Welcome to truehardware (accessible via https://truehardware.me). Your privacy is critically important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how information about you is collected, used, and disclosed by truehardware ("we," "us," or "our"), operated by Sam Kingpin.

1. Information We Collect

We believe in strict data minimization. We only collect the minimal information necessary to deliver our content and interactive features securely:

• Google Sign-In Account Data: To access and read content on truehardware, users are required to sign in using Google OAuth. When you authenticate via Google, we access your publicly available display name solely to display a personalized greeting on our homepage during your active session. We do not store, process, or sell your Google password, personal email, or contacts.
• Contact Information: If you contact us directly via email at contact@truehardware.me (e.g., for sponsorship inquiries, general questions, or feedback), we retain the contents of your message and your email address to correspond with you.

2. Third-Party Services & Technologies

To keep the site secure, fast, and interactive, we utilize select third-party service providers. Each handles information according to their respective privacy policies:

• Cloudflare: We use Cloudflare protection and performance services to protect our infrastructure against cyberattacks (e.g., DDoS protection) and to serve content efficiently. Cloudflare may process technical request headers, IP addresses, and security logs for security validation.
• Simple Analytics: We value privacy and use Simple Analytics to understand general site traffic. Simple Analytics is privacy-first: it does not use cookies, does not collect personal data, does not track individual visitors across sites, and operates in full compliance with global privacy standards.
• GraphComment: Used to power our interactive commenting section. Operating within the GraphComment ecosystem may involve temporary functional cookies to maintain your session and render comments.
• Crowdsignal (Polldaddy): Used for hosting interactive quick polls and questionnaires on the platform.

3. Cookies & Local Storage

We do not use tracking cookies for advertising or invasive profiling. Functional third-party cookies or session local storage may be utilized strictly by Cloudflare, Google OAuth, and interactive widgets (GraphComment/Crowdsignal) to maintain essential security, authentication state, and feature operations.

4. How We Use Your Information

Any information gathered is used exclusively for:

• Authenticating user sessions and personalizing the display name on the home interface.
• Maintaining site uptime, performance, and security defenses.
• Responding to incoming sponsorship, business, or inquiries received via our official email.

We do not sell, rent, trade, or monetize your personal information to any third parties under any circumstances.

5. Monetization & Ads Disclaimer

truehardware does not run third-party display ad networks (such as Google AdSense) or user-targeted advertisements. However, we reserve the right to engage in direct corporate sponsorships, affiliate references, or programmatic partnerships arranged via direct communication.

6. Children's Privacy (COPPA & Global Standards)

truehardware is intended for general audiences aged 13 and above. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal data, please contact us immediately, and we will promptly remove such information.

7. International Data Transfers & Governing Law

truehardware is operated out of India and serves a global audience. By accessing our platform, you acknowledge that your information may be processed across global server networks utilized by our infrastructure partners (e.g., Cloudflare, Google, Simple Analytics). This Privacy Policy is governed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation in India and internationally recognized privacy principles.

8. Your Data Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal communications or data associated with your interaction with truehardware. For any data inquiries or to revoke OAuth permissions, you can manage your settings directly in your Google Security Settings or contact us directly.

9. Editorial Independence & Sponsorship Policy

At truehardware, we maintain strict editorial independence. Under no circumstances will we accept paid compensation or sponsorships in exchange for biased coverage, favorable reviews, or altered editorial opinions. Brands and partners who support our operational costs will receive acknowledgment in our designated "Brand Hall of Fame" detailing their explicit contributions (e.g., covering infrastructure or domain expenses), but sponsorships will never influence our testing, hardware analysis, or editorial standards.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, security disclosures, or legal inquiries regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact the site operator: