Our Privacy Promise
At The HdG Beacon, we believe privacy is a fundamental right. We've designed our platform to collect minimal data while providing you with the best possible experience discovering Havre de Grace.
Data Collection Overview
What We Do Collect
Anonymous Usage Analytics
Page views, popular features, and general usage patterns to improve our service
Local Storage Data
Your trip plans, favorites, and preferences stored locally on your device
Contact Information
Only when you voluntarily provide it via contact forms or business claims
What We Don't Collect
Personal Identifiers
No names, addresses, phone numbers, or personal details unless voluntarily provided
Tracking Cookies
No third-party tracking cookies or invasive behavioral monitoring
Location Tracking
No continuous location monitoring or GPS tracking of your movements
1. Information We Collect
We use privacy-respecting analytics to understand how people use The HdG Beacon:
- Page views and popular sections
- Feature usage patterns (which tools are most helpful)
- General geographic regions (state/country level only)
- Device types and browser information (for compatibility)
This data is completely anonymous and cannot be linked back to individual users.
We store certain information locally on your device to enhance your experience:
- Your trip plans and itineraries
- Favorite locations and businesses
- Challenge progress and achievements
- Preferences and settings
This data stays on your device and is not transmitted to our servers.
We only collect personal information when you choose to provide it:
- Contact form submissions (name, email, message)
- Business owner information for claimed listings
- Bug report contact details (optional)
- Newsletter subscriptions (if offered)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for these specific purposes:
- Understanding which features are most valuable to users
- Identifying areas for improvement and new feature development
- Optimizing page load times and user experience
- Ensuring compatibility across different devices and browsers
- Responding to your contact form submissions
- Following up on bug reports or technical issues
- Providing customer support for business owners
- Sending important updates about service changes (if you've subscribed)
3. Cookies and Local Storage
We use local storage (not cookies) to save your session data:
- Trip planner saved itineraries
- Your challenge progress and achievements
- User preferences and settings
- Recently viewed locations
This data is stored only on your device and can be cleared at any time through your browser settings.
- No third-party tracking cookies
- No advertising cookies or beacons
- No social media tracking pixels
- No cross-site tracking mechanisms
4. Information Sharing
We have a simple policy when it comes to sharing your information: we don't.
We Never Share:
- Personal information with advertisers
- Contact details with third parties
- Usage data for commercial purposes
- Any data for profit or marketing
We may only share information in these rare circumstances:
- When required by law or legal process
- To protect our rights or the safety of users
- In case of business transfer (with user notification)
- With your explicit consent
5. Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect the limited information we collect:
Technical Safeguards
- HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
- Secure hosting infrastructure
- Regular security updates and monitoring
- Limited access controls
Operational Practices
- Regular data backups
- Incident response procedures
- Employee privacy training
- Vendor security requirements
6. Your Privacy Rights
You have complete control over your information on The HdG Beacon:
Since most data is stored locally on your device, you can:
- Clear your browser data to remove all stored information
- Use private/incognito browsing mode
- Disable local storage in your browser settings
- Delete specific saved items (trip plans, favorites)
If you've provided contact information, you can:
- Request to see what information we have
- Ask us to update or correct information
- Request deletion of your contact information
- Opt out of any communications
7. Children's Privacy
The HdG Beacon is designed as a family-friendly resource suitable for all ages. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
For Parents and Guardians
If you believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately and we will delete it promptly.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements.
- We'll post the updated policy on this page
- We'll update the "Last Modified" date at the top
- For significant changes, we'll provide additional notice
- Continued use of our service means acceptance of updates
9. Contact Us About Privacy
We're committed to transparency and answering your privacy questions.
Get in Touch
If you have questions about this privacy policy or our data practices:
Email: Use our contact form
Response Time: We typically respond within 24-48 hours
Privacy-First Design
This privacy policy reflects our commitment to building a platform that respects your privacy while helping you discover the best of Havre de Grace.
Last updated: 2025 • Thank you for trusting us with your journey through HdG!