Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Contact us through our contact form
• Create an account (if applicable)
• Participate in surveys, contests, or promotions
• Comment on articles or engage with our content
• Submit feedback or reviews
• Request information or support

This information may include your name, email address, postal address, phone number, and any other information you choose to provide.

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior, including:

• IP Address: Your Internet Protocol (IP) address
• Browser Information: Browser type, version, and language settings
• Operating System: Your device's operating system and version
• Device Information: Device type, screen resolution, and device identifiers
• Browsing Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, and navigation paths
• Referral Information: Website addresses that referred you to our site
• Search Terms: Keywords used to find our website
• Timestamp Data: Date and time of visits, page views, and interactions
• Device Fingerprints: Unique identifiers derived from your device configuration, browser settings, and installed fonts/plugins
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address (city/region level, not precise location)

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, local storage, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior. For more detailed information about our use of cookies, please see our Cookie Policy.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, maintain, and improve our website and services
• To send you newsletters, updates, and marketing communications (with your consent)
• To respond to your inquiries, comments, and requests
• To personalize your experience on our website
• To analyze website usage, trends, and user behavior
• To detect, prevent, and address technical issues and security threats
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
• To display advertisements and manage affiliate relationships (see our Advertising Disclosure and Affiliate Disclosure)
• To conduct research and analytics
• To prevent fraud and abuse

3. Third-Party Services and Tracking Technologies

We use various third-party services that may collect information about you. Below is a detailed list of the services we use and how they collect data:

3.1 Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

We use Google Analytics 4 to analyze website traffic and user behavior. GA4 collects:

• Page views and navigation patterns
• Time spent on pages
• User demographics and interests (inferred)
• Device and browser information
• Geographic location (general)
• Traffic sources

Google may use this data to provide analytics services and may combine it with other data. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

3.2 Meta Pixel (Facebook Pixel)

We use Meta Pixel (formerly Facebook Pixel) to track conversions, optimize ads, and build audiences for advertising purposes. Meta Pixel collects:

• Page views and user interactions
• Conversion events (clicks, purchases, etc.)
• Device and browser information
• IP address and location data
• Cookie identifiers

This data is used by Meta to show you relevant ads on Facebook and Instagram. For more information, see Meta's Privacy Policy. You can manage your ad preferences in your Facebook settings.

3.3 Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our website. AdSense may collect:

• IP address
• Browser and device information
• Browsing history and interests
• Ad interactions and conversions

Google uses this data to show you personalized ads. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of personalized ads through Google's Ad Settings.

3.4 Amazon Associates

We participate in the Amazon Associates affiliate program. When you click on Amazon affiliate links, Amazon may collect:

• Information about your click (that you clicked an affiliate link)
• Cookie identifiers for tracking
• Device and browser information

This data is used to attribute sales and calculate commissions. For more information, see Amazon's Privacy Notice.

3.5 Mailchimp (Email Marketing)

We use Mailchimp to manage our newsletter and email marketing campaigns. When you subscribe to our newsletter, Mailchimp collects and stores:

• Email address
• Name (if provided)
• Subscription preferences
• Email open rates and click-through rates
• Geographic location (based on IP address)
• Device and browser information

This data is used to send you newsletters and analyze email campaign performance. For more information, see Mailchimp's Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from our emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in each email.

3.6 Other Affiliate Networks

We may participate in other affiliate marketing programs (e.g., CarVertical, automotive retailers). These networks may collect similar information to Amazon Associates for tracking and commission purposes.

3.7 Server Logs

Our web servers automatically log information about each visit, including:

• IP address
• Requested URL
• Browser and device information
• Timestamp
• Referrer URL
• HTTP status codes

Server logs are used for security, troubleshooting, and analytics purposes and are typically retained for a limited period.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you have given clear consent to process your personal data for specific purposes (e.g., newsletter subscriptions)
• Legitimate Interests: To improve our services, analyze website usage, ensure security, display relevant advertisements, and prevent fraud
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Contract Performance: To fulfill our contractual obligations to you

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. See our GDPR Rights page for more information.

5. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Email Service Providers: Mailchimp (for newsletter management)
• Analytics Providers: Google Analytics 4 (for website analytics)
• Advertising Networks: Google AdSense, Meta (Facebook), and other programmatic advertising platforms
• Affiliate Networks: Amazon Associates, CarVertical, and other affiliate marketing partners
• Cloud Hosting Providers: Vercel, Supabase, and other infrastructure providers
• Payment Processors: (If applicable) Stripe, PayPal, or similar services
• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): For faster content delivery
• Security Services: For fraud prevention and security monitoring

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

5.2 Advertising Partners

We work with advertising partners who may use cookies and tracking technologies to serve you personalized advertisements. These partners may collect information about your online activities across different websites. Under CCPA, sharing data for advertising purposes may constitute a "sale" of personal information. See our California Privacy Rights page for information on opting out.

5.3 Affiliate Partners

We participate in affiliate marketing programs. When you click on affiliate links, we may share information with our affiliate partners (e.g., Amazon, CarVertical) for tracking and commission purposes. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.

5.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court, government agency, or law enforcement). We may also disclose information to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or others.

5.5 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our website of any change in ownership or uses of your information.

5.6 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you have given us explicit consent to do so.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS)
• Secure server infrastructure
• Access controls and authentication
• Regular security assessments
• Employee training on data protection

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You use our website at your own risk.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Retention periods vary based on the type of data:

• Newsletter Subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe or we no longer need the data
• Contact Form Submissions: Typically retained for 2-3 years for customer service purposes
• Analytics Data: Typically retained for 14-26 months (varies by service)
• Server Logs: Typically retained for 30-90 days
• Account Data: Until account deletion or as required by law

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

8.1 California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Please see our California Privacy Rights page for detailed information, including your right to opt-out of the "sale" of personal information.

8.2 GDPR Rights

If you are located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Please see our GDPR Rights page for detailed information.

8.3 General Privacy Rights

You may have the right to:

• Access: Request access to your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
• Objection: Object to processing of your information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing
• Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Opt-Out: Opt-out of certain data sharing (e.g., advertising, affiliate tracking)

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below, or use our Privacy Request Form.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at privacy@autospecsdaily.com, and we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your information is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy, including:

• Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission (for GDPR-covered transfers)
• Adequacy decisions by the European Commission
• Other appropriate safeguards as required by applicable law

By using our website, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, products, or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by AutoSpecs Daily.

12. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that signals to websites that you do not want to be tracked. Currently, there is no uniform standard for how websites should respond to these signals. We do not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, but we respect your cookie preferences as set through our cookie consent tool or browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for more information.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notification (for registered users) when material changes are made
• Displaying a prominent notice on our website

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Privacy Policy.