This Privacy Policy describes how Forged By Tech ("we", "us", or "our"), a software company based in Harare, Zimbabwe, collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards information about you when you visit our website forgedbytech.com or interact with us through our services. Please read this policy carefully. By using our website or services, you agree to the practices described herein.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide Directly
When you contact us through our website contact form, email, or WhatsApp, we may collect:
- Your full name
- Your email address
- Your phone number (if provided)
- The content of your message or enquiry
- Any other information you choose to share with us
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information is collected automatically, including:
- IP address and general geographic location (country/city level)
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
- Referring URLs
- Date and time of your visit
1.3 Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:
- Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality.
- Analytics cookies: Used to understand how visitors interact with our site so we can improve it.
- Preference cookies: Used to remember your settings and preferences.
You can control cookie settings through your browser. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your enquiries and provide the services you request
- Communicate with you about projects, proposals, and updates
- Improve the functionality and content of our website
- Analyse website usage to understand our audience and improve user experience
- Comply with legal obligations
- Protect against fraud and misuse of our services
- Send you relevant information about our services (only where you have consented or we have a legitimate interest)
We will never sell your personal information to third parties.
3. Third-Party Services
3.1 Meta and WhatsApp Business API
Forged By Tech uses the WhatsApp Business API, a service provided by Meta Platforms, Inc. If you contact us via WhatsApp, your messages are transmitted through Meta's infrastructure. Meta's own privacy policy governs how they handle data transmitted through their platforms. We encourage you to review WhatsApp's Privacy Policy and Meta's Privacy Policy.
When using the WhatsApp Business API, the following data may be processed by Meta:
- Your phone number
- Message content and metadata
- Device and connection information
3.2 Web Hosting and Infrastructure
Our website is hosted on a Virtual Private Server (VPS). Our hosting provider may process server logs that include IP addresses and request data. This data is handled in accordance with the hosting provider's own privacy and security policies.
3.3 Analytics
We may use analytics tools to understand how our website is used. These tools may collect anonymised usage data. We take steps to ensure that analytics data is processed in a privacy-respecting manner and does not identify individual users where possible.
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website or delivering our services, subject to confidentiality obligations.
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
- Protection of Rights: To protect the rights, property, or safety of Forged By Tech, our clients, or the public.
5. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law:
- Contact form submissions: Retained for up to 2 years from the date of submission, or longer if an active client relationship exists.
- Client project data: Retained for the duration of the project and up to 5 years thereafter for legal and business continuity purposes.
- Server logs: Automatically deleted after 90 days unless required for security investigation.
- Analytics data: Aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely; individual-level data is anonymised or deleted within 26 months.
When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it.
6. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:
- Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification: You may request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Right to Erasure: You may request that we delete your personal information where there is no compelling reason to continue processing it.
- Right to Restriction: You may request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes or where processing is based on legitimate interests.
- Right to Data Portability: Where applicable, you may request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@forgedbytech.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
7. Data Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted to and from our website
- Restricted access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
- Regular security reviews of our systems and practices
- Secure storage of any data we retain
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, however. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete it.
9. International Data Transfers
Forged By Tech is based in Zimbabwe. If you are accessing our website from outside Zimbabwe, please be aware that your information may be transferred to and processed in Zimbabwe or other countries where our service providers operate. By using our website, you consent to such transfers. We take steps to ensure that any cross-border transfers are handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
10. Cookie Policy
As described in Section 1.3 above, our website uses cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block cookies from specific websites
- Block all cookies from being set
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser
Please note that if you block all cookies, parts of our website may not function as intended.
11. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy applies only to our website. We have no control over third-party sites and are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact us:
- Company: Forged By Tech
- Email: hello@forgedbytech.com
- Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
- Website: forgedbytech.com
We take privacy concerns seriously and will endeavour to address your query promptly and thoroughly.