Privacy Policy

Introduction

StoryHawk ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Google Top Stories tracking platform and related services.

Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our services:

Account Information

• Email address (required for account creation and communication)
• Name (for personalization and support)
• Password (stored securely using bcrypt hashing)
• Your website URL (to track your content performance)

Usage Data

• Keywords you choose to track
• Competitor websites you monitor
• Geographic regions for tracking
• Dashboard preferences and settings

Technical Data

• IP address (for security and fraud prevention)
• Browser type and version
• Device type (desktop/mobile preference)
• Access logs and timestamps

Payment Information

• Billing address and contact details
• Subscription plan and status
• Payment processing handled securely by Stripe (we do not store credit card numbers)

How We Use Your Information

• Provide and maintain our tracking services
• Create and manage your account
• Process payments and manage subscriptions
• Send service updates, alerts, and marketing communications (with your consent)
• Analyze usage patterns to improve our platform
• Detect, prevent, and address security issues

Information Sharing

We share your information only with the following third-party service providers:

• Stripe - Payment processing and subscription management
• Cloudflare - Security, bot protection (Turnstile CAPTCHA), and content delivery
• MongoDB Atlas - Secure cloud database hosting
• DataForSEO - Search engine results data collection

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies - Required for authentication and security (JWT tokens stored in localStorage)
• Functional Cookies - Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies - Understand how you use our platform to improve our services

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

Data Security

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

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Bcrypt password hashing with 12 salt rounds
• Role-based access controls
• Regular security monitoring and updates

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Export your data in a portable format
• Opt out of marketing communications

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@storyhawk.io.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

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 platform. Your continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@storyhawk.io