Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 8, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to Boiling Steam. We provide news and analysis regarding Linux gaming, Hardware, and open-source technologies. Because our website is a static site, we do not have user accounts or member databases. This policy explains the limited ways in which data is processed when you visit us.

2. Server Logs

Our website is hosted on a private Virtual Private Server (VPS). Like most web servers, our host automatically logs certain non-identifying information when you access the site (such as your browser type, operating system, and the date/time of your visit). This information is used strictly for technical maintenance, security, and ensuring the stability of our VPS.

3. Analytics (Matomo)

We use Matomo to track aggregate website traffic.

Anonymization: We have configured Matomo to anonymize your IP address. This ensures that your visit cannot be tied back to you personally.
Purpose: This data helps us understand which articles are popular and how users navigate the site so we can improve our content.
Ownership: All analytics data is stored on our private infrastructure and is never shared with or sold to third parties.

4. Third-Party Embeds (YouTube)

Some of our articles include embedded videos from YouTube.

Cookies & Tracking: Please be aware that YouTube (owned by Google) may set cookies and use tracking technologies when you load a page containing a video embed. These cookies may track your viewing behavior and link it to your Google account if you are logged in.
Privacy Terms: By interacting with these embeds, you are subject to Google’s Privacy Policy.

5. Contacting Us

We do not host a contact form on our website to minimize the collection of personal data. If you wish to reach out to us, you may do so via our official social media and communication channels listed on our Contact Page, including Matrix, Mastodon, and X (Twitter).

Please note that when you contact us via these third-party platforms, your data is handled according to the privacy policy of the respective platform (e.g., Matrix.org or Mastodon).

6. Cookies

Aside from the anonymous tracking identifiers used by Matomo and the cookies set by YouTube embeds, this website does not use advertising, marketing, or profiling cookies. You can choose to block cookies in your browser settings without any loss of functionality on our site.