Privacy policy

This Privacy Policy describes how information is handled on the Vrienden Universe Wiki (vriendenuniverse.org/wiki).

The wiki is a reference and documentation platform operated as an independent MediaWiki installation.

Scope

This policy applies exclusively to content, services, and functionality provided through the Vrienden Universe Wiki.

It does not apply to external websites, third-party links, or services referenced from within wiki pages.

By accessing or using the wiki, you agree to the handling of information as described in this policy.

General Principles

The Vrienden Universe Wiki is designed to operate with minimal collection of personal data.

Information is collected only to the extent necessary for:

Technical operation
Security and abuse prevention
Basic functionality of MediaWiki

The wiki does not engage in commercial data collection, advertising, profiling, or behavioral tracking.

Automatically Collected Data

When accessing the wiki, limited technical information is automatically processed as part of standard web server operation. This may include:

IP address
Date and time of access
Requested pages and resources
Browser and operating system identifiers
Referring URLs

This data is generated automatically by server software and is used solely for operational, diagnostic, and security purposes.

User Accounts

Account creation on the wiki is optional.

If an account is created, the system stores:

A chosen username
Authentication credentials in encrypted or hashed form
User preferences and edit history

No requirement exists to provide real names or identifying information.

Editing and Contributions

All edits made to the wiki are publicly visible and permanently recorded as part of the wiki’s revision history.

For technical reasons, edits are associated with either:

A registered username, or
An IP address, if editing without an account

This association is a fundamental feature of MediaWiki and cannot be disabled without compromising the integrity of the revision system.

Cookies

The wiki uses cookies required for MediaWiki functionality.

These cookies may be used to:

Maintain login sessions
Store user preferences
Support site navigation and usability

No third-party advertising or tracking cookies are used.

Disabling cookies may limit or prevent certain features from functioning correctly.

Data Usage

Collected information is used exclusively to:

Provide and maintain wiki functionality
Prevent vandalism, spam, and abuse
Ensure technical stability and security
Investigate misuse or disruption of the service

Information is not used for marketing, analytics profiling, or commercial purposes.

Data Sharing

The wiki does not sell, rent, or trade user information.

Information may be accessed or disclosed only under the following conditions:

When required by applicable law
To protect the technical integrity of the wiki
To respond to security incidents or abuse

No routine sharing with third parties occurs.

Data Retention

Technical logs are retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill operational and security purposes and may be periodically deleted or rotated.

User-generated content, including edits and page histories, is retained as part of the wiki’s permanent record.

External Services

The wiki relies on standard infrastructure services such as hosting, domain resolution, and server software.

These services may process technical data strictly necessary for delivering content but do not receive access to wiki user accounts or editorial data beyond what is required for normal operation.

The wiki does not integrate external analytics platforms, advertising networks, or social media plugins.

Security

Reasonable technical measures are applied to protect the wiki against unauthorized access, data loss, and abuse.

However, no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and use of the wiki is at the user’s own risk.

Children

The wiki is not specifically directed at children.

No intentional collection of personal information from children is performed.

Policy Changes

This Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect changes in technical operation, legal requirements, or administrative practices.

Updates take effect upon publication on this page.

Continued use of the wiki after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Interpretation

This Privacy Policy is intended to describe technical and operational handling of information within the context of an independent wiki.

It does not constitute a contractual guarantee and should be interpreted in accordance with applicable law.