Privacy Policy

1. Information we collect

We collect the following:

• Account information. When you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive basic profile information such as your name, email address, profile photo, and a unique user identifier. (With Sign in with Apple, you can choose to hide your email.)
• Location. While you are actively hunting, the app uses your device's precise location to measure your distance to a cache and to record where a find happened. We use location during gameplay and do not track your location in the background.
• Your content. Photos you capture of your finds and any profile details you provide.
• Usage and device information. Basic technical information needed to operate the app, such as app version and error/diagnostic data.

2. How we use your information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use your location for advertising.

• To provide the Service — sign you in, run the hunt, reveal caches, and record and display your finds.
• To store and show your find photos and profile in your collection.
• To maintain security, prevent abuse, and fix problems.
• To comply with legal obligations.

3. How your information is shared

We share information only as needed to run the Service:

• Service providers. We use Google Cloud and Firebase (a Google service) to host the app, authenticate sign-ins, and store data, and Google Maps / Apple Maps to display maps. Apple processes Sign in with Apple.
• Other users. Information you choose to make visible — such as a public profile or a shared find — may be seen by others.
• Legal reasons. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect rights, safety, or the integrity of the Service.

4. Where your data is stored

Your data is stored on Google Cloud infrastructure (primarily in the United States). If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to and processed there.

5. How long we keep it

We keep your account information and content for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we delete or de-identify your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we must retain it to comply with law or resolve disputes.

6. Your choices and rights

• Location. You can turn off location permission in your device settings at any time; some features (the hunt) won't work without it.
• Access & deletion. You can request a copy of your data or delete your account and associated personal data by contacting us at support@virtualgeocache.com (or via the in-app account controls where available).
• Depending on where you live (for example, the EEA/UK or California), you may have additional rights — such as access, correction, deletion, and the right to object. We honor these rights as required by law.

7. Children's privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us information, contact us and we'll delete it. Users between 13 and 18 should use the Service only with a parent or guardian's involvement.

8. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including authenticated access and private storage for personal content such as find photos. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we'll update the version and effective date above and, where appropriate, ask you to review it in the app.

10. Contact

Questions or requests? Contact us at support@virtualgeocache.com.