Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how HookMasters ("we", "us", or "our"), operating at hookmasters.pro, collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your personal information when you visit our website. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

By using hookmasters.pro, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the website.

1. Who We Are

HookMasters is an Australian-based fishing video game review and entertainment website. Our registered business address is:

Level 4, 201 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Email: [email protected]

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact Form: Name, email address, and message content when you submit our contact form.
• Newsletter Subscription: Name, email address, and game genre preference when you subscribe to our newsletter.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, referring URLs, and browser type.
• Device Information: IP address, operating system, screen resolution, and device type.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Please refer to our Cookie Policy for full details.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your enquiries and messages submitted via our contact form.
• To send you our newsletter and editorial updates (only if you have subscribed).
• To analyse website traffic and improve the content and functionality of hookmasters.pro.
• To ensure the security and integrity of our website.
• To comply with our legal obligations under Australian law.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information on the following legal bases:

• Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent (e.g., newsletter subscription, cookie acceptance).
• Legitimate Interests: For website analytics and security, where these interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Legal Obligation: Where we are required to process data to comply with Australian law.

5. Disclosure of Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted third-party providers who assist us in operating our website (e.g., email delivery services, analytics platforms), under strict confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Requirements: If required by law, court order, or government authority in Australia.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by Australian law. Specifically:

• Contact form submissions: retained for up to 24 months.
• Newsletter subscriber data: retained until you unsubscribe.
• Website analytics data: retained for up to 26 months in aggregate, anonymised form.

7. Your Rights

Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations).
• Withdraw consent at any time (e.g., unsubscribe from our newsletter).
• Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected].

8. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit and restricted access controls for data at rest.

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., game developer sites, gaming platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies independently.

10. Children's Privacy

HookMasters is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

11. International Data Transfers

Our servers are located in Australia. If we transfer your data to service providers located outside Australia, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of hookmasters.pro after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Post: Level 4, 201 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
• Website: hookmasters.pro/contact