Simply Sudoku
Who we are
Simply Sudoku is provided by John Cotter. This policy covers the Android and iOS app identified as io.johncotter.sudoku, development builds and these support pages. Contact contact@johncotter.io for privacy questions or support@johncotter.io for game support.
Game data
Version 1.1 and later save your current puzzle, solution, entries, pencil marks, elapsed playing time, settings and completed-game journal in local app storage. The journal includes completion dates, mode, difficulty, time, and Exchange moves and medals. Daily puzzles are generated on your device from the UTC date, without an account or server request. Your daily solving streak is worked out from that journal rather than stored separately, so it adds nothing new to what is saved. Optional music is bundled in the app and does not stream or use the microphone. Earlier versions kept puzzles in memory only. We do not operate accounts, cloud saves, online leaderboards, or a first-party gameplay analytics or crash-upload service. Our game code does not upload puzzles, settings or game history.
Advertising and privacy choices
Native builds include Google Mobile Ads and Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP). UMP checks privacy requirements before the app initializes advertising or requests a banner. The app does not ask for or verify your age. We apply restrictive under-age-of-consent treatment to every player in both UMP and Mobile Ads, request non-personalized ads, and set a general-audience ad-content limit. These settings can limit ad availability. Google may store privacy preferences. If privacy readiness or ads cannot be loaded, gameplay remains available. Development builds use test ads; Expo Go and the web version do not request ads.
Data handled by Google
Google's advertising services may process IP addresses and approximate location inferred from them, device and advertising identifiers where available and permitted, app and device information, ad interactions, and diagnostic information. Google uses this information to deliver and measure ads, operate its services, and detect fraud or abuse. Non-personalized ads can still process data and use local storage; they do not mean no data collection. Google's policies govern its retention and processing. Our game code does not send your puzzle or entries to Google.
Your choices
When Google requires a privacy-options entry point, an Ad privacy options button appears below the game. Use it to review or change your choices. Banners are removed while choices are updated. Your device also provides privacy and advertising controls. No ad click, purchase or consent to personalized advertising is needed to play. The app does not request precise location, contacts, photos, camera, microphone or Apple's tracking permission. The only permission it can ask for is notifications, and only if you turn on the daily reminder described below.
Daily reminder and notifications
Version 1.2 adds an optional daily reminder, which is off by default. Turning it on is the only thing that asks your device for notification permission; declining leaves the reminder off and the rest of the game unaffected, with a route to system settings if you change your mind. Reminders are scheduled and delivered locally by your device. There is no account, no push token and no server involved, we cannot send you a message, and enabling the reminder sends no new information off the device. The reminder time you choose is stored with your other settings in local app storage. Turning the reminder off cancels anything already scheduled.
Support and younger users
If you email us, we receive your email address and the information you choose to provide. We and our email providers use it to respond and investigate the request. Send only what is needed. A parent or guardian should handle support messages and external links for a child. We do not collect age or birth-date information in the game. Contact contact@johncotter.io if a child has sent personal information that should be removed.
Retention, deletion and security
Version 1.1 and later keep local progress, preferences and completed-game history between launches. Starting a new puzzle replaces the current unfinished game after confirmation. Clearing app storage or uninstalling removes local saves; operating-system backups and possible restoration are managed separately by your device or backup provider. We do not have copies of your games and cannot recover them. Google may retain SDK and privacy data under its own policies. We keep support correspondence only as long as needed to address the request and related issues or meet legal obligations. We may disclose correspondence when required by law or necessary to protect legal rights, and do not sell it or use it for targeted advertising. Email contact@johncotter.io to request access, correction or deletion of information you sent us. No system guarantees absolute security.
Website and other services
Opening these pages sends normal connection information, such as your IP address and requested page, to our hosting provider, which may retain operational or security logs. These policy pages have no advertising, analytics scripts or external fonts. Linked sites, operating systems and app stores process information under their own policies.
Changes and contact
We will update this policy and its date when practices change, and provide additional notice or consent requests where required. Contact John Cotter at contact@johncotter.io with privacy questions.