Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how CTF7 ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you participate in our events.

1. Information We Collect

To provide you with a seamless event experience, we collect certain types of information:

• Personal Information You Provide: When you register, participate, or contact us, we collect details such as your full name, email address, phone number, gender, age, college/organization, location, and team information.
• Payment Information: For paid events, we utilize secure third-party payment gateways. We collect transaction data (e.g., transaction ID, status) to confirm your payment, but we do not store or have access to your sensitive card details, bank account, or UPI information.
• Technical Information: We may automatically collect basic technical data, including your IP address, browser type, and device information. This is used for analytical purposes, to ensure platform security, and to maintain the integrity of the competition.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To manage your registration and facilitate your participation in the event.
• To send you essential event-related communications, such as updates, instructions, and announcements.
• To prepare and deliver certificates, prizes, or event kits, where applicable.
• To maintain fair scoring, investigate discrepancies, and prevent any misuse of the platform.
• To analyze event performance and gather feedback to improve our future events.

3. Communications

By registering, you consent to receive necessary transactional communications from us via email, SMS, or WhatsApp regarding the event. We will not send you third-party marketing materials unless you explicitly opt-in to receive them.

4. Data Security and Retention

We are committed to protecting your data. Your information is stored on secure servers with access restricted to authorized CTF7 team members. We implement appropriate security measures, including encryption and access controls, to safeguard your data.

We retain your data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the event, including post-event activities like certificate issuance. Thereafter, it is securely archived or deleted in accordance with our data retention policy.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

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

• Service Providers: We may share necessary data with trusted service providers who perform functions on our behalf (e.g., payment processing, email delivery). They are contractually bound to protect your data.
• Public Display: For the integrity and spirit of the competition, some of your information (such as your name/handle, college/organization, and score) may be publicly displayed on leaderboards and in result announcements.

6. Children’s Privacy

CTF7 is designed for college students and professionals. We do not knowingly collect information from individuals under the age of 16. Participants under 16 must obtain verifiable consent from a parent or guardian before registering.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to access, correct, or request the deletion of your personal data. To exercise these rights, please contact us. Requests for data deletion will be processed within a reasonable time following the conclusion of the event to ensure all operational requirements are met.

8. External Links

Our platform may contain links to external sites (e.g., payment gateways, social media). We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these third-party services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies independently.

9. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and the "Last Updated" date will be revised. We recommend you review this page periodically to stay informed.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or your data, please email us at [email protected]. We will respond to your inquiry as promptly as possible.