PRIVACY POLICY

1. Who We Are

Quantum Portal (quantumportal.org) is an interactive quantum mechanics education platform. References to "we," "us," or "our" in this policy refer to the operators of quantumportal.org.

Questions about this policy can be directed to us via the About page.

2. What We Collect and Why

2.1 Server Logs

Like virtually every website on the internet, our web server automatically records standard access log data when you visit any page. This includes:

• Your IP address
• The page you requested
• The date and time of your visit
• Your browser type and operating system (user agent string)
• The referring URL (if you clicked a link to reach us)

Why: Server logs are used for security monitoring, diagnosing technical errors, and understanding general traffic patterns. We do not use them to identify or track individual visitors.

Retention: Standard server logs are retained for up to 30 days and then overwritten.

2.2 Session Data

When you visit Quantum Portal, our server creates a temporary session. This session stores a security token (used to protect against cross-site request forgery attacks) and nothing else. No personal information is stored in your session.

Why: Security. The session is a standard security mechanism, not a tracking mechanism.

Retention: Sessions expire when you close your browser or after a period of inactivity.

2.3 Browser Local Storage (Games)

The interactive games on Quantum Portal save your high scores locally in your browser's localStorage. This data never leaves your device — it is not transmitted to our server and we have no access to it.

Why: So your high scores persist between visits without requiring an account.

You can clear this data at any time by clearing your browser's local storage (usually under Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data).

2.4 Google Fonts

Our pages load fonts (Orbitron and JetBrains Mono) from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com). When your browser requests these fonts, Google's servers receive your IP address and browser information.

Why: To display the site's typefaces correctly.

Google's handling of this data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy . If you prefer to prevent this transfer, browser extensions like uBlock Origin can block requests to Google Fonts.

3. What We Do NOT Collect

To be explicit:

• ❌ We do not collect your name, email address, or any contact information
• ❌ We do not have user accounts or registration
• ❌ We do not run advertising or use advertising tracking pixels
• ❌ We do not use Google Analytics or any third-party analytics service
• ❌ We do not use tracking cookies beyond the session security token
• ❌ We do not sell, rent, or share any data with third parties for commercial purposes
• ❌ We do not collect payment information (the site is free)

4. Cookies

Quantum Portal sets one cookie: a session cookie used solely for security (CSRF protection). This is a strictly necessary technical cookie — it is not used for tracking, advertising, or analytics.

Because we use only a single strictly necessary session cookie, we are not required to display a cookie consent banner under most interpretations of GDPR and ePrivacy Directive guidance. If you block cookies entirely, the site will still function correctly — the session cookie is a security measure, not a functional requirement for viewing content.

The Google Fonts request may also result in Google setting cookies on your device, governed by Google's own cookie policy.

5. Your Rights

Depending on where you are located, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to access — request a copy of data we hold about you
• Right to deletion — request that we delete data we hold about you
• Right to opt out — opt out of any sale or sharing of personal data (we do not sell or share data, so this right is already satisfied)

Given that we collect only server log data (which is tied to IP addresses, not identities), fulfilling access or deletion requests may be limited in practice — but we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate any request. Contact us via the About page.

California residents (CCPA/CPRA): We do not sell personal information. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

EU/UK residents (GDPR): Our legal basis for processing server log data is legitimate interests (security and site operation). You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

6. Children's Privacy

Quantum Portal is an educational site intended for general audiences. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

The site contains no advertising, no account registration, and no mechanisms for children to submit personal information.

7. Data Security

We take reasonable technical measures to protect the site and any incidentally collected data, including:

• HTTPS enforced on all pages with HSTS
• Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent code injection
• X-Frame-Options and XSS protection headers
• CSRF token protection on all sessions
• No sensitive personal data stored on the server

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we've implemented industry-standard protections appropriate for an educational site of this nature.

8. Third-Party Links

Quantum Portal may contain links to external websites (such as academic papers, scientific institutions, or related educational resources). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external site you visit.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time — for example, if we add new features that involve data collection, or if applicable laws change. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Continued use of Quantum Portal after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or your data, please reach us via the About page.