Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how SphereVolumeFormula.com ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, protects, and discloses information when you visit and interact with our website (https://spherevolumeformula.com/).

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: information automatically collected through standard web infrastructure when you browse our site, and information you voluntarily submit to us (such as contact messages).

2. Web Server Diagnostics & Hosting Logs

Like virtually all web applications, our web hosting server automatically records standard access log entries when pages or assets are requested. These log records may include:

• Your Internet Protocol (IP) address.
• Browser type, version, and language setting.
• Operating system and device platform.
• Referring webpage URL and exit page.
• Date and time stamp of each server request.
• HTTP response status code (e.g., 200 Success, 404 Not Found) and bytes transferred.

Purpose & Retention: Server log entries are analyzed solely for system diagnostics, server performance monitoring, defending against malicious attacks (such as DDoS or automated vulnerability scanning), and tracking broken links via our internal 404 error log. Server access logs are retained temporarily by the hosting provider and rotated automatically.

3. Google Analytics (GA4)

We may use Google Analytics (GA4) to understand how visitors engage with our educational math calculators and guides. When configured:

• Google Analytics collects pseudonymous interaction data, such as which calculators are visited most frequently, average time spent reading formulas, general geographic region (country/city level), and browser screen dimensions.
• Google Analytics uses first-party cookies (such as _ga and _ga_*) to distinguish unique visits without storing personally identifiable information.
• IP anonymization is enabled by default in GA4 infrastructure.
• Opt-Out Choice: You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting data on your visits by installing the official Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

4. Advertising & Google AdSense

To keep our mathematical calculators and educational resources 100% free for students and educators, we display non-intrusive advertisements served through Google AdSense and direct educational sponsors:

• Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site based on prior visits to this or other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
• Your Choices: You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's My Ad Center. Alternatively, you can opt out of third-party vendor cookies for personalized advertising by visiting AboutAds.info or Your Online Choices (for European visitors).
• We configure advertising slots to avoid layout shifts, prevent interference with calculator controls, and maintain clear separation from editorial mathematics content.

5. Cookies & Local Storage

Our website uses a combination of essential session tokens, browser local storage, and optional third-party cookies:

• Essential Technical Session: When interacting with protected forms, a temporary PHP session token (PHPSESSID) is used to validate Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) tokens. This is not used to profile users.
• Browser LocalStorage: When you click the "Helpful Calculator" button or rate a tool with 5 stars, your browser stores lightweight local keys (liked_post_{id}, rated_post_{id}) directly on your device so your selection is remembered without transmitting personal tracking data.
• For comprehensive technical specifications, lifespans, and browser management instructions, please consult our dedicated Cookie Policy.

6. Contact Form Submissions

When you contact us via our Contact Form, you provide your name, email address, inquiry subject, and message text.

• This information is stored securely in our private administrative database (activity_logs table) and transmitted via encrypted transport to the site administrator.
• We use this data solely to review, investigate, and reply to your inquiry.
• We never sell, rent, lease, or share contact information with commercial brokers or marketing lists.
• Contact records are retained for up to 12 months for correspondence reference and are deleted upon request.

7. Data Storage & Security

We implement industry-standard security safeguards to protect website data:

• Transport Layer Security: All website traffic is encrypted using HTTPS and modern TLS certificates.
• Database Security: All database queries utilize parameterized prepared statements (PDO) to prevent SQL injection.
• Input Sanitization: Form submissions and inputs are strictly sanitized against Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
• Administrative Protections: Administrative accounts utilize cryptographic password hashing (bcrypt) and rate-limited login endpoints.

8. User Rights & Choices

Depending on your location (including rights under the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA)), you have the right to:

• Request confirmation of whether we hold any personal information regarding you (e.g., prior contact emails).
• Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your contact form correspondence.
• Configure your browser to refuse all cookies or notify you when cookies are sent.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us via our Contact Form.

9. Children's Privacy

SphereVolumeFormula.com is an educational website designed for students, teachers, and math enthusiasts. We do not knowingly solicit, collect, or maintain personal identifiable information from children under the age of 13 without verified parental consent, in strict compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If you believe a child has submitted personal details through our contact form, please notify us immediately so we can remove the record.

10. Privacy Inquiries & Policy Updates

We may periodically update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our tools, third-party integrations, or applicable legal requirements. Revisions are published on this page with an updated date.

For privacy-related questions or data deletion requests, contact us at contact@spherevolumeformula.com or through our Contact Us page.