Privacy Policy for AMBOK ShortLink

1. Introduction

Welcome to AMBOK ShortLink ("we," "our," or "us"). We provide a service to shorten long URLs ("Short Links") and provide analytics on their performance.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

By using AMBOK ShortLink, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect two main types of information:

a) Information You Provide Directly:

• URLs: The original long URLs that you submit to be shortened.
• Account Information: If you create an account, we collect your email address, username, and password.
• Custom Links: If you choose to create a custom short link (e.g., ambok.uk/short), we collect the custom slug you provide.
• Communication: Any information you provide when you contact us for support or with inquiries.

b) Information Collected Automatically:

When a user (you or someone clicking your links) interacts with our service, we automatically collect:

• Click Data: We record each time a Short Link is clicked, including the date, time, and number of clicks.
• Technical Information: We collect the IP address, browser type and version, operating system, and device type of the user clicking the link.
• Referrer Information: The web address of the site or page that referred the user to the Short Link.
• Geolocation Data: We may derive approximate location (country, region, city) from the IP address of the user clicking the link to provide geographic analytics.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• To Provide and Maintain Our Service: To create and manage your Short Links, and to provide click analytics.
• To Analyze and Improve Our Service: To understand how our service is used and to enhance user experience.
• To Prevent Abuse and Misuse: To monitor and prevent malicious activity, such as spamming, phishing, or distributing malware through our links.
• To Communicate With You: To send you account-related notifications, respond to your support requests, and (if you opt-in) send you marketing or promotional materials.
• To Enforce Our Terms of Service: To ensure compliance with our rules and policies.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who help us operate our website and service (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics, customer support). These partners are bound by confidentiality and are prohibited from using your information for any other purpose.
• Legal Obligations: If required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or a government agency).
• Protection of Rights: To protect and defend the rights, property, or safety of AMBOK ShortLink, our users, or the public.
• Business Transfer: In connection with a merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like pixels) to track activity on our service and hold certain information.

• Purpose: Cookies are used to remember your preferences, understand how you use our site, and for security purposes.
• Control: You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our service.

6. Data Retention

• URLs and Click Data: We retain the original URLs, shortened links, and their associated analytics data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. You can delete your links and associated data at any time.
• Account Information: We retain your account information for as long as your account is active.
• Aggregated Data: We may retain anonymized and aggregated data for analytical purposes after your account is closed.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

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

• Access: The right to request copies of your personal data.
• Rectification: The right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate.
• Erasure: The right to request that we delete your personal data, under certain conditions.
• Restriction of Processing: The right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data.
• Data Portability: The right to request that we transfer the data we have collected to another organization, or directly to you.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this policy.

8. Security of Your Information

We use administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

9. Links to Other Websites

Our service may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. The original long URLs you shorten and the destinations of the Short Links are not governed by this Privacy Policy. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.