Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 15, 2026

Controller

Email: [email protected]

Overview

ARKCademy is an independent game guide site. You can browse the site without creating an account or providing your name. This policy explains what information may be processed when you use the site and the choices available to you.

Hosting and technical data

The hosting provider may process technical request data needed to deliver and secure the site, such as your IP address, browser type, requested page, referring page, and the date and time of the request. The hosting provider determines how long its server logs are retained. ARKCademy also uses Cloudflare to route and protect public website traffic. Cloudflare may process the same technical request data under its own privacy policy.

Browser storage

ARKCademy uses session storage to transfer a selected build into the resource calculator. This data remains in your browser for the current tab session and is removed after it is read or when the session ends. ARKCademy does not currently use first-party analytics. When ad-free access is activated, a strictly necessary secure session cookie remembers that the current browser has a valid entitlement. The cookie is not available to JavaScript and is checked by the ARKCademy server before advertising is loaded.

External map data

The interactive map tools request public map data from the ARK Official Community Wiki at ark.wiki.gg. When your browser makes that request, the wiki operator receives standard technical request data, including your IP address. Its own privacy terms govern that processing.

Google AdSense

Advertising is disabled unless ARKCademy is configured with a valid Google AdSense publisher ID. If AdSense is enabled, Google and other authorized advertising vendors may use cookies or similar technologies to serve, limit, personalize, and measure ads. These vendors may process device identifiers, IP addresses, browsing activity, and interactions with ads in accordance with their own policies and your consent choices.

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables Google and its partners to serve ads based on visits to this site and other sites on the Internet. You can manage personalized advertising in Google's My Ad Center or opt out of some participating third-party vendors at YourAdChoices.

More information about Google's advertising data processing is available in Google's advertising technologies policy.

Consent in the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland

If advertising is enabled, visitors in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland are shown a Google-certified consent management platform before advertising technologies that require consent are used. The message explains the purposes and vendors involved and provides options to consent, decline, or manage individual choices. Those choices can be changed or withdrawn later through the privacy-options link supplied by the consent platform.

Support and ad-free purchases

Voluntary support is processed by Ko-fi. Ad-free purchases, receipts, subscription management, and license generation are processed by Lemon Squeezy. Each provider receives the information submitted to it and standard technical request data under its own privacy policy. You can read the Ko-fi Privacy Policy and the Lemon Squeezy Privacy Policy before using either payment option.

To activate ad-free access, ARKCademy sends the supplied license key to Lemon Squeezy for validation and checks that the supplied purchase email matches the purchase record. ARKCademy stores the license key encrypted, a one-way hash of the purchase email, provider order and license identifiers, entitlement status, expiry data, and the minimum session information needed to enforce one active browser. These records are used to handle activation, browser transfer, cancellation, expiration, and refunds. ARKCademy does not receive or store card or PayPal credentials.

Data sharing and retention

ARKCademy does not sell personal information. Technical data may be processed by the hosting provider, the ARK Official Community Wiki when map tools are used, Ko-fi or Lemon Squeezy when the corresponding payment feature is used, and Google or authorized advertising vendors if ads are enabled. Each provider retains information according to its own policies and applicable law. Expired and revoked browser sessions are periodically removed; transaction and entitlement records may be retained where needed for security, support, accounting, or legal obligations.

Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, or a copy of personal data, to object to certain processing, or to withdraw consent. You may also have the right to contact your local data-protection authority.

Policy changes

This policy may be updated when site features, service providers, or legal requirements change. The revision date at the top identifies the current version.

Contact

For privacy questions or requests, email [email protected] or use the Contact page.