Privacy Policy

This policy explains how Howk (operated by Howk) collects, uses, and protects your personal information in compliance with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act).

1. Who We Are

Howk is an online exam preparation platform available at howk.in, operated by Howk. For any privacy-related queries, contact us at [email protected].

2. Information We Collect

Account information: Name, email address, and password when you register.
Google Sign-In data: If you log in via Google, we receive your name, email, and profile photo from Google.
Usage data: Quizzes attempted, scores, time spent, and answers submitted.
Device & log data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and pages visited.
Cookies: Session cookies to keep you logged in, and analytics cookies to understand site usage.

3. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your account.
To show your quiz history, scores, and performance analytics.
To personalise quiz recommendations based on your interests and history.
To improve platform features and fix bugs.
To send important service-related emails (e.g., account verification, password reset).
To display relevant advertisements via Google AdSense.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only in these limited circumstances:

Google: For authentication and analytics (Google Analytics, Google AdSense).
Payment processors: If you make any in-app purchase, your payment data is handled by our payment gateway (Razorpay). We do not store card details.
Legal obligations: When required by law or to protect our rights.

5. Cookies

We use session cookies (essential) and analytics cookies (Google Analytics). You can disable non-essential cookies via your browser settings, though some features may not work as expected.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account and quiz data for as long as your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data by writing to [email protected]. We will process deletion requests within 30 days.

7. Your Rights (DPDP Act, 2023)

Right to access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to correction: Ask us to correct inaccurate data.
Right to erasure: Request deletion of your personal data.
Right to grievance redressal: Raise a complaint via email; we will respond within 30 days.
Right to nominate: Nominate another person to exercise your rights on your behalf.

8. Security

We use industry-standard security practices including HTTPS encryption, hashed passwords, and access controls. However, no online system is 100% secure. Please use a strong, unique password for your Howk account.

9. Children's Privacy

Howk is intended for users aged 13 and above. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data without parental consent, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes by email or a prominent notice on the site. Continued use of Howk after changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

For any privacy concerns or data requests, email us at [email protected].