01Introduction and Scope
This Privacy Policy (the "Policy") explains how Vestex (the "Application") handles information. The Application is an educational simulation of securities trading. It does not execute real transactions and does not hold, transfer or manage real money. Results are hypothetical.
By using the Application you acknowledge that you have read this Policy. If you do not agree with it, you should stop using the Application.
02Information We Collect
The developer operates no servers and does not collect, receive or have access to your personal information. Signing in is optional. If you sign in with Apple, the Application receives your name and an Apple user identifier from Apple (it does not request your email address) and keeps them on your device. The Application contains no registration form.
The Application contains no third-party advertising or analytics software and does not collect device identifiers, advertising identifiers, location data, contacts, photographs or usage analytics.
03Information Stored on Your Device
Your simulated portfolio, orders, transaction history, watchlist, price alerts, achievements, lesson progress, season records and preferences are stored on your device in the Application's local storage.
To protect the integrity of the simulation, the Application also stores in your device's Keychain a backup copy of the portfolio, a randomly generated key used to sign saved data, and clock data (the last time confirmed by Apple's servers and the latest time observed). The signing key syncs through iCloud Keychain when it is turned on, so your other devices can check your saved data. The backup copy and clock data stay on this device. None of these items contain personal information.
To measure elapsed time, the Application reads the device's system boot time. It is used only on your device and is not transmitted.
Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show a small snapshot of your simulated portfolio and watchlist. The snapshot is saved in an App Group container that only the Application and its widgets on your device can read.
This information is not transmitted to the developer or to any server operated by the developer. Apart from the optional iCloud backup and Game Center described below, it does not leave your device.
04Sign in with Apple and iCloud Backup
Sign in with Apple is optional. When you use it, Apple provides the Application with your name and a user identifier. The Application stores them on your device (in local storage and the Keychain) to show your name and to recognise your account. It does not request your email address. Sign in with Apple is governed by Apple's privacy policy.
When you are signed in, the Application backs up your saved portfolio data to your iCloud account. The backup is a sealed (encrypted) copy stored in your own private CloudKit database, which only you can access with your Apple ID. The developer cannot read it. It is stored and processed by Apple under Apple's privacy policy.
If you sign out, the Application first saves your latest portfolio to your iCloud backup and then removes it from the device; signing in again, on the same or another device, restores it. If you use the Application without signing in, your portfolio is stored only on your device and is lost if the Application is deleted.
Delete Account & Data also removes this iCloud copy.
05Game Center
The Application uses Apple Game Center for a leaderboard. Game Center is optional. When you are signed in to Game Center, the Application submits the percentage return of your simulated portfolio since it started or was last reset as a score, together with your rating tier in the score's context, and shows your Game Center alias and photo. Your alias, score and rating tier are visible to other players on the leaderboard.
The Application allows one portfolio per Game Center player. If you use Delete Account & Data and then start a new portfolio, the new portfolio's scores are held back from the global leaderboard until the 6-month reset date of your previous portfolio. To apply this rule, the Application stores your portfolio's start date and your rating in the Game Center score's context, together with the score.
The leaderboard also shows five computer-run AI traders. They are simulated, labelled as AI, generated on your device, are not real persons, and involve no personal information.
Game Center is provided and operated by Apple Inc. and is governed by Apple's own privacy policy. The developer does not receive your Apple ID or any other Game Center account information. Scores already submitted are retained by Apple and are not removed by Delete Account & Data.
06Trade Coach
The Trade Coach reviews your simulated trades using rules that run on your device. On devices that support Apple Intelligence, the Application may use Apple's on-device language model to rephrase its tips. This processing takes place on your device; no trade data or tip text is sent to the developer or to any third party. You can turn the Trade Coach off in Settings.
07Sharing
The Application can create share cards (images of simulated results) and an App Store link. They are created on your device and shared only when you choose to share them, through the iOS share sheet, with the app and recipient you select. The developer does not receive them. Once shared, they are subject to the policies of the recipient or service you choose.
08Notifications
If you create a price alert, place a limit or stop order, or turn on a reminder, the Application asks for permission to display notifications. Notifications, including order alerts, market reminders and streak reminders, are scheduled locally on your device and involve no remote server. You can turn each kind off in the Application's settings or withdraw permission at any time in your device's Settings.
09Market Data
Prices shown in the Application replay historical market data as if it were happening now. The data and the company logos are bundled with the Application, and prices are calculated on your device. They are not live quotes. The Application does not download market data and does not transmit any information in order to show it.
To keep the market the same for every player and to prevent clock tampering, the Application reads the date from the HTTP response header of a request to www.apple.com when it opens, or to www.google.com if Apple's server cannot be reached. The request contains no personal information, and the time it returns is kept only on your device. As with any internet request, Apple or Google may see your IP address, subject to their privacy policies.
10Photographs and Third-Party Content
The Application includes a photograph provided by Pexels (www.pexels.com) and used under the Pexels License. The photograph is bundled with the Application. Displaying it does not contact Pexels or any other server, and no information about you is shared with Pexels or with the photographer.
11Disclosure to Third Parties
Because the developer receives no personal information, none is sold, rented, licensed or otherwise disclosed to third parties. The developer does not engage in the sale or sharing of personal information as those terms are defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act.
12Retention and Deletion
Your data is retained on your device until you reset your portfolio, which the Application allows every six months, or delete it. Your iCloud backup is kept in your iCloud account until you delete it or use Delete Account & Data. Keychain items may remain after the Application is deleted, so that your portfolio is restored if you reinstall it on the same device.
Settings > Delete Account & Data permanently deletes all data the Application stores on your device, including the portfolio, history, watchlist, alerts, achievements, lesson progress, season data, settings, your saved name and Apple user identifier, widget snapshot, scheduled notifications and all Keychain items (backup, integrity key and clock data), and removes your iCloud backup. It returns the Application to its initial state. Scores already submitted to Game Center remain with Apple and are retained under Apple's policies.
13Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, including under the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act, you may have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability and objection in relation to personal information held about you. Because the developer holds no such information, these rights are satisfied by the design of the Application. Requests relating to Game Center, Sign in with Apple or iCloud data should be directed to Apple.
14Children
The Application is not directed at children under the age of 13 and does not knowingly collect personal information from any person. Because no personal information is collected, the Application does not require verifiable parental consent under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
15Security
Locally stored information is protected by the security measures of your device and operating system. The iCloud backup is sealed (encrypted) before it is stored in your private CloudKit database. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your device and Apple ID.
16Changes to This Policy
The developer may amend this Policy from time to time. The date of the most recent revision is stated at the head of this document. Continued use of the Application after a revision takes effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
17Contact
Questions concerning this Policy may be sent to the support contact published on the Application's page in the App Store.
18This Website
This website is a static site hosted on GitHub Pages, a service of GitHub, Inc. It uses no cookies, no analytics, no advertising and no tracking. Fonts and images are served from this site, so a visit makes no request to Google, Pexels or any other third party.
As with any website, GitHub's servers receive your IP address and basic request information (such as your browser type and the page requested) in order to deliver the pages, and may keep it in server logs for security purposes, under the GitHub General Privacy Statement. The developer does not receive or have access to these logs.
Support requests are made through GitHub Issues. Anything you post there is public and is handled by GitHub under its own terms and privacy statement. Do not post personal information in a support request.