Privacy Policy

Gridfix ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") operates the symptomtracemap.pro website and related diagnostic tools for city-building game strategy guidance. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit and interact with our services.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways to provide and improve our diagnostic guides, troubleshooting resources, and community features:

• Contact Form Data: When you submit inquiries, report issues, or request guidance, we collect your name, email address, and message content.
• Account Information: If you create an account to save diagnostic journeys or share before-and-after city screenshots, we collect username, email, and optional profile details.
• Usage Data: We automatically collect information about how you interact with our site, including pages visited, time spent, diagnostic tools used, and the types of city failures you search for (traffic jams, budget deficits, utility blackouts).
• Device Information: We collect browser type, operating system, IP address, and device identifiers to understand platform compatibility and user experience.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to remember your preferences, maintain session data, and analyze site performance. You may control cookie settings through your browser.
• Community Submissions: When you contribute diagnostic case studies, solution annotations, or before-and-after screenshots to our community section, we collect and display that content.

2. Purpose of Data Collection and Use

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, maintain, and improve our diagnostic guides, troubleshooting tools, and strategy resources.
• To respond to your inquiries, support requests, and feedback about city-building challenges.
• To personalize your experience and deliver targeted content relevant to your gameplay failures and interests.
• To analyze site usage patterns, user behavior, and the effectiveness of our diagnostic flowcharts and intervention guides.
• To send you updates, newsletters, or notifications about new symptom libraries, root-cause analyses, or community solutions (with your consent).
• To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, security threats, and fraudulent activity.
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (such as web beacons and local storage) to enhance your experience on Gridfix. These technologies help us:

• Remember your login status and diagnostic preferences.
• Track which troubleshooting guides you have viewed and which city failure types interest you most.
• Measure site performance and user engagement with our visual decision trees and symptom flowcharts.
• Deliver analytics to understand how players use our before-and-after city screenshots and intervention strategies.

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through your settings. You may refuse or delete cookies, but this may limit your ability to access certain features of our site. We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal information or payment data.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your data in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share data with trusted vendors who assist with hosting, analytics, email delivery, and customer support. These processors are contractually obligated to use your data only to provide services to Gridfix.
• Community Content: Any diagnostic case studies, screenshots, or solutions you voluntarily submit to our community section may be displayed publicly and attributed to your username.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of Gridfix, our users, and the public.
• Business Transfers: If Gridfix is acquired, merged, or sold, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your data.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, and comply with legal obligations. Specifically:

• Contact form submissions and inquiry data are retained for up to two years or until you request deletion.
• Account information is retained while your account is active and for one year after account closure, unless longer retention is required by law.
• Usage and analytics data are typically retained for up to 12 months in aggregated form.
• Community-submitted content (screenshots, case studies) remains visible in our community section indefinitely unless you request removal.

You may request deletion of your personal data at any time by contacting us, subject to legal and operational requirements.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures, including encryption, secure server protocols, and access controls, to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you use our services at your own risk.

7. Your Privacy Rights

As a user in Hungary and the European Union, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Hungarian data protection law:

• Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and operational constraints.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit how we use your data.
• Right to Data Portability: You may request your data in a structured, portable format.
• Right to Object: You may object to certain processing activities, including direct marketing and profiling.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You may file a complaint with the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) if you believe your rights have been violated.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section below.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

Our site may contain links to external websites, forums, or services operated by third parties. This Privacy Policy applies only to Gridfix. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of linked sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services before providing your information.

9. Children's Privacy

Gridfix is intended for players aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

Gridfix is based in Budapest, Hungary. Your information may be processed, stored, and accessed by our team and service providers located in Hungary and other countries. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your data to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection laws. We implement appropriate safeguards, including standard contractual clauses, to protect your data during international transfers.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or need to report a data breach, please contact us:

We will respond to your request within 30 days or as required by applicable law.

12. Policy Updates

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 material changes by posting the updated policy on our site and updating the "Last Updated" date below. Your continued use of Gridfix following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.