Privacy Policy

1. Overview

DF: Game Hosting ("we," "us," or "our"), operated by Desert Forge IT, provides Minecraft server hosting services at hosting.desertforgeit.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our website and services.

By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our services.

2. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address
• Display name
• Password (stored as a one-way hash — we never store your plaintext password)
• Profile picture URL (optional, if provided)

Server & Usage Data

In connection with your use of our hosting services, we collect:

• Server configuration (name, type, version, player whitelist)
• Credits earned and redeemed (Forge Credits)
• Ad interaction records (used to prevent duplicate reward claims)
• Billing history and subscription status

Automatically Collected Information

When you access our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website
• Device type and operating system
• Date and time of requests

Payment Information

All payment processing is handled by Stripe, Inc. We do not store credit card numbers, CVV codes, or full payment details on our servers. We receive limited payment confirmation data from Stripe (such as last four digits, billing name, and transaction status) solely for record-keeping purposes.

3. Cookies and Local Storage

We use browser storage technologies to operate and improve our services:

• Authentication tokens — stored in localStorage to keep you logged in between sessions.
• Session preferences — such as selected server or UI state.

Third-party services we use (including Google, described below) may set their own cookies. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though disabling them may affect site functionality.

4. Advertising — Google AdSense

Specifically:

• Google uses the DoubleClick cookie to serve relevant ads to users across the web.
• Ads displayed on our site may be personalized based on your browsing history.
• Google may combine data it collects with information from other Google services.
• We earn revenue from ad impressions and interactions, which helps fund free tier hosting services.

Rewarded Ads (Forge Credits)

Our "Forge Credits" system allows free-tier users to earn hosting credits by voluntarily watching advertisements. When you choose to watch an ad:

• An advertisement is displayed for a set duration (15–45 seconds).
• Credits are awarded upon completion of the full ad view.
• Your ad watch history is recorded to enforce daily limits and prevent abuse.
• Participation is entirely voluntary — it is never required to use paid services.

How to Opt Out of Personalized Ads

You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting:

• Google Ad Settings — manage Google's personalized ad preferences
• NAI Opt-Out Tool — opt out of interest-based advertising from NAI members
• Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out

Note: opting out of personalized ads does not mean you will stop seeing ads — you will continue to see non-personalized ads.

5. Third-Party Services

We work with the following third-party providers who may have access to certain information as needed to perform their services:

• Stripe — payment processing (Privacy Policy)
• Google AdSense / Google LLC — advertising (Privacy Policy)
• Google Fonts — web font delivery (Privacy Policy)

These providers have their own privacy policies governing their data practices. We are not responsible for the practices of third-party services.

6. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain your server hosting services
• Process payments and manage billing
• Send transactional emails (account verification, password reset, server status)
• Prevent fraud, abuse, and policy violations
• Enforce daily limits on ad-based credit earning
• Improve our website and services
• Respond to support requests
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. Server logs and ad interaction records are retained for up to 90 days. Payment records are retained as required by applicable law (typically 7 years). You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed password storage, and access controls. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

10. Your Rights

For California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to: know what personal information we collect; request deletion of your personal information; and opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information). To exercise these rights, contact us at questions@desertforgeit.com.

For European Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights including: access to your personal data; rectification of inaccurate data; erasure of your data; restriction of processing; and data portability. To exercise these rights, contact us at questions@desertforgeit.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, by email. Continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

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

• Email: questions@desertforgeit.com
• Website: hosting.desertforgeit.com
• Operating as: Desert Forge IT — Washington State, USA