Privacy Policy
Last Updated: November 6, 2025
🔒 Your Privacy Matters
LUPOPEDIA LLC is committed to transparency about what data we collect and how we use it. This policy explains our data collection practices for the lupopedia.com website and LUPOPEDIA platform installations.
1. Overview
LUPOPEDIA is open-source software licensed under GPL v3.0. This privacy policy applies to:
- lupopedia.com - Official website (we host, we track)
- Self-hosted installations - You control your data, you set your privacy policy
✅ Self-Hosted = You Control Your Data
If you self-host LUPOPEDIA on your own server, this privacy policy does NOT apply to you. You are the data controller. You control what data is collected and how it's used. LUPOPEDIA LLC has no access to your data.
2. Data We Collect (lupopedia.com Website)
✅ Tracking Only When Logged In
Important: Detailed page navigation tracking (where you go, from what pages) only happens when you are logged in. If you browse without logging in, we only collect standard web server logs (IP address, user agent, basic page access).
When You Browse (Not Logged In)
We collect minimal data through standard web server logs:
- ✅ IP address (from your browser)
- ✅ User agent string (browser type, device type)
- ✅ Pages visited (URLs you access)
- ✅ Referrer information (what page you came from)
- ✅ Timestamp (when you visited)
Purpose: Standard web server operation, security monitoring, basic analytics
When You Log In
When you create an account and log in, we collect additional data to provide personalized features and improve the platform:
📊 Page Navigation Tracking
We track your page navigation to understand how users interact with LUPOPEDIA and improve the user experience. This includes:
- ✅ Pages you visit (which pages you access, in what order)
- ✅ Navigation paths (where you came from, where you went next)
- ✅ URL parameters (search terms, filters, content IDs)
- ✅ Referrer information (external sites that link to us)
- ✅ Time spent (timestamps for each page view)
🔐 Identity Tracking (IP-C Address System)
We use Captain WOLFIE's proven 2003 fingerprinting system (from Crafty Syntax Live Help, 1.2M+ installations) to track user journeys across sessions while protecting privacy:
- ✅ Full IP address - Stored for security and analytics
- ✅ Class-C IP anonymization - First 3 octets (e.g., 192.168.1.xxx)
- ✅ Identity string - Class-C IP + Session ID (e.g., "192.168.1.xxx_abc123")
- ✅ Purpose - Cross-session tracking, security, user journey analysis
Example: If your IP is 192.168.1.100, we store the full IP but create an identity string like "192.168.1.xxx_abc123def456" for cross-session tracking. This allows us to analyze user journeys without storing your exact IP in the identity string.
👤 Account Information
- ✅ Username (if you create an account)
- ✅ Email address (if provided)
- ✅ Login timestamps
- ✅ User preferences (if saved)
- ✅ Recently viewed items (collections feature)
3. How We Use Your Data
Analytics & Improvement
- 📊 Usage analytics - Understand which pages are popular, user navigation patterns
- 🔍 User journey analysis - See how users navigate through the platform
- 📈 Performance monitoring - Identify slow pages, optimize load times
- 🎯 Feature improvement - Understand what features are used, improve UX
Security & Fraud Prevention
- 🛡️ Security monitoring - Detect suspicious activity, prevent attacks
- 🚫 Rate limiting - Prevent abuse, spam, and automated attacks
- 🔐 Identity verification - Cross-session tracking for security analysis
- 📝 Audit logs - Maintain records for security and debugging
User Experience
- ⭐ Personalized features - Recently viewed items, saved collections
- 🔖 Session continuity - Remember your preferences, navigation state
- 📧 Communication - Respond to support requests (if you contact us)
4. Data Storage & Retention
📍 Where Data is Stored
- ✅ Database - MySQL/PostgreSQL database on our servers
- ✅ Server logs - Standard web server logs (rotated automatically)
- ✅ Backups - Database backups (retained for disaster recovery)
⏰ Data Retention
- ✅ Page tracking data - Retained indefinitely (for analytics and security)
- ✅ Account data - Retained until account deletion
- ✅ Server logs - Typically rotated every 30-90 days (standard hosting)
- ✅ Backups - Retained per backup schedule (typically 30-90 days)
Note: Analytics data (page views, navigation paths) may be retained indefinitely to understand long-term usage patterns and platform evolution.
