PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy outlines how Windows Watcher (“we,” “us,” or “our”), operating at windows-watcher.com, collects, processes, stores, shares, and protects personal information in compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). We are fully committed to respecting your privacy, safeguarding your personal data, and ensuring transparency regarding how your information is handled.

1. OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

At Windows Watcher, we recognize the fundamental right to privacy and are committed to protecting personal information entrusted to us by our users. We implement robust technical, administrative, and organizational safeguards to ensure that your information remains secure and is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

2. SCOPE OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND OUR ROLE AS DATA CONTROLLER

This Privacy Policy applies to all users who access or use the website located at windows-watcher.com, whether for browsing, account creation, product purchases, or communication with our team. When we determine the purposes and means of processing personal information, we act as the “Data Controller” as defined under the GDPR.

California residents are additionally protected under the CCPA, under which we are considered a “Business” with respect to determining the purposes and means of collecting personal information.

3. CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA PROCESSED

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data, depending on your interaction with windows-watcher.com:

– Usage Data: This includes details about your browsing actions and patterns on our website, IP address, browser type, domain name, access times, referring URLs, and session duration.

– Account Data: Information you provide when registering for an account or placing orders, such as your full name, billing/shipping address, email address, and phone number.

– Profile Data: Includes your preferences, settings, order history, and behavioral data relating to how you interact with our products and services.

– Communication Data: Includes data from your interactions with our support and contact forms, including email correspondence and records of service requests.

– Technical Data: Information about your device and systems used to access windows-watcher.com, such as device type, operating system, language settings, and screen resolution.

– Transaction Data: Includes details of purchases made via our website, including order amounts, payment methods (note: we do not store payment card details), and delivery information.

– Preference Data: Any expressed interests you provide, along with your opt-in/opt-out selections for receiving marketing and promotional materials.

4. LEGAL BASES FOR PROCESSING PERSONAL INFORMATION

We only process personal data when we have a lawful basis to do so. These legal grounds include:

– Performance of Contract: To fulfill agreements with users, including processing payments and delivering products.
– Legitimate Interests: To improve and personalize our website experience, communicate updates, and detect or prevent fraud.
– Consent: When explicitly required, such as for marketing preferences or usage of non-essential cookies.
– Legal Obligations: Where processing is necessary to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

5. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER GDPR AND CCPA

Subject to certain legal exceptions, individuals have the following rights regarding their personal data:

– Right to Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
– Right to Rectification: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
– Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): In applicable cases, you may request deletion of your personal data from our records.
– Right to Restrict Processing: You can request the limitation of data processing under certain conditions.
– Right to Data Portability: You may request that your data be provided to you or another controller in a structured, machine-readable format.
– Right to Object: You may object to processing based on legitimate interest or for direct marketing purposes.
– California Resident Rights: In addition to the above, residents of California have the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising their privacy rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected].

6. SECURITY MEASURES

We apply rigorous data protection practices to safeguard your personal information, including:

– Encryption of data in transit via HTTPS
– Access controls and authentication procedures for internal staff
– Role-based permissions to limit data access
– Routine data backups and disaster recovery planning
– Ongoing privacy and security training for team members

Despite best efforts, no method of transmission over the internet can be guaranteed 100% secure. We encourage users to take additional precautions to protect their personal information.

7. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Where personal information is transferred outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented in accordance with GDPR requirements. This includes use of European Commission–approved Standard Contractual Clauses and ensuring data recipient countries maintain adequate protections.

8. DATA RETENTION

We retain personal information only for as long as lawfully permitted and necessary for the purposes for which it was collected. Retention periods by data type include:

– Usage and Technical Data: stored up to 26 months
– Account and Profile Data: retained while the account remains active, or up to 5 years after inactivity
– Communication Data: retained for 3 years after the last correspondence
– Transaction Data: retained for 7 years to comply with accounting and tax legal obligations
– Preference Data: retained until the user withdraws consent or modifies preferences

9. COOKIE POLICY

windows-watcher.com uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze performance, and deliver tailored content. Types of cookies we use include:

– Essential Cookies: Required for core site functionality, such as account login and cart retention.
– Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced features like remembering user preferences and settings.
– Performance and Analytics Cookies: Used to assess traffic patterns and improve user experience through aggregated data analysis.
– Advertising and Marketing Cookies: Enable us to deliver personalized promotions and measure campaign effectiveness (used only with explicit consent).

10. COOKIE MANAGEMENT UNDER GDPR AND CCPA

Visitors from the EU and California have the right to control the use of cookies. Our cookie banner and management tools allow you to:

– Accept or decline non-essential cookies
– Withdraw consent at any time
– Access details on specific cookie types and lifespan

Most browsers also allow manual control of cookies through settings menus.

11. SPECIAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN

We do not knowingly collect, process, or store data concerning individuals under the age of 13. If a parent or guardian believes that a child has provided personal data to windows-watcher.com without appropriate consent, they should contact us immediately at [email protected] to request removal of the information.

12. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy as our practices or applicable legal obligations evolve. Any material updates will be prominently communicated on windows-watcher.com. Continued use of our website following updates constitutes acceptance of the prevailing version of this Policy.

13. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://windows-watcher.com

We value your trust and are committed to maintaining compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy standards. Please reach out to us with any privacy concerns or to learn more about how your personal data is protected by Windows Watcher.