Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 20.07.2020
Welcome to homesteadauthority.com (the “Site”). Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you visit or interact with our website.
By using this Site, you agree to the terms described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please discontinue use of the Site.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect information from you in several ways when you visit or use Homestead Authority.
Information You Provide to Us
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the Site, we collect the information shown in the comments form. We may also collect the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam and protect the Site.
Media Uploads
If you upload images to the Site, you should avoid uploading images that contain embedded location data, also known as EXIF GPS data. Visitors may be able to download images from the Site and extract location data from them.
Account Registration
If users register on our Site, we store the personal information they provide in their user profile. Registered users can view, edit, or delete their personal information at any time, except they cannot change their username. Website administrators can also view and edit this information when necessary.
2. Information Collected Automatically
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, understand how visitors use the Site, and support website functionality. Cookies are small files placed on your device that may include an anonymous unique identifier.
Comment Cookies
If you leave a comment on our Site, you may choose to save your name, email address, and website in cookies. These cookies are provided for your convenience so you do not need to enter your details again when leaving another comment. These cookies may last for one year.
Login Cookies
If you visit our login page, we may set a temporary cookie to determine whether your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
When you log in, we may set cookies to save your login information and screen display preferences. Login cookies usually last for two days, while screen options cookies may last for one year. If you select “Remember Me,” your login may persist for two weeks. If you log out, login cookies will be removed.
Editing Cookies
If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie may be saved in your browser. This cookie contains no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you edited. It expires after one day.
Usage Data
We may collect usage information about how the Site is accessed and used. This may include your IP address, browser type, browser version, pages visited, date and time of visit, time spent on pages, device identifiers, and other diagnostic data.
3. Information from Third Parties
Embedded Content
Articles on this Site may include embedded content such as videos, images, articles, or other media. Embedded content from other websites behaves in the same way as if you visited those websites directly.
These third-party websites may collect data about you, use cookies, include additional tracking technologies, and monitor your interaction with their content, especially if you are logged into an account with those websites.
Gravatar
An anonymized string created from your email address, also known as a hash, may be provided to the Gravatar service to determine whether you use it. After your comment is approved, your profile picture may be visible to the public in connection with your comment.
4. How We Use Your Information
We may use the information we collect to:
- Provide, operate, and maintain the Site
- Improve and personalize the user experience
- Understand how visitors use the Site
- Develop new content, features, and functionality
- Respond to comments, questions, or inquiries
- Send emails when appropriate
- Detect, prevent, and address fraud, spam, or security issues
- Manage comments, accounts, and website operations
We use this information only for legitimate website, communication, security, and improvement purposes.
5. Advertising and Analytics
Homestead Authority may use advertising and analytics services to support the Site and improve the content we provide.
This Site uses Ezoic to provide advertising services. Ezoic and its partners may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect information about your visit to this Site and other websites. This may include your IP address, browser type, device information, browsing activity, and interaction with advertisements.
This information may be used to provide personalized advertising and improve advertising performance. You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.
6. Who We Share Your Data With
We may share information in limited circumstances, including:
Service Providers
We may use trusted third-party companies or individuals to help operate the Site, provide website-related services, analyze performance, or support security.
Advertising Partners
As described above, advertising partners may collect and process certain information to provide relevant advertisements.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required to do so by law, regulation, legal process, or valid request from public authorities.
Password Resets
If you request a password reset, your IP address may be included in the reset email.
7. How Long We Retain Your Data
Comments
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata may be retained indefinitely. This helps us recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them for moderation.
User Accounts
For users who register on the Site, we store the personal information provided in their user profile. Users can view, edit, or delete their personal information at any time, except for changing their username. Website administrators may also view and edit this information when necessary.
8. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:
- Request access to the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal data, where applicable
- Request restriction of certain data processing
- Object to certain types of processing
- Request transfer of your data to you or another organization, where applicable
These rights may be subject to legal, administrative, security, or operational limitations. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us through our Contact Page.
9. California Residents
California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, also known as the CCPA, including the right to:
- Know what personal information is collected
- Know whether personal information is sold or disclosed and to whom
- Opt out of the sale of personal information, where applicable
- Access personal information
- Request deletion of personal information
- Not be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights
To exercise these rights, please contact us through our Contact Page.
10. Children’s Privacy
Homestead Authority is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information on this Site, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without appropriate consent, we will take steps to remove that information.
11. Where Your Data Is Sent
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service to help protect the Site from spam, abuse, and security risks.
12. Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect the information collected through the Site. However, no method of online transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. While we aim to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.
You are encouraged to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes become effective when they are posted on this page.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us through our Contact Page.