Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Hotdealr ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Email address, username, password (encrypted)
• Profile Information: Display name, bio, avatar (optional)
• Content: Deals you submit, comments, votes
• Communications: Messages you send us via contact forms or email

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, deals clicked, time spent on site
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, IP address
• Cookies: Session cookies, preference cookies (see Cookie Policy below)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain our services
• Create and manage your account
• Process and display your submitted deals and comments
• Send you notifications about your account activity
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Improve our website and user experience
• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

• Public Content: Deals, comments, and profile information you choose to make public
• Service Providers: AWS (hosting), email services, analytics providers
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Encryption at rest for sensitive data
• Secure password hashing (bcrypt)
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct your information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails
• Object: Object to certain data processing activities

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@hotdealr.com

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies for:

• Essential Cookies: Required for site functionality (login, sessions)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings (theme, language)
• Analytics Cookies: Understand how users interact with our site

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

8. Third-Party Services

We use third-party services that may collect information:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): Hosting and infrastructure
• Vercel: Frontend hosting and CDN
• Analytics: Usage statistics and performance monitoring

These services have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.

9. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. When you delete your account, we remove your personal information within 30 days, except where required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention).

10. Children's Privacy

Hotdealr is not intended for users under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

11. International Users

Hotdealr is operated in the United States. If you access our site from outside the US, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the US. By using our services, you consent to this transfer.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice on our website. Your continued use of Hotdealr after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, contact us at: