Privacy Policy
In short:
- No account, no sign-up, no ads, and we never sell information.
- What you type, your results and your settings stay in your browser. They are never sent to us.
- Google Analytics only runs if you choose Allow, and you can switch it off at any time.
1. Who is responsible
Keystride is operated by Nova Site, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Nova Site is the responsible party under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), and the controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR, for any personal information processed through Keystride.
Our Information Officer is Ryno Kahl, reachable at info@novasite.co.za or +27 75 947 9549.
2. Information that stays on your device
Keystride works in your browser. To remember your settings and progress, it saves the following in your browser's storage on your device:
| Name | What it holds | How long |
|---|---|---|
ks1:settings | Your settings, such as theme, sounds, test options and keyboard layout | Until you delete it |
ks1:history | Your test results (the most recent 3,000) | Until you delete it |
ks1:agg | Running totals for your stats, keyboard heatmap and activity calendar | Until you delete it |
ks1:lessons | Your lesson progress | Until you delete it |
ks1:daily | Your daily challenge scores and streak | About three years, or until you delete it |
ks1:consent | Whether you allowed analytics | Until you delete it |
ks-focus, ks-words | Keys and words to practise, passed from your results to the practice page | Until you close the tab |
| Offline cache | Copies of Keystride's pages, styles and scripts, so the site loads quickly and works offline | Replaced when the site updates |
This information never leaves your device. It is not sent to us or anyone else, and we cannot see it. It is needed for the site to work as you would expect, so it does not require consent.
You can delete your results with Delete all my data on the Stats page, or delete everything by clearing this site's data in your browser settings. Backup files you export are saved on your own device.
3. Information our web host receives
Like every website, Keystride is delivered by a web server. When your browser requests a page, our hosting provider automatically receives standard technical information: your IP address, browser type, the page requested, the referring page, and the date and time. This is used only to deliver the site, keep it secure and fix problems, and is kept in server logs for a limited period. We do not use it to identify you. Our basis for this is our legitimate interest in running a secure website (POPIA section 11(1)(f); GDPR Article 6(1)(f)).
4. Google Analytics, only if you allow it
On your first visit, we ask whether you allow analytics. Nothing from Google is loaded until you choose Allow. If you choose No thanks, Google Analytics is never loaded and no analytics cookies are set.
If you allow it, we use Google Analytics 4, a service provided by Google, to count visits and see which features people use, so we can fix problems and improve Keystride. Google Analytics then collects:
- the pages you view, how you arrived (for example from a search engine or a link) and how long you stay;
- information about your device and browser, such as its type, operating system, screen size and language;
- your approximate location, such as your country and city. Google states that Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses;
- a random identifier kept in cookies, so that repeat visits can be counted.
Keystride also sends a few events: tests completed (with the test settings, and your speed and accuracy rounded into ranges such as 60 to 69 WPM), daily challenges completed, lessons passed, practice started, result tabs and buttons used, results shared, settings changed, and backups exported or imported.
We never send the text you type, your keystrokes, your exact scores, or any custom text. Google signals and ad personalisation are switched off, and we do not use analytics data for advertising.
| Cookie | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
_ga | Distinguishes visitors | 2 years |
_ga_<ID> | Keeps track of the current session | 2 years |
Legal basis: your consent (POPIA section 11(1)(a); GDPR Article 6(1)(a)). Giving consent is voluntary. If you refuse, every part of Keystride works exactly the same.
Changing your mind: open Settings (the gear icon) and set Analytics to Off. This stops Google Analytics and removes its cookies from this site. You can also block cookies in your browser, or install Google's opt-out browser add-on.
Retention: analytics data is kept for no longer than 14 months, after which Google deletes it automatically. Google processes this data for us as our service provider. You can read how Google uses information from sites that use its services.
5. Who receives information
We do not sell, rent or trade personal information. The only parties that receive information through Keystride are our hosting provider (server logs), Google (only if you allow analytics), and authorities where the law requires us to share it.
6. Transfers outside South Africa
Google and our hosting provider may store and process information on servers outside South Africa, including in the United States and the European Union. They are bound by data protection terms that give protection comparable to POPIA. For analytics, the transfer is also based on your consent, given when you choose Allow (POPIA section 72).
7. Children
Anyone can use Keystride, and the typing tests themselves do not collect personal information. Under POPIA, a child is anyone under 18, and a child's personal information may only be processed with the consent of a parent or guardian. If you are under 18, please ask a parent or guardian before choosing Allow for analytics, or choose No thanks. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children, and analytics data does not tell us anyone's age.
8. Your rights
You have the right to:
- ask whether we hold personal information about you, and for a copy of it;
- ask us to correct or delete it;
- object to its processing, and withdraw your consent at any time (this does not affect processing that happened before);
- in the European Economic Area and United Kingdom, also ask us to restrict processing, and to receive your information in a portable format;
- complain to a regulator.
Keystride has no accounts, and analytics data is not linked to your name or email address, so we usually cannot match analytics data to a particular person. You can always cut the link yourself by switching analytics off, which deletes the cookie that connects your visits.
To make a request, contact our Information Officer at info@novasite.co.za. We will respond within 30 days.
If you are not happy with how we handle your information, please contact us first so we can try to put it right. You may also complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa): inforegulator.org.za, enquiries@inforegulator.org.za, 010 023 5200. In the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you can complain to your local data protection authority.
9. Security
Keystride is only served over a secure (HTTPS) connection. Because we keep almost no personal information, very little could ever be exposed. Information saved in your browser can be seen by anyone with access to your device and browser profile.
10. Changes to this policy
We will update this page if anything changes, and change the date at the top. If we ever start collecting new kinds of personal information, we will ask for your consent where the law requires it.
11. Contact
Information Officer: Ryno Kahl
Nova Site, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
info@novasite.co.za · +27 75 947 9549
See also: Terms of Use · Disclaimer