Privacy Policy — CGPACalculation.store

1. Privacy Overview — How We Protect You

CGPACalculation.store is designed with privacy as a foundational principle. Unlike many online calculators that send your data to remote servers, our tools perform all calculations directly in your web browser. This means:

2. Information We Collect

We collect different types of information depending on how you interact with the Site:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Calculator inputs: CGPA, SGPA, grades, percentages, credits, course names, etc. This data stays in your browser — we never receive or store it.
• Contact form submissions: If you email us through our Contact Us page (currently we use a direct email link rather than a form), you provide your email address and any message content.
• Feedback: If you submit feedback or suggestions about the Site, that content is processed only to improve our service.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain technical information that any standard web server logs:

• IP address: Used for security, fraud prevention, and approximate geolocation (country-level only).
• Browser type and version: Used to ensure compatibility and identify issues.
• Operating system: Used for compatibility analysis.
• Device type: Whether you're on desktop, tablet, or mobile.
• Referring URL: The page that linked you to our Site (if any).
• Pages visited and time spent: Used in aggregate to understand which calculators are most useful.
• Click events: Aggregated data on which calculator buttons and tabs are clicked most.
• Date and time of access.

2.3 Information We Do NOT Collect

• ❌ Your name, address, phone number, or other personal identifiers (unless you voluntarily email us).
• ❌ Your CGPA, SGPA, grades, or any academic data entered into the calculators — these stay in your browser.
• ❌ Financial information (we don't sell anything).
• ❌ Login credentials or passwords (we have no account system).
• ❌ Health information.
• ❌ Government-issued identifiers (SSN, Aadhaar, etc.).

3. How We Use Information

We use the limited information we collect for the following purposes:

• Site operation: Serving you the requested pages, calculators, and content.
• Performance optimization: Understanding which pages load slowly so we can improve them.
• Feature improvement: Identifying which calculators are most used so we can enhance them and add similar tools.
• Bug fixing: Investigating errors or crashes reported by browsers.
• Security: Detecting and preventing fraudulent activity, automated bots, and abuse.
• Aggregate analytics: Producing anonymous reports about Site usage trends (e.g., "calculator X received 50,000 visits last month from 80 countries").
• Legal compliance: Responding to lawful requests from authorities when required by law.
• Communications: Responding to your emails or messages if you contact us.

We do not use your information for:

• ❌ Selling or trading to third parties.
• ❌ Building profiles to predict your behavior beyond aggregate analytics.
• ❌ Tracking you across other websites.
• ❌ Sending marketing emails (we don't have a mailing list).

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit websites. We use the following types of cookies:

4.1 Essential Cookies

These are necessary for the Site to function properly. Without them, basic features like navigation may not work. Essential cookies do not require your consent under GDPR.

4.2 Analytics Cookies

We may use Google Analytics or similar services to collect anonymous, aggregated usage data. These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Site. The data collected includes:

• Pages viewed and time on page.
• Approximate location (country/region only — NOT your precise location).
• Device and browser type.
• How you arrived at our Site (search engine, direct, referral).

4.3 Advertising Cookies

If we display advertisements (e.g., through Google AdSense), advertising cookies may be set by Google to show you relevant ads. You can opt out of personalized advertising through:

• Google Ad Settings
• Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out
• Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out

4.4 How to Control Cookies

Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• Delete existing cookies from your device.
• Block all cookies (note: this may break some features).
• Allow only essential cookies.
• Be notified before a cookie is set.

Browser-specific cookie controls: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.

5. Third-Party Services

We may use third-party services that have their own privacy policies. We carefully select partners committed to user privacy:

5.1 Google Analytics

We may use Google Analytics to understand Site usage. Google Analytics uses cookies and collects information that does not identify individual users. Google may use the data for its own purposes per its privacy policy.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

5.2 Hosting Provider

Our website is hosted on third-party servers. The hosting provider may have access to server logs (IP addresses, timestamps, browser headers) for security and operational purposes. They are bound by privacy obligations.

5.3 Content Delivery Network (CDN)

We use a CDN to serve Site content quickly worldwide. The CDN may log access information (similar to any web server) for performance optimization. CDN providers are contractually bound to data protection standards.

5.4 Font Services

We use Google Fonts to display web fonts. When fonts load, Google may collect your IP address and browser information per their privacy policy.

5.5 External Links

Our Site contains links to external websites (university registrars, WES, official government sites). Once you click these links, you leave our Site. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external sites. Always review the privacy policy of any site you visit.

6. Advertising and Analytics

Currently, our Site may display advertisements through third-party ad networks such as Google AdSense. These networks may use cookies and similar technologies to deliver ads relevant to your interests.

About personalized ads:

• Ad networks may track your browsing across multiple websites to build interest profiles.
• Ads shown are based on these profiles, not on your CGPA or academic data (which we don't have).
• You can opt out of personalized advertising using the links in Section 4.3.

