Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 12, 2026  ·  Last Updated: May 13, 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Scot Lightizer ("we," "us," or "our"), operating the website youarethec.com (the "Site"), collects, uses, and protects information when you visit the Site or play the games hosted on it.

By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We do not require accounts, registrations, or logins. The only information you may provide directly is:

• Game initials (local scoreboards). When you achieve a high score, you may enter 2–3 character initials. These initials are stored locally in your browser's localStorage and are not transmitted to us.
• Game initials and score data (global leaderboards). Some games offer optional global leaderboards (Daily and All-Time). When you complete a game where this is enabled, the following information is transmitted to and stored on our servers: your initials, your final score, the date and time of submission, and a one-way cryptographic hash of your IP address (we do not store the IP itself). During gameplay, we also transmit periodic score-progress checkpoints and a log of input event timestamps; these are used only to validate the legitimacy of submitted scores and are discarded after validation. You can avoid all of this by not playing games with global leaderboards, or by playing offline.
• Email correspondence. If you contact us via the email address listed on the Contact page, we receive your email address and the content of your message.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, certain information is collected automatically:

• Usage data via Google Analytics 4 (pages viewed, time on site, referring URLs, device and browser type, approximate geographic location derived from IP address).
• Traffic data via Cloudflare Web Analytics (aggregated, privacy-friendly traffic metrics).
• Advertising data via Google AdSense (see Section 3).

2.3 Local Browser Storage

The games use your browser's localStorage to save high scores and game state on your device. This data stays on your device and is not transmitted to us. Clearing your browser data will erase your saved scores.

3. Third-Party Services and Advertising

3.1 Google AdSense

The Site displays advertisements served by Google AdSense. Google and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your visits to this and other websites.

• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to our Site and/or other sites on the internet.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings.
• You may also opt out of third-party vendor use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info.

3.2 Google Analytics 4

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the Site. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar identifiers to collect usage information. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

3.3 Cloudflare

The Site is hosted on Cloudflare Pages and uses Cloudflare Web Analytics. Cloudflare may collect information for security, performance, and analytics purposes. See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The Site and its third-party providers use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Analytics (Google Analytics, Cloudflare)
• Advertising (Google AdSense)
• Functional storage (localStorage for game high scores — not a cookie, but similar in function)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect ad personalization but will not prevent you from playing the games.

5. How We Use Information

We use collected information to:

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Site
• Understand how visitors use the Site (analytics)
• Serve advertisements
• Respond to inquiries sent to our contact email
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information.

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information only:

• With third-party service providers listed above (Google, Cloudflare) for the purposes described
• If required by law, subpoena, or court order
• To protect our legal rights, safety, or property

7. Data Retention

• localStorage data (game scores, initials) remains on your device until you clear it.
• Analytics data is retained per Google Analytics and Cloudflare default retention periods.
• Email correspondence is retained as needed to respond and for reasonable record-keeping.

8. Your Rights Under GDPR (EU/EEA/UK Visitors)

If you are located in the European Union, European Economic Area, or United Kingdom, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing, including direct marketing
• Right to withdraw consent at any time
• Right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise these rights, contact us at the email on the Contact page.

Legal basis for processing: We process data based on (a) your consent (for advertising cookies and analytics), (b) our legitimate interests (in operating and improving the Site), and (c) legal obligations where applicable.

9. Your Rights Under CCPA (California Visitors)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Right to delete personal information we have collected
• Right to correct inaccurate personal information
• Right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

We do not sell personal information for money. Under CCPA's broad definition, some advertising practices (such as Google AdSense's use of cookies for personalized advertising) may be considered "sharing" of personal information. You can opt out of personalized advertising via the links in Section 3.1.

To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at the email on the Contact page.

10. Children's Privacy

The Site is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 in the EU/EEA/UK). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. International Data Transfers

The Site is operated from the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States, which may have different data protection laws than your country.

12. Security

We take reasonable measures to protect information collected through the Site. However, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a new "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your rights:

• Operator: Scot Lightizer, operating youarethec.com
• Email: See the Contact page
• Jurisdiction: New Hampshire, United States