Last updated: August 24, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how HackScoop collects, uses, stores, and protects information when you visit our website, read our articles, or subscribe to our newsletter.
Information we collect
HackScoop collects information in the following ways:
- Existing contact messages: HackScoop no longer accepts new messages through a public contact form. Previously submitted messages may contain the name, email address, subject, and message provided so they can be reviewed and managed.
- Newsletter subscriptions: If you join The curious list, we collect your email address to send newsletter messages and manage your subscription. We do not use that address for unrelated purposes. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- First-party article analytics: When you open a published article, HackScoop may count the view and record a hashed session identifier, a hash derived from your IP address, and user-agent/device information. We use this information to measure article readership, prevent duplicate counts, and protect the site. The article-view table is not intended to store your clear IP address.
- Google Analytics: By default, for visitors whose requests reach HackScoop, HackScoop may load Google's Google Analytics tag (gtag.js) to measure visits, page views, and general site usage. An applicable stored opt-out or Global Privacy Control signal overrides that default. Google may process information such as online identifiers, device/browser information, approximate location, and interactions with the site under its own privacy terms.
- Google AdSense technology: Public HackScoop pages load the Google AdSense library using publisher client ID ca-pub-9562362671407135. You can use Your Privacy Choices to control future targeted-ad placements or personalization. This change adds the library loader only; it does not add ad placements or ad units. The library request itself is present on public pages even when an optional advertising choice is declined.
- Basic technical information: Our web server may receive information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, referring pages, and the date and time of a visit.
Cookies and similar technologies
Essential cookies support site security, form protection, session handling, and basic functionality. For example, Laravel may set an XSRF-TOKEN cookie and a HackScoop session cookie. These cookies are not optional advertising cookies, and blocking them may prevent forms or other site features from working correctly.
Analytics and advertising technologies may include Google Analytics, cookies, web beacons, pixels, local storage, IP addresses, device information, browser information, or similar identifiers. Google Analytics is enabled by default for visitors whose requests reach HackScoop, unless an applicable stored opt-out or Global Privacy Control signal restricts it. You can change your choices through Your Privacy Choices.
Advertising and future Google AdSense use
HackScoop may use Google AdSense or other advertising providers in the future. If advertising is enabled, Google and other third-party vendors may use cookies, web beacons, IP addresses, device or browser information, and similar technologies to deliver, measure, limit, or personalize advertising.
Depending on your consent, location, device settings, and privacy choices, advertising may be personalized or non-personalized. Where applicable, you may opt out of targeted advertising or the sale or sharing of personal information through the site's privacy controls. You may also manage Google advertising personalization through Google Ads Settings.
When Google Analytics, Google AdSense, or another Google or third-party provider is enabled, its own privacy policy and technology choices also apply. Google Analytics is separate from advertising. Cloudflare is configured outside this application to block requests from the EEA, United Kingdom, and Switzerland before those visitors receive HackScoop HTML or scripts; HackScoop does not perform country detection. The AdSense library is present on public pages regardless of the optional advertising choice, and no ad placements are added by this change.
How we use information
We use information to operate and secure HackScoop, respond to messages, deliver the newsletter, measure first-party article readership, improve content, troubleshoot technical issues, prevent spam or abuse, honor privacy choices, and comply with legal obligations.
When we share information
We may share limited information with service providers that help us host, secure, maintain, send newsletter messages, analyze first-party readership, or operate the website. We may also disclose information if required by law, to enforce our terms, to protect rights and safety, or as part of a business transfer.
Whether an activity is considered a sale or sharing of personal information depends on applicable law and the services that are enabled. We do not rely on a blanket statement that no information is ever sold or shared. We will provide the choices and notices required for the services and laws that apply.
U.S. state privacy choices
Depending on where you live and which laws apply, you may have rights to know or access personal information, correct inaccurate information, request deletion, obtain a portable copy, appeal a decision, and opt out of targeted advertising or the sale or sharing of personal information. You can use Your Privacy Choices to reject analytics and targeted advertising processing. Where supported by your browser, a Global Privacy Control signal is also treated as an applicable opt-out. We will not require you to create an account to make a privacy choice.
We may need to verify a request before acting on it. Some information may be retained for security, legal, fraud-prevention, or operational reasons. The available rights and exceptions depend on the law that applies to your request.
Newsletter choices and retention
We keep a newsletter email address while you remain subscribed or while it is reasonably needed to honor an unsubscribe request and prevent repeat unwanted subscriptions. Use the unsubscribe option provided in a newsletter message to request removal.
Data retention
We keep contact messages, article-view records, newsletter addresses, and other information only for as long as reasonably needed for the purposes described here, unless a longer period is required or permitted by law.
Children's privacy
HackScoop is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that a child has provided personal information to us, we will review the issue.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised date.