If we partner with affiliate programs (e.g., referrals to credential evaluation services like WES), we may earn a commission when you make a purchase through our links. Affiliate links don't change the price you pay. We disclose affiliate relationships where applicable.

7. Data Storage and Security

7.1 Where Your Data Lives

• Your calculator inputs: Stored only in your browser's memory during your session. When you close the tab/browser, the data is gone. We have no access to it.
• Server logs: IP addresses, browser headers, and access timestamps are stored by our hosting provider. These logs are typically retained for 30-90 days for security and operational analysis.
• Analytics data: Aggregate analytics are stored by Google Analytics (or similar) per their data retention policies, typically 14-26 months.

7.2 Security Measures

• HTTPS encryption: All Site traffic is encrypted using TLS to prevent interception.
• No sensitive data collection: Since we don't collect financial, health, or identity information, there's no high-risk data to protect.
• Industry-standard hosting: Our hosting provider implements physical and digital security measures.
• Regular updates: We update Site dependencies and security patches regularly.

7.3 Limitations

While we take reasonable measures to protect information, no internet transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we minimize risk by collecting minimal data in the first place.

8. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: Hosting, CDN, and analytics providers as described in Section 5. These parties are bound by data protection obligations.
• Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or government request from a competent authority. We will challenge requests we believe are improper.
• Safety: To protect the safety of users, the Site, or the public.
• Fraud prevention: To investigate or prevent abuse, fraud, or violations of our Terms.
• Business transfers: In the unlikely event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user data may be transferred to the new entity, with notice.
• With your consent: For any other sharing, we will request your explicit consent first.

We never share or sell your information to third-party data brokers, marketers, or advertisers for their independent use.

9. Your Privacy Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

9.1 Rights Under GDPR (European Users)

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

• Right to access: Request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification: Correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data.
• Right to restriction: Limit how we process your data.
• Right to data portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to object: Object to processing for direct marketing or legitimate interests.
• Right to withdraw consent: If processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it anytime.
• Right to lodge a complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Since we collect minimal data and don't directly store your inputs, most of these rights are inherently respected by our design. To exercise any right, contact us at the email below.

9.2 Rights Under CCPA (California Users)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act grants you:

• Right to know: What personal information we collect, sources, purposes, and disclosures.
• Right to delete: Request deletion of personal information we hold.
• Right to opt-out: We do not sell personal information, so this right is automatically respected.
• Right to non-discrimination: We won't discriminate against you for exercising CCPA rights.

9.3 Other Jurisdictions

Users in Canada (PIPEDA), Brazil (LGPD), India (DPDP Act 2023), Australia (Privacy Act), and other jurisdictions have similar rights under their local laws. We strive to honor these rights globally. Contact us with any data-related requests.

9.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

Send an email to our contact address with:

• Subject line: "Privacy Rights Request — [Type of Request]"
• Description of your request.
• Confirmation of your identity (we may ask for reasonable verification).

We will respond within 30 days for GDPR requests and 45 days for CCPA requests, as required by law.

10. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

Our calculators are used by students of all ages, including students under 13. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar laws worldwide:

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
• We do not require any account creation or personal information to use our tools.
• Our calculators perform all calculations locally in the browser — no academic data is sent to us.
• Our content is educational and age-appropriate.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately. We will delete the information promptly.

Parents may also wish to use parental control tools to monitor their child's internet activity and provide additional protection.

11. International Users

CGPACalculation.store serves users worldwide. Our servers and hosting providers may be located in different countries. By using the Site, you acknowledge that:

• Information may be transferred to, processed in, and stored in countries different from your country of residence.
• These countries may have different data protection laws than your country.
• We implement safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses for EEA data transfers) to protect data during international transfers.

Since our primary data flow is browser-based calculations (with no academic data leaving your device), international data transfer concerns are minimal for the calculator functionality itself.

12. Data Retention

We retain different types of data for different periods:

• Server logs: 30-90 days for security and operational analysis.
• Analytics data: Up to 26 months (Google Analytics default), then automatically deleted or anonymized.
• Email communications: Retained as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry, then for a reasonable period for our records.
• Aggregated, anonymized data: May be retained indefinitely as it cannot identify individuals.
• Your browser-stored data: Persists until you clear your browser cache or close the tab — we have no role in this retention.

When data is no longer necessary for the purposes outlined in this Policy, we delete or anonymize it.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes in our practices or services.
• New legal or regulatory requirements.
• Improvements in transparency.

When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy.
• For material changes, we will provide more prominent notice on the Site.
• Your continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

For complaints related to our data practices, you may also contact your local data protection authority (such as the ICO in the UK, CNIL in France, or relevant authority in your country).

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