Privacy Policy — GradeNova

At GradeNova, your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using GradeNova, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide directly:

Account details: name, email address, password, username.
Profile information: profile photo, bio, location, skills, work experience, education.
Portfolio content: projects, links, images, descriptions.
Messages and communications sent through the platform.
Resume and documents you upload.

Information collected automatically:

Log data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on pages.
Device information: device type, operating system, unique device identifiers.
Usage data: features you use, actions you take, clicks and searches.
Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Create and manage your account and deliver the services you request.
Personalize your experience and show you relevant content and job opportunities.
Enable portfolio discovery and professional networking features.
Send you transactional emails (OTP, security alerts, account updates).
Analyse usage patterns to improve the platform.
Enforce our User Agreement and prevent fraud or abuse.
Comply with legal obligations.

3. Sharing Your Information

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

With other users: Your public portfolio, name, username, and professional details are visible to other GradeNova users and, depending on your visibility settings, to the general public.
Service providers: We use trusted third-party providers (cloud hosting, email delivery, analytics) who process data solely on our behalf and are bound by confidentiality obligations.
Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, or property of GradeNova or others.
Business transfers: If GradeNova is acquired or merges, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide services. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or audit purposes.

5. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you.
Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Request deletion of your account and associated data.
Object to or restrict certain processing of your data.
Export your data in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@gradenova.in.

6. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, hashed passwords (bcrypt), and JWT-based authentication to protect your data. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable precautions to protect your information.

7. Children's Privacy

GradeNova is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

8. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you visit.

9. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve GradeNova. For full details, see our Cookie Policy.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the effective date and, where required, sending an email notification.

11. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact us at privacy@gradenova.in.