Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to SIGMA ARK server's privacy policy. This comprehensive document outlines our commitment to protecting your privacy and explains in detail how we handle your personal information. As a gaming service provider, we understand the importance of maintaining the confidentiality and security of your data while providing you with the best possible gaming experience.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Steam ID

Our authentication system utilizes Steam's OAuth protocol. During the login process, we collect only your unique Steam ID, which serves as a distinctive identifier for your account. This ID is a public number that doesn't reveal any personal information. We specifically do not collect or have access to:

  • Your Steam open id

2.2 Payment Information

For payment processing, we utilize Stripe, a PCI-DSS compliant payment processor. When you make a payment:

  • All payment data is entered directly into Stripe's secure forms
  • Your credit card details never touch our servers
  • We only receive a transaction confirmation and a token from Stripe
  • Payment processing occurs over encrypted HTTPS connections
  • We maintain records of transactions for accounting and support purposes, but these never include full payment details

2.3 Cookies and Analytics

Our website employs several types of cookies and analytics tools:

2.3.1 Essential Session Cookies

We use essential session cookies to maintain your login state. These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as logging in or filling in forms. These cookies:

  • Store your session ID to keep you logged in
  • Are temporary and expire when you close your browser
  • Don't store any personal information
  • Are encrypted for security

2.3.2 Google Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics to understand user behavior and improve our services. These cookies collect:

  • Session duration and pages visited
  • Your IP address (anonymized)
  • Device and browser information
  • Geographic location (city level only)
  • Referral sources
  • Navigation patterns and site interactions

3. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used for specific, limited purposes:

  • Authentication: Your Steam ID is used to uniquely identify you on our server and website, enabling us to maintain your game progress and permissions on SIGMA ARK servers
  • Transaction Processing: Payment information is processed through Stripe to handle purchases of server services or items
  • Service Improvement: Analytics data helps us understand how players use our services, allowing us to optimize performance and features
  • Support Services: We use your Steam ID to verify your identity when providing technical support or handling queries
  • Security: Session tracking helps prevent unauthorized access and protects your account

4. Your Rights

Under various data protection regulations, you have specific rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to Access: You can request a copy of all personal data we hold about you
  • Right to Rectification: You can request corrections to any inaccurate data we hold
  • Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your data from our systems
  • Right to Object: You can opt out of non-essential data processing, including Google Analytics
  • Right to Data Portability: You can request your data in a machine-readable format

We will respond to all legitimate requests within 30 days.

5. Security

We employ multiple layers of security to protect your information:

  • SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
  • Regular security audits and updates
  • Restricted staff access to personal data
  • Secure data backup systems
  • Regular security training for our team
  • Incident response procedures

6. Data Sharing

We strictly limit data sharing to essential third-party service providers:

  • Stripe: Handles payment processing under strict PCI-DSS compliance
  • Google Analytics: Processes anonymous usage data for website optimization
  • Steam: Validates your identity during authentication only

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and can only use it for specified purposes. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

7. Cookies

Our cookie usage falls into three categories:

  • Essential Session Cookies: Required for basic website functionality and security
    • session_id: Tracks your login session
    • csrf_token: Prevents cross-site request forgery
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand website usage
    • _ga: Google Analytics identifier
    • _gid: Session identifier for Analytics
    • _gat: Used to throttle request rate
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices
    • theme: Stores your interface preferences
    • language: Remembers your language choice

While you can configure your browser to refuse cookies, essential session cookies are required for basic website functionality. Blocking these will prevent you from logging in.

8. Contact

For any privacy-related queries or to exercise your data rights, contact us through:

Email: support@sigmaark.com

Discord: discord.gg/sigmaark

We aim to respond to all legitimate queries within 48 hours.

9. Policy Updates

We regularly review and update this privacy policy to ensure it accurately reflects our data handling practices and complies with current regulations. When we make significant changes:

  • We'll notify you via email or website announcement
  • We'll update the "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this policy
  • We'll provide a summary of key changes
  • We may request renewed consent where required by law

Last updated: February 1, 2025