Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to cuts.ly. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy will inform you about how we look after your personal data when you visit our website and tell you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect, use, store, and transfer different kinds of personal data about you:

2.1 Personal Information

• Account Data: Name, email address, and password (encrypted)
• Profile Data: Username, preferences, and feedback

2.2 Usage Data

• URL Data: Original URLs, shortened codes, and creation timestamps
• Click Data: IP addresses, user agents, referrer information, and timestamps of URL access
• Technical Data: Browser type, device information, operating system

2.3 Analytics Data

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our service. This includes information about your visit, such as pages viewed, time spent on the site, and interaction patterns.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To provide and maintain our URL shortening service
• To manage your account and provide customer support
• To track URL usage and provide analytics to URL creators
• To send administrative information, such as service updates
• To detect, prevent, and address technical issues and abuse
• To improve our service and develop new features
• To comply with legal obligations

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our service and hold certain information. Cookies are files with small amounts of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier.

Types of cookies we use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the operation of our service (e.g., authentication)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our service
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

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.

5. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this privacy policy:

• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account
• Free User URLs: Automatically deleted after 15 days
• Registered User URLs: Retained until manually deleted by the user
• Click Statistics: Retained for analytical purposes

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

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

• Service Providers: With third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf (e.g., hosting, analytics)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
• Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale, or acquisition

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. These measures include:

• Encryption of passwords and sensitive data
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure data transmission (HTTPS)

8. Your Rights

Under data protection laws, you have rights including:

• Right to Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of processing your data
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data

9. Third-Party Services

Our service uses the following third-party services:

• Google Analytics: For website analytics and usage statistics

These third-party services have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where data protection laws may differ.

12. 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.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us through our website.