Privacy and Cookies Policy
1. Introduction
Driven by Rhys (website url address: https://www.drivenbyrhys.com/) appreciates your business and trust. We are a UK-based platform dedicated to providing car reviews and fostering collaborations in the automotive world. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and provide your consent to it in order to use our services.
2. Data Collected
Data Storage Location
We are a UK-based blog. Our hosting provider, GoDaddy, complies with the EU/US “Privacy Shield”, ensuring that your data is securely stored and GDPR compliant.
Registration Data
If you register on our website, we store your chosen username, email address, and any additional personal information added to your user profile. You can view, edit, or delete your personal information at any time (except for changing your username). Website administrators may also access and edit this information to provide better service.
Comments
When you leave comments on our site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, along with your IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam.
Contact Form
Information submitted through our contact form is sent to our company email, hosted by Microsoft. Microsoft adheres to the EU/US “Privacy Shield” policy. Submissions are retained for customer service purposes and are not used for marketing or shared with third parties.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to anonymously track and report site usage. No personalised data is stored. If you wish to opt out of Google Analytics monitoring, please use this link: Google Analytics Opt-out.
Cases for Using the Personal Data
We use your personal data in the following situations:
- Verification/identification during website use;
- Providing technical assistance;
- Sending updates to inform users of news/changes;
- Monitoring account activity to prevent fraudulent transactions and ensure security;
- Customising the site for a more personal experience;
- Ensuring smooth performance and administrative functions.
3. Embedded Content
Our site may include embedded content, such as YouTube videos. Embedded content from other websites functions as though you visited the other site directly. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, and monitor your interaction with embedded content. Here are some of the services we use:
We use a Facebook plugin to display our timeline. Facebook has its own cookies and privacy policies over which we have no control. Your IP is not sent to a Facebook server until you consent. View Facebook’s privacy policy here: Facebook Privacy Policy.
Twitter/X
We use the Twitter API to show our Twitter timeline. Twitter has its own privacy policies over which we have no control. Your IP is not sent to a Twitter server until you consent. View Twitter’s privacy policy here: Twitter Privacy Policy.
YouTube
YouTube videos are embedded on our site. YouTube has its own privacy policies over which we have no control. Your IP is not sent to a YouTube server until you consent. View YouTube’s privacy policy here: YouTube Privacy Policy.
4. Cookies
Our site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. In general, cookies retain user preferences, store shopping cart data, and provide anonymised tracking through third-party applications like Google Analytics. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though it may impact site functionality.
Necessary Cookies (All Site Visitors)
- cfduid: Used by our CDN CloudFlare to identify individual clients behind shared IP addresses.
- PHPSESSID: Identifies your unique session on the website.
Necessary Cookies (For Logged-In Customers)
- wp-auth: Authenticates logged-in users.
- wordpress_logged_in_{hash}: Verifies logged-in status.
- wordpress_test_cookie: Ensures cookies are functioning correctly.
- wp-settings-[UID]: Customises your admin interface view.
5. Who Has Access to Your Data
If you are not registered on our site, we have no personal information about you. If you are a registered client, your data is accessible to:
- Our system administrators.
- Support staff who require access to provide support.
6. Third-Party Access to Your Data
We do not share your personal data with third parties except as necessary to provide the services expected from us. Partners we share data with include:
7. Data Retention
We retain support tickets and comments’ metadata unless you request its removal. If you register, we store your personal profile information until you edit or delete it. Administrators can access and modify this information to assist you better.
8. Security Measures
We use SSL/HTTPS protocol to secure user communications. In case of a data breach, administrators will act immediately to ensure system integrity, notify affected users, and reset passwords if needed.
9. Your Data Rights
General Rights
If you have a registered account or left comments, you can request an exported file of your personal data. You can also request erasure of your data, though this may prevent us from providing support or services. Some data may need to be retained for legal or security purposes.
GDPR Rights
We aim to comply with GDPR standards. If you are an EU resident, you have rights regarding your data. For more details, see the EU GDPR Information Portal.
10. Third-Party Websites
Driven by Rhys may link to third-party websites, which are not screened for privacy compliance. We are not responsible for third-party content or practices. Please review each third party’s privacy policy before interacting.
11. Release of Your Data for Legal Purposes
We may release your data if legally required, in response to government requests, or for legal matters. We may notify you of such a request, or attempt to quash it, but are not obligated to do so. Any disclosure will comply with the laws of your country.
12. Google AdSense
Our website uses Google AdSense, a third-party advertising service provided by Google. Google AdSense is used to display ads that may be relevant to you. AdSense may collect and use data about your visits to this site and other websites to provide ads based on your interests. The data collected may include information such as your IP address, browser type, and browsing behaviour.
Google AdSense uses cookies to personalise ads and analyse traffic. For more information on how Google uses the data it collects, you can visit Google’s Privacy Policy.
You can manage your preferences for personalised ads or opt out by visiting Google’s Ads Settings.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at [email protected].
