We have drafted this privacy policy (Version 01.01.1970-121495788) to comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 to explain to you what information we collect, how we use data, and what decision-making options you have as a visitor to this website. Unfortunately, it is inherent in the nature of things that these explanations sound very technical, but we have made every effort to describe the most important things as simply and clearly as possible.
Automatic Data Storage
When you visit websites nowadays, certain information is automatically created and stored, including on this website. When you visit our website as you are doing now, our web server (the computer on which this website is stored) automatically stores data such as: the address (URL) of the accessed website // browser and browser version // the operating system used // the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL) // the hostname and IP address of the device from which access is made // date and time in files (web server log files). Web server log files are usually stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not pass on this data, but we cannot exclude the possibility that this data may be viewed in the event of unlawful behavior.
Cookies
Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data. In the following, we explain what cookies are and why they are used, so that you can better understand the following privacy policy.
What are cookies exactly?
Every time you surf the internet, you use a browser. Common browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. Most websites store small text files in your browser. These files are called cookies. One thing is certain: cookies are really useful little helpers. Almost all websites use cookies. More precisely, they are HTTP cookies, as there are also other cookies for other applications. HTTP cookies are small files that are stored by our website on your computer. These cookie files are automatically placed in the cookie folder, which is like the “brain” of your browser. A cookie consists of a name and a value. When defining a cookie, one or more attributes must also be specified. Cookies store certain user data from you, such as language or personal page settings. When you revisit our site, your browser sends back the “user-related” information to our site. Thanks to cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the settings you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file, while in others, such as Firefox, all cookies are stored in a single file. There are both first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our site, while third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g., Google Analytics). Each cookie must be evaluated individually, as each cookie stores different data. The expiration time of a cookie varies from a few minutes to a few years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, trojans, or other “malware”. Cookies also cannot access information on your PC.
For example, cookie data may look like this:
Name: _ga
Value: GA1.2.1326744211.152121495788-9
Purpose: Distinguishing website visitors
Expiration date: after 2 years
These are the minimum sizes a browser should be able to support:
4096 bytes per cookie // 50 cookies per domain // 3000 cookies in total
What types of cookies are there?
The question of which cookies we specifically use depends on the services used and will be clarified in the following sections of the privacy policy. At this point, we would like to briefly discuss the different types of HTTP cookies. Four types of cookies can be distinguished:
Essential cookies: These cookies are necessary to ensure basic functions of the website. For example, these cookies are needed if a user puts a product in the shopping cart, then continues to browse other pages, and later goes to checkout. These cookies prevent the shopping cart from being deleted even if the user closes their browser window.
Functional cookies: These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether the user receives any error messages. Additionally, these cookies are used to measure the loading time and the behavior of the website in different browsers.
Targeted cookies: These cookies ensure better user-friendliness. For example, entered locations, font sizes, or form data are stored.
Advertising cookies: These cookies are also called targeting cookies. They are used to deliver individually tailored advertising to the user. This can be very practical but also very annoying.
Usually, when you visit a website for the first time, you are asked which of these types of cookies you want to allow. And of course, this decision is also stored in a cookie.
How can I delete cookies?
Whether and how you want to use cookies is up to you. Regardless of which service or website the cookies come from, you always have the option to delete, deactivate, or only partially allow cookies. For example, you can block third-party cookies but allow all other cookies. If you want to find out which cookies have been stored in your browser, change cookie settings, or delete them, you can find this in your browser settings:
Chrome: Delete, enable, and manage cookies in Chrome
Safari: Manage cookies and website data with Safari
Firefox: Delete cookies to remove data that websites have placed on your computer
Internet Explorer: Delete and manage cookies
Microsoft Edge: Delete and manage cookies
If you do not want to have any cookies at all, you can set up your browser so that it always informs you when a cookie is to be set. This way, you can decide for each individual cookie whether to allow it or not. The procedure varies depending on the browser. It is best to search for the instructions in Google using the search term “delete cookies Chrome” or “disable cookies Chrome” in the case of a Chrome browser.
What about my privacy?
Since 2009, there have been the so-called “Cookie Directives”. It is stipulated that storing cookies requires your consent. However, there are still very different reactions to these directives within the EU countries. In Austria, however, this directive was implemented in § 96 (3) of the Telecommunications Act (TKG). If you want to know more about cookies and do not shy away from technical documentation, we recommend the tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6265 Request for Comments from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) called “HTTP State Management Mechanism”.
Storage of personal data
Personal data that you transmit to us electronically on this website, such as your name, email address, address, or other personal information when submitting a form or comments on the blog, will only be used by us for the specified purpose, securely stored, and not shared with third parties. We only use your personal data for communication with those visitors who expressly request contact and for the processing of the services and products offered on this website. We do not pass on your personal data without your consent, but we cannot exclude the possibility that this data may be viewed in the event of unlawful behavior. If you send us personal data by email – outside of this website – we cannot guarantee secure transmission and protection of your data. We recommend that you never transmit confidential data unencrypted by email.
Rights according to the General Data Protection Regulation
According to the provisions of the GDPR and the Austrian Data Protection Act (DSG) you generally have the following rights: Right to rectification (Article 16 GDPR) // Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) (Article 17 GDPR) // Right to restriction of processing (Article 18 GDPR) // Right to notification - obligation to notify in connection with the rectification or erasure of personal data or the restriction of processing (Article 19 GDPR) // Right to data portability (Article 20 GDPR) // Right to object (Article 21 GDPR) // Right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing — including profiling — (Article 22 GDPR). If you believe that the processing of your data violates data protection law or your data protection rights have otherwise been violated in any way, you can complain to the supervisory authority, which in Austria is the data protection authority, whose website you can find at https://www.dsb.gv.at/.
Evaluation of visitor behavior
In the following privacy policy, we inform you whether and how we evaluate data from your visit to this website. The evaluation of the collected data is usually anonymous, and we cannot draw any conclusions about your person from your behavior on this website. You can find out more about how to object to this evaluation of visit data in the following privacy policy.
TLS encryption with https
We use https to transmit data securely over the internet (data protection through technology design Article 25 (1) GDPR). By using TLS (Transport Layer Security), an encryption protocol for secure data transmission over the internet, we can ensure the protection of confidential data. You can recognize the use of this data transmission security by the small lock symbol in the upper left corner of the browser and the use of the https scheme (instead of http) as part of our internet address.
