← Back to the game

Privacy Policy

This page explains what data is collected while using Balloword and how it's handled.

This is a translation for convenience. The German version is the legally authoritative one; in case of doubt, it takes precedence.

1. Data controller

Bodo Mackebrandt

Bahnhofstraße 30, 14712 Rathenow, Germany

Email: mail@balloword.com

2. Hosting and server log files

This website is hosted with Strato. When you visit the site, the host automatically collects and stores information in server log files that your browser transmits, including:

The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest) – the legitimate interest being the secure and stable operation of the website (e.g. error analysis, abuse detection). This data is not combined with other data sources and is not used to personally identify you.

3. Cookie: language preference (balloword_lang)

Balloword sets a cookie named balloword_lang, which stores whether you last visited the German or English version. It is set/refreshed on every visit to /de or /en, and is used on your next visit to the homepage to redirect you straight back to your last-used language version.

As this is a strictly necessary/functional cookie, no consent is required for it.

4. Local browser storage (localStorage): stats & streak

Balloword stores your game progress (current streak, number of games played, win rate, recent results, etc.) exclusively locally in your browser using localStorage, under the key balloword_stats.

5. No login, no account

Balloword requires no registration, no login, and no user account. No names, email addresses, passwords, or similar data are collected or stored.

6. Google AdSense (not currently active)

This website is prepared for a future integration of Google AdSense (Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; processing may also involve Google LLC, USA). AdSense is not currently active.

Once AdSense is activated: Google uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads, sometimes based on prior visits to this or other websites. Data such as IP address, device/browser information, and ad interactions are transmitted to Google. Personalized advertising will only be shown after you give explicit consent via the cookie consent banner (see section 7); without consent, at most non-personalized ads will be served, where technically possible.

More information: Google Privacy Policy and Google Advertising Policies.

This section will be updated once AdSense is actually activated.

7. Cookie consent management (CookieYes)

To obtain and manage your consent, we use the CookieYes service once it is active. CookieYes itself sets a cookie (typically cookieyes-consent) to remember your choice (e.g. "accept all", "necessary only") for future visits. Without this cookie, you would need to make your choice again on every visit.

You can change or withdraw your consent at any time via the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of this page.

8. Your rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:

Since Balloword deliberately does not permanently store personally identifiable data on our server (see above), these rights in practice mainly concern the server log files (section 2) and, in the future, AdSense (section 6). For requests, contact: mail@balloword.com

9. Changes to this privacy policy

We will update this privacy policy whenever the data processing described here changes (e.g. once AdSense is activated). The version current at the time of your visit applies.