Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information HQBunker.com ("we", "us") collects, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Information We Collect

• Account information: email address (verified via a one-time code) and username, plus your password (stored as a secure hash — we never store it in plain text).
• Profile information (optional): avatar, full name, title/rank, gender, birthday, service status, country, and bio, all of which you choose whether to provide.
• Content: threads, posts, private messages, reactions, and reviews you submit.
• Usage information: your general activity timestamp (used to show "last seen" status), and standard web request data such as IP address, used for security and moderation purposes.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To create and verify your account (via email one-time codes)
• To operate core forum features: posting, messaging, notifications, and moderation
• To send you transactional emails — verification codes, mention/reply notifications, and thread subscription updates — never marketing emails
• To detect and respond to abuse, spam, or violations of our Terms & Conditions

3. Cookies & Sessions

We use a session cookie to keep you logged in and a CSRF token cookie to protect against cross-site request forgery. These are functional cookies required for the Service to work — we do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies.

4. Email Delivery

We use a third-party email service to deliver verification codes and notification emails. These messages are sent solely for account verification and notification purposes tied to your use of the Service.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information only: (a) with service providers who help us operate the Service (such as email delivery), (b) when required by law, or (c) to protect the rights, safety, or property of HQBunker or our members.

6. Data Retention & Account Deletion

If you delete your account, we deactivate it and remove your personal profile details (username, email, avatar, bio). To preserve discussion history for other members, your past posts remain visible but are re-attributed to "Deleted User" rather than your identity.

7. Your Rights

You can review and update most of your information at any time from your profile's Edit Profile page. You can permanently delete your account (with email confirmation) from the same area at any time.

8. Children's Privacy

HQBunker is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect information from children under this age.

9. Security

We use industry-standard practices to protect your information, including password hashing and email-based verification for sensitive actions like account deletion. No system is completely secure, and we encourage you to use a strong, unique password.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date above.

11. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy or your data? Reach out via our Contact page.