Privacy Policy

Last updated: 22 August 2026

Computer Compatibility (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates the website computercompatibility.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you visit our Site, in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), and other applicable privacy laws.

By using this Site, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We may collect personal data that you voluntarily provide when you:

Contact forms: If you use a contact form on our Site, we collect your name, email address, and any information you include in your message. This data is used solely to respond to your enquiry.

Email subscriptions: If you subscribe to our newsletter or email updates, we collect your email address and any preferences you indicate. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in every email.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, certain information is collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies:

Analytics data: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our Site. This includes browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, time spent on pages, and general geographic location. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect this information. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On.

Affiliate tracking cookies: We participate in the Amazon Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk. When you click an Amazon affiliate link on our Site, Amazon places cookies on your device to track the referral. These cookies are governed by Amazon’s Privacy Notice, not this policy.

WordPress cookies: Our Site runs on WordPress, which sets functional cookies for site operation, including session management and comment functionality.

Server logs: Our hosting provider (Hostinger) automatically collects standard server log data, including IP addresses, browser user agent strings, referring pages, and timestamps. This data is used for security monitoring and site performance.

2. How We Use Your Data

We use the personal data collected for the following purposes:

To respond to enquiries: If you contact us, we use your name and email address to reply to your message. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR).

To send email updates: If you subscribe, we send you content updates and newsletters. Legal basis: consent (Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR). You can withdraw consent at any time.

To analyse site usage: We use analytics data to understand traffic patterns, improve content, and fix technical issues. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR).

To earn affiliate revenue: Affiliate cookies allow us to earn commission when you purchase products through our links. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR).

To maintain site security: Server logs are used to detect and prevent malicious activity. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR).

3. Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. We use the following types of cookies:

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may affect your experience on the Site. For more information about cookies, visit allaboutcookies.org.

4. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties. We may share data with the following service providers who process data on our behalf:

Google (Analytics 4, via Site Kit): processes analytics data about your visit. Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses; it uses them transiently to derive approximate location and then discards them. Google’s privacy policy is at policies.google.com/privacy.

Google (AdSense): our pages load Google’s advertising script. Advertising cookies are only set if you accept “marketing” cookies in our consent banner; until then Google Consent Mode keeps advertising and analytics storage denied.

Google Fonts: our pages load web fonts from Google’s font servers, which means your IP address is disclosed to Google when a page loads.

FluentCRM and FluentSMTP (email): if you request one of our free guides or subscribe, your name and email address are stored in our own WordPress database by FluentCRM and the emails are sent through FluentSMTP.

SureForms and Fluent Forms: the form software that collects and stores your submissions on this Site.

Complianz and WP Consent API: record and communicate your cookie consent choices. These set first-party cookies that remember your preferences.

Wordfence (security), LiteSpeed Cache (performance) and ShortPixel (image optimisation): WordPress plugins that process technical data such as IP addresses for security, caching and media handling.

Hostinger Reach: a Hostinger marketing add-on installed on this Site.

Amazon (Associates Programme): Processes affiliate referral data through cookies. Amazon’s privacy notice is available at amazon.co.uk/privacy.

Hostinger (Hosting): Our web hosting provider stores and processes server data, including any data you submit through the Site.

We may also disclose your data if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

Contact form submissions: Retained for up to 12 months after your enquiry is resolved, then deleted.

Email subscription data: Retained until you unsubscribe, at which point your email address is removed from our mailing list within 30 days.

Analytics data: Google Analytics data is retained for 26 months, after which it is automatically deleted.

Server logs: Retained by our hosting provider for up to 90 days.

6. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right of access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

Right to rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.

Right to erasure: You can ask us to delete your personal data where there is no compelling reason for us to continue processing it.

Right to restrict processing: You can ask us to suspend processing of your data in certain circumstances.

Right to data portability: You can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

Right to object: You can object to processing based on legitimate interest.

Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 11 below. We will respond to your request within one month.

7. Your Rights Under US Privacy Laws

7.1 California Residents — CCPA/CPRA

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA) provides you with specific rights regarding your personal information. This section applies in addition to the rights described above.

Categories of personal information we collect: As described in Section 1, we collect identifiers (name, email address, IP address), internet or network activity information (browsing history, pages visited, referring URLs), and geolocation data (general geographic location from IP address). We collect this information from you directly (contact forms, subscriptions) and automatically (cookies, server logs).

How we use personal information: We use personal information for the business purposes described in Section 2: responding to enquiries, sending email updates, analysing site usage, earning affiliate revenue, and maintaining site security.

Sale and sharing of personal information: We do not sell your personal information as defined by the CCPA/CPRA. We do not share your personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. Google Analytics data is anonymised and used solely for our own analytical purposes.

Your California privacy rights: As a California resident, you have the right to: request that we disclose what personal information we collect, use, and disclose about you (right to know); request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (right to delete); request correction of inaccurate personal information (right to correct); opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information (though we do not sell or share personal information as defined by the CCPA/CPRA); and not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights (right to non-discrimination).

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@computercompatibility.com. We will verify your identity before processing your request. You may also designate an authorised agent to make a request on your behalf.

7.2 Other US State Privacy Laws

Residents of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Montana, and other US states with comprehensive privacy laws may have similar rights to access, delete, and correct their personal data, and to opt out of targeted advertising. To exercise any rights available to you under your state’s privacy law, please contact us at info@computercompatibility.com.

7.3 CAN-SPAM Compliance

If you subscribe to our email communications, we comply with the US CAN-SPAM Act. All marketing emails will include: our identity as the sender, a valid physical postal address or registered agent address, a clear and conspicuous unsubscribe mechanism, and honest subject lines that reflect the content. Unsubscribe requests are honoured within 10 business days.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include SSL/TLS encryption on all pages, secure hosting infrastructure, and regular software updates. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our Site is not directed at children under the age of 16 (or under 13 in the United States, as defined by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act — COPPA). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

10. International Data Transfers

Our website is hosted by Hostinger International Ltd, a company registered in Lithuania (EU), and our email is sent through the same infrastructure. Some of our processors — in particular Google (Analytics and AdSense) — are based in the United States, so some personal data may be transferred outside the UK. Where that happens we rely on the safeguards those providers put in place, including the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses together with the UK International Data Transfer Addendum. You can ask us for details of the safeguards that apply.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data protection rights, or have a complaint about how we handle your data, you can contact us at:

Email: info@computercompatibility.com

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

ICO website: ico.org.uk
ICO helpline: 0303 123 1113

11A. Limitation of Liability for Data Handling

We take the security of your personal data seriously and apply the measures described in Section 8. No system is completely secure, and transmitting data over the internet always carries some risk. Nothing in this policy limits your rights under the UK GDPR or the Data Protection Act 2018, or our obligations under them.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, data security, or content of any third-party websites linked from this Site, including but not limited to Amazon.co.uk, Google, and manufacturer websites. Your use of third-party websites is governed by their respective privacy policies and terms of service.

11B. Google Site Kit and Connected Services

This Site uses Google Site Kit, a WordPress plugin that connects our Site to Google services including Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google AdSense (if applicable). Through Site Kit, Google may collect and process data about your visit in accordance with Google’s Privacy Policy. The data collected through these services is used by us solely for understanding site traffic, search performance, and content optimisation.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

By using computercompatibility.com, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy, our Terms and Conditions, and our Disclaimer.