If it changes, we will post the update here with its effective date.