Effective Date: 02/17/2025

At Coastal Research, we are committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining transparency in how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information. This policy outlines our data practices when you interact with our website or services.

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1. Data Collection & Purpose

We collect personal data to enhance user experience and improve our services. The types of information we collect include:

• Visitor Information: Our server automatically logs details such as IP address, browser type, referral page, and visit duration to analyze traffic and optimize our site.

• Cookies: We use cookies to store your preferences and improve website interactions. Registered users may have cookies stored for login convenience.

• Registration Data: If you register on our site, we collect your email address and username to create an account and provide personalized services.

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2. User Contributions (Comments & Media Uploads)

• Comments: When you leave comments, we collect the data submitted, along with your IP address and browser details, to prevent spam and enhance security.

  • Gravatar: If you use Gravatar, an anonymized email hash may be sent to their service. After approval, your profile image will be displayed with your comment.

• Media Uploads: If you upload images, ensure they do not contain embedded location data (EXIF GPS), as others may extract this information.

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3. Contact Forms

When you submit a contact form, we store your information to assist you efficiently. In some cases, we may share it with third-party service providers who assist in delivering our services. These providers are bound by strict privacy agreements.

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4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to enhance website functionality:

• Comment Cookies: If you leave a comment, you may opt to save your details in a cookie for convenience. These last for one year.

• Login Cookies: Login credentials and screen preferences are stored for two days (or up to two weeks if "Remember Me" is selected). Logging out removes these cookies.

• Article Cookies: If you edit or publish content, a temporary cookie tracks your activity and expires after 24 hours.

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5. Embedded Content from Third-Party Sites

Our site may include embedded media (such as videos, articles, or images) from third-party sources. Interactions with embedded content behave as if you visited the external site directly. These sites may collect data, use cookies, and track interactions. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies.

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6. Analytics & Website Traffic Monitoring

To enhance our services, we analyze user behavior using third-party analytics providers. These tools help us optimize website performance and improve the user experience.

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7. Data Sharing & Advertising

• Third-Party Vendors: We may share anonymized data with trusted vendors for service improvements, but we do not sell personal data.

• Advertising Services:

  • Google Ads: Google may use cookies (such as the DART cookie) to display ads based on browsing history. You can opt out by visiting Google’s ad preferences page.

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8. Data Protection & Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security protocols to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. However, no online system is entirely secure, and we encourage users to take precautions when sharing sensitive data.

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9. Your Data Rights & Control

You have the right to:

• Request access to the personal data we hold about you.

• Request correction or deletion of your data.

• Withdraw consent for data processing when applicable.

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To make a request, please contact us at cases@coastalresearch.net.

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10. Policy Updates & Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in regulations or business practices. Continued use of our website or services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

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For further inquiries or concerns, please reach out to cases@coastalresearch.net.