Smarttech247 Cookie and Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Smarttech247 uses cookies and related technologies (collectively referred to as "cookies") to provide you with the services accessible through our website.

This policy explains the detailed information regarding our use of cookies in connection with your use of and interaction with our website. For information about our processing of personal data obtained in connection with your use of and interaction with this website, please see our Privacy and Confidentiality Policy.

2. What is a Cookie?

A cookie is a small file consisting of a string of characters that can be placed on your computer or mobile device that uniquely identifies your browser or device. A web server passes these data clusters through to your computer after you have landed on the website. Your computer then stores the data as files inside your browser cache. Cookies permit the website to recognise the user and remember their unique preferences, which streamlines and improves the experience on the website.

Cookies do not harm your computer and do not contain viruses. For more information, visit https://allaboutcookies.org/.

3. Do We Use Cookies?

Yes, as is common practice on the internet, we use cookies in the course of providing you with our services.

In some cases, certain cookies may be exempt from requiring consent. These exemptions include the "strictly necessary" category, covering cookies vital for website operation, and the "communication" exemption, covering cookies used for user-requested communication. These exceptions are based on their essential role or user-requested function, making consent unnecessary.

We employ technologies such as cookies, pixels, and local storage to enhance, secure, and understand our products, services, and advertisements. As you engage with our website, we gather data concerning the software in use on the device -- be it a computer, mobile phone, tablet, or any other device -- that you use to interact with our website. This encompasses details such as the type of device, the operating system it employs, and the browser type.

4. What Cookies and Related Technologies Do We Use and Why?

We mainly use cookies and related information collection technologies to make our sites work better. We automatically gather information whenever you visit, log in, or otherwise interact with our services, including when you receive electronic messages delivered via the website. Please refer to Appendix 1: Cookies Description for specific cookie details.

We use cookies and related technologies for the following purposes:

Necessary: Necessary cookies help make our websites usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Our website cannot function properly without these cookies.

Authentication: Cookies help websites determine if a user is logged in, and then deliver the right experience and features for that user. These cookies save your passwords so you do not need to remember them whenever you visit, verify user login details, and allow us to know whether you are logged in and from where. They also monitor login and status data, recognise your browser or device, and remember your settings and preferences such as your language.

Security: Cookies help impose security measures on a website. They also help detect unusual and suspicious activities, such as fraud or potential fraud on our website.

Performance: We use cookies to improve the operation and presentation of our website and provide you with the best experience. Cookies help our website understand how our online services work for different people and how to route traffic between servers.

Analytics and Research: We use analytics cookies to collect anonymous traffic data to help us analyse how users and visitors access and use our website, and for other analytics services relating to website activity and internet usage. This allows us to identify errors, learn how our website performs, and improve and develop new functionalities of our website and services.

Targeting: These cookies may be set through our website by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store personal information directly but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

First and Third-Party Cookies: First-party cookies are cookies that belong to Smarttech247. Third-party cookies are cookies that another party places on your device through your use of our site. They may gather browsing activity and tend to be persistent cookies. We may also use third-party website analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, and Databox on our website, which also deploy cookies to collect certain information concerning your use of our site.

Social media cookies are third-party cookies that allow you to share website content with social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. We have no control over these cookies as they are set by the social media platforms themselves.

We may rely on Google Analytics, a service provided by Google, Inc., to analyse your use of the website. The information generated by Google Analytics is subject to Google's privacy and cookie policy and will be transferred to and stored by Google on servers in the USA. Prior to the transfer, it will be anonymised by removing the last octet of your IP address. Google will then process it on our behalf in order to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services related to internet usage. Google will not link your IP address with any other data held by Google. Find more information at: https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/gtagjs/cookie-usage.

Some cookies gather data across all our websites in order to create anonymised user behaviour profiles. These profiles are then used to send targeted content and advertisements to users who have consented to this.

5. Other Technologies Used

We also use other technologies on our websites which allow us and third-party providers to offer a more personalised and engaged web experience.

Facebook Pixels

Facebook pixels are small pieces of software and nearly invisible pixel-sized dots on our website which create a link between your visit to our website and Facebook. When the pixel loads, Facebook places a cookie on your computer, which helps Facebook provide you with more personalised advertisements and measure and improve advertisements. This cookie has a lifespan of 90 days. More information on Facebook cookies can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies/. Please note that when this cookie is placed, Facebook is able to follow your browsing behaviour across other websites which have implemented a Facebook pixel or Facebook social plug-in.

Social Plugins

Social plug-ins are small pieces of software which create a link between your visit to our website and the social media platform of a third-party provider. Should you access the social media platform from our site, the social plug-in will let the third-party provider know that you have visited our website and may allow the third-party provider to receive cookies previously placed on your computer. We use social plug-ins from the following providers:

• Facebook: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins
• LinkedIn: https://developer.linkedin.com/plugins
• Google: https://developers.google.com/+/web/

6. How Long Do Cookies Last?

Different cookies have different purposes and different lifespans. The lifespan of a cookie determines how long it will remain on your computer before it deletes itself.

The length of time a cookie will stay on your computer or mobile device depends on whether it is a "persistent" or "session" cookie. Session cookies will only stay on your device until you stop browsing. Persistent cookies stay on your computer or mobile device until they expire or are deleted. Please refer to Appendix 1: Cookies Description for specific cookie expiration periods.

If you leave a comment on our website, you may opt in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days and screen options cookies last for one year. If you select "Remember Me", your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after one day.

7. How to Refuse the Use of Cookies

You have the option to decline the use of cookies by adjusting settings in your browser.

When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner offering three options: Accept, Decline, or Cookie Settings. Selecting Accept allows all cookies to be used. Selecting Decline limits cookies to those that are strictly necessary for the operation of the website.

If you choose Cookie Settings, you can manage your preferences by enabling or disabling specific categories of cookies, including Analytical, Personalisation, and Functional cookies. Necessary cookies are always active as they are required for the website to function properly.

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clearing cookies in your browser and revisiting the website, which will prompt the consent banner to appear again.

Browsers may accept or reject cookies automatically but allow you to change these settings. The help menu on most browsers will tell you how to change your browser settings relating to cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, and how to disable cookies altogether.

If you want to opt out of specific third-party cookies, please consult the third party's website or privacy policy as well as the cookie settings on your browser.

To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

To opt out of Hotjar tracking, visit: https://www.hotjar.com/policies/do-not-track/.

Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Opera
• Apple Safari

To find information relating to other browsers, visit the browser developer's website.

8. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update our Cookie Policy from time to time. We will alert you about any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date of this Cookie Policy. Any changes or modifications will be effective immediately upon posting the updated Cookie Policy on the website. You are encouraged to periodically review this Cookie Policy to stay informed of updates. If the alteration is substantial, we will ensure to inform you appropriately, which may include posting a notice on our website.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions or comments, please contact us at dataprotection@smarttech247.com.

10. Monitoring and Review

This policy is subject to annual review in accordance with Smarttech247's Integrated Management System Review Maintenance.

11. Related Governance

11.1 Related Policies
Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

Appendix 1: Cookies Description

Please note that the list of cookies provided in this document is accurate as of the date of its posting. However, the actual cookies present on the website may vary slightly due to updates. This document will be revised on the planned revision date.

Category: Necessary

These cookies are vital for the proper functioning of the website. They enable fundamental features such as page navigation and access to secure areas. Without these cookies, the website may not operate as intended.