Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Privacy

At Free Word Search Generator, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our Service. We believe in transparency and want you to understand exactly what data we collect and why.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you use our Service, you may provide:

• Puzzle content (titles, words, themes) that you input
• Customization preferences (grid size, difficulty level, solution styles)
• Feedback and messages submitted through our feedback form

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• IP address (anonymized)
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website or source
• Device information (screen size, device type)

Cookies and Local Storage

We use browser local storage to save your puzzle data and preferences directly on your device. This allows your puzzles to persist between sessions without sending data to our servers. We may also use cookies for:

• Essential functionality (required for the Service to work)
• Analytics (understanding how users interact with our Service)
• Preferences (remembering your settings)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide and maintain the Service functionality
• Generate word search puzzles based on your input
• Save your puzzles locally on your device
• Improve user experience and Service features
• Analyze usage patterns to optimize performance
• Respond to feedback and support requests
• Detect and prevent technical issues or abuse
• Generate aggregate statistics (never personally identifiable)

3. Data Storage and Security

Local Storage

Your puzzle data is stored locally in your browser using localStorage and IndexedDB. This means your puzzles remain on your device and are not automatically uploaded to our servers. Important: If you clear your browser cache, cookies, or site data, all locally stored puzzles will be permanently deleted.

Server Storage

We only store puzzle data on our servers if you explicitly choose to make a puzzle public or share it. In these cases, the puzzle data is stored securely on servers hosted by trusted providers.

Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure hosting infrastructure
• Regular security audits and updates
• Limited access to any server-stored data

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We Do Not Sell Your Data

We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

When We Share Information

We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• Public Puzzles: If you choose to make a puzzle public, it becomes accessible to anyone with the link
• Service Providers: We use trusted third-party services (hosting, analytics, AI) that may process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger or acquisition, user data may be transferred to the new entity

5. Third-Party Services

Our Service integrates with the following third-party services:

Analytics

We may use analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to understand how users interact with our Service. These services may collect information about your usage patterns. You can opt out of analytics tracking through browser settings or extensions.

AI Services

When you use AI-powered word generation features, your topic/theme inputs are sent to AI service providers (such as OpenAI) to generate word suggestions. These providers have their own privacy policies and data handling practices.

Hosting and Infrastructure

Our Service is hosted on secure cloud platforms (such as Vercel) that may collect and process data for infrastructure and security purposes.

6. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Data Access and Control

You have the right to:

• Access your locally stored puzzle data (stored in your browser)
• Delete your puzzles by clearing browser storage
• Download your puzzles as PDF or images
• Request deletion of publicly shared puzzles
• Opt out of analytics tracking

Browser Controls

You can control cookies and local storage through your browser settings. Note that disabling these may limit functionality of the Service, such as the ability to save puzzles.

Do Not Track

We respect Do Not Track browser signals. When enabled, we will not track your activity for analytics purposes.

7. Children's Privacy

Our Service is designed for use by teachers, parents, and educators to create educational content for children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The Service is designed so that children using it (e.g., solving puzzles) do not need to provide any personal information. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

8. International Users

Our Service is hosted in the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer. We comply with applicable data protection laws and take measures to protect your information regardless of where it is processed.

9. Data Retention

Local Storage: Data stored in your browser remains until you clear it or uninstall your browser. Server Storage: Publicly shared puzzles are retained indefinitely unless you request deletion. We may delete inactive public puzzles after an extended period. Analytics Data: Aggregated analytics data is retained for up to 26 months for performance analysis.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice on our website or updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us using the feedback form in the footer of our website.

We are committed to addressing your privacy concerns and will respond to all inquiries within a reasonable timeframe.