Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to iSmartDeals ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information when you visit and use www.ismartdeals.com (the "Site").

By using our Site, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our Site.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you register for an account, participate in forums, submit deals, or contact us, you may provide:

• Account Information: Username, email address, password, and optional profile information (name, location)
• User Content: Deals you submit, forum posts, comments, and feedback
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our contact forms or support channels
• Social Login Data: If you register using Google or Facebook, we receive basic profile information from these platforms (name, email, profile picture)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, we automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, search queries, and browsing behavior
• Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, screen resolution
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies (see Section 7 for details)
• Referral Information: The website or search engine that referred you to our Site
• Analytics Data: Aggregated data about Site usage and performance

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Social Media Platforms: Profile information when you use social login features
• Analytics Providers: Data from Google Analytics and similar services
• Advertising Partners: Information related to ad performance and user engagement

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Providing and Improving Our Services

• Operating and maintaining the Site
• Creating and managing user accounts
• Displaying deals, coupons, and promotional content
• Processing user-submitted deals and forum posts
• Personalizing your experience and content recommendations
• Improving Site functionality, features, and user experience

3.2 Communication

• Sending account-related notifications (registration confirmation, password reset)
• Responding to your inquiries and support requests
• Sending deal alerts and notifications (if you opt-in)
• Sending important updates about our Site or policies

3.3 Analytics and Research

• Analyzing user behavior and preferences
• Understanding which deals and content are most popular
• Conducting research to improve our services
• Generating statistical and aggregated data

3.4 Advertising

• Displaying relevant advertisements through Google AdSense and other networks
• Measuring ad performance and effectiveness
• Personalizing ads based on your interests (with your consent)

3.5 Security and Legal Compliance

• Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Enforcing our Terms of Service
• Complying with legal obligations and responding to legal requests
• Protecting our rights and the rights of our users

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Public Content

Content you post publicly on our Site (forum posts, comments, submitted deals) is visible to other users and may be indexed by search engines. Your username and profile information may be associated with this content.

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Site:

• Hosting Providers: To store and serve Site content
• Analytics Services: Google Analytics and similar tools (see Section 7.3)
• Email Services: To send transactional and notification emails
• Security Services: To protect against fraud and abuse

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

4.3 Advertising Partners

We work with advertising networks like Google AdSense to display ads on our Site. These networks may collect information about your visits to our Site and other websites to provide targeted advertising. See Section 7 for more details about advertising cookies.

4.4 Affiliate Partners

When you click on affiliate links to retailers, we may share limited information (such as that a click occurred) with our affiliate partners to track commissions. We do not share personally identifiable information with merchants through affiliate links.

4.5 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes
• Requests from law enforcement or government authorities
• Circumstances involving potential threats to safety or security
• Protection of our legal rights and enforcement of our Terms of Service

4.6 Business Transfers

If iSmartDeals is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and the choices you may have.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Account Information: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward
• Public Content: Forum posts and submitted deals may be retained indefinitely as part of our community archive
• Usage Data: Typically retained for 18-26 months for analytics purposes
• Communication Records: Retained for customer support and legal compliance purposes

You may request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us (see Section 9). Note that some information may be retained in backups or as required by law.

6. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Correction

You can access and update your account information by logging into your account settings. If you need assistance, please contact us.

6.2 Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your account by contacting us at support@ismartdeals.com. We will delete or anonymize your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.

6.3 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of receiving promotional emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or by adjusting your account preferences. Note that you will continue to receive essential account-related communications.

6.4 Cookie Preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect Site functionality. See Section 7 for more details.

6.5 Do Not Track

Some browsers have "Do Not Track" features. We do not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can manage tracking through cookie settings and third-party opt-out tools.

6.6 Rights for Residents of Certain Jurisdictions

If you are a resident of California, the European Union, or other jurisdictions with specific privacy laws, you may have additional rights:

• Right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
• Right to access your personal information
• Right to request deletion of your information
• Right to opt-out of sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to certain processing activities
• Right to withdraw consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@ismartdeals.com with your request and verification of identity.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

7.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit websites. They help websites remember your preferences and provide functionality.

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for Site functionality, such as authentication and security
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with the Site (Google Analytics)
• Advertising Cookies: Used by ad networks to display relevant ads

7.3 Third-Party Cookies

We use the following third-party services that may set cookies:

• Google Analytics: To analyze Site usage and performance. Google Privacy Policy
• Google AdSense: To display advertisements. Google Ads Policy
• Social Media Widgets: For social sharing features (may set cookies from social platforms)

7.4 Managing Cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Edge

You can also opt out of interest-based advertising through the Digital Advertising Alliance.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Monitoring for suspicious activity

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

9. Children's Privacy

iSmartDeals is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will delete that information immediately.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@ismartdeals.com.

10. International Data Transfers

iSmartDeals is based in the United States. If you access our Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Site contains links to third-party websites, including retailers and merchants. This Privacy Policy applies only to iSmartDeals. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit. When you click on affiliate links and visit merchant websites, you are subject to their privacy policies and terms of service.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. Material changes will be communicated by:

• Posting a notice on the Site
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending an email to registered users (for significant changes)

Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days.