Privacy & Cookies

Information used to deliver the site

WarExplorer is a public history resource. You can read it without creating an account. It has no registration, checkout, comment system, or newsletter form.

Cloudflare hosts and delivers the site. Requests to load a page necessarily include information such as your IP address, browser information, requested URL and time of access. Cloudflare processes technical information to deliver content and protect its infrastructure. Its processing and retention also depend on the service and security settings. See Cloudflare’s privacy policy.

Maps, portraits and links

When a map loads, your browser requests tiles from CARTO and, on terrain maps, Esri. When an available portrait loads, it requests the image from Wikimedia. These providers receive your IP address and request information. Our referrer policy limits cross-site referrers to the site origin rather than the full page address. Fonts are served with our site, without a request to Google Fonts.

These services process requests under their own policies: CARTO, Esri, and Wikimedia. Following an external link takes you to a separately operated site.

Cookies, storage and optional analytics

Google Analytics is optional and stays off until you accept it. If you accept, Google receives page-view information, browser/device information and cookie identifiers to help us understand readership. Our page-view events exclude URL query strings, fragments and referring-page addresses. We disable advertising signals in our site’s analytics configuration.

Google Analytics uses cookies including _ga and _ga_*. We configure these cookies to last no longer than 180 days without automatic renewal. Google account data retention is separate from cookie lifetime. See how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

If you make an analytics choice, the site stores it on your device under warexplorer.privacy.v1 for up to 180 days. This necessary preference storage is not sent to an advertising service. If your browser blocks storage, a choice can only last for the current page session.

You can use “Privacy settings” in the footer to see the current options. Rejection does not restrict access. Withdrawing analytics consent stops future analytics collection and clears accessible Google Analytics cookies for this site; it cannot undo processing that already occurred. We also keep optional analytics off when your browser sends Global Privacy Control or Do Not Track. Security features operated by our hosting provider may use necessary storage.

When you contact us

Emailing us gives us your email address and whatever information you choose to include. We use it to answer you, handle corrections or rights requests, and maintain necessary records. Please do not send passwords, government identification, or sensitive personal information unless specifically needed and arranged with us.

We keep correspondence for as long as needed to resolve the request and meet applicable recordkeeping or legal obligations, then delete it when no longer needed. Service-provider records may have separate retention periods.

Purposes, sharing and international processing

We use technical information to provide and secure the site and correspondence to respond to requests. Where applicable data-protection law requires a lawful basis, these activities rely on our legitimate interests in operating a secure resource and responding to inquiries, or on a legal obligation when relevant. Optional analytics relies on consent.

We do not currently sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. Hosting, image and map providers receive the request information described above. Information may also be disclosed when required by law or necessary to protect legal rights. We and our service providers may process information in the United States and other countries. Where applicable, international transfers require the safeguards prescribed by law.

Your choices and rights

Depending on your location and which laws apply, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion or a copy of personal information, restrict or object to processing, and withdraw consent. Email [email protected] with your request and enough context to locate relevant records. We may need proportionate verification, and some records may need to be retained by law. You may also have a right to complain to your local privacy regulator. These rights do not depend on accepting analytics.

Children and future changes

WarExplorer is a general-audience history resource, not a service directed to children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

We plan to support the site through ads and affiliate links, but these are not active in this version. Before introducing them, we will update the relevant disclosures and provide any required privacy choices. An analytics choice is not permission for advertising. Changes to this notice will appear here with an updated date.