5. Your Rights & Choices
✅ You Control Your Data
- ✅ Don't log in - Minimal tracking (just server logs)
- ✅ Delete your account - Remove account data (tracking history may remain anonymized)
- ✅ Use a VPN - Change your IP address (anonymizes identity string)
- ✅ Clear cookies - Reset session tracking (new identity string)
- ✅ Request data deletion - Contact us to remove your data
GDPR & Privacy Rights
If you are in the European Union (EU) or subject to GDPR, you have additional rights:
- 📋 Right to access - Request a copy of your data
- 🗑️ Right to deletion - Request deletion of your data
- ✏️ Right to rectification - Request correction of inaccurate data
- 📤 Right to portability - Request your data in machine-readable format
- ⛔ Right to object - Object to processing of your data
To exercise these rights: Contact us via the website. We will respond within 30 days (as required by GDPR).
6. Data Sharing & Third Parties
✅ We Don't Sell Your Data
LUPOPEDIA LLC does NOT sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.
Service Providers
We may share data with service providers who help us operate the platform:
- 🌐 Web hosting providers - Server infrastructure (they have access to server logs)
- 💾 Database hosting - Database storage (they have access to database)
- 📧 Email services - If we send emails (they process email addresses)
All service providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose data if required by law:
- ⚖️ Court orders, subpoenas, or legal process
- 🚔 Law enforcement requests (if legally required)
- 🛡️ To protect our rights, property, or safety
- 🚨 To prevent fraud or security threats
7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Session Cookies
- 🍪 PHP Session cookies - Required for login, session management
- 🔐 Authentication cookies - Remember you're logged in
- ⚙️ Preference cookies - Remember your settings (if any)
No Third-Party Tracking
LUPOPEDIA does NOT use third-party analytics (no Google Analytics, no Facebook Pixel, no advertising trackers). All tracking is done server-side by our own code (Captain WOLFIE's proven 2003 system).
8. Security
We take security seriously and implement measures to protect your data:
- 🔐 Encrypted connections - HTTPS/TLS for all data transmission
- 🛡️ Secure authentication - Password hashing, session security
- 🚫 Rate limiting - Prevent abuse and automated attacks
- 📝 Security monitoring - Monitor for suspicious activity
- 🔒 Database security - Access controls, query parameterization
⚠️ No System is 100% Secure
While we implement security measures, no system is 100% secure. By using LUPOPEDIA, you acknowledge that you use the service at your own risk. See our Terms of Service for liability limitations.
9. Children's Privacy
LUPOPEDIA is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information, please contact us to have it removed.
10. International Data Transfers
LUPOPEDIA LLC is based in the United States (South Dakota). If you access lupopedia.com from outside the United States, your data may be transferred to and stored in the United States. By using the service, you consent to this transfer.
EU Users: We comply with GDPR requirements for international data transfers and will implement appropriate safeguards as required.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of lupopedia.com after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Significant changes will be communicated via email (if you have an account) or a notice on the website.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this privacy policy, want to exercise your privacy rights, or request data deletion, please contact us:
LUPOPEDIA LLC
3120 W Rambler #309
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Website: lupopedia.com
For privacy-related requests: Use the contact form on the website or email us directly. We will respond within 30 days.
Summary (The Important Parts)
✅ What We Collect
- ✅ IP addresses (full IP + anonymized Class-C for identity tracking)
- ✅ Page navigation (where you go, from what pages)
- ✅ User agent (browser type, device)
- ✅ Referrer information (what site you came from)
- ✅ Login data (when you log in, account info)
- ✅ Recently viewed items (if you use collections)
📊 Why We Collect It
- 📊 Analytics (understand usage, improve platform)
- 🛡️ Security (prevent abuse, detect attacks)
- ⭐ User experience (personalized features, recently viewed)
✅ Your Rights
- ✅ Don't log in = minimal tracking
- ✅ Delete account = remove account data
- ✅ Request data deletion = contact us
- ✅ GDPR rights = access, deletion, portability