You see it on every website you visit. The privacy policy is something that you may have even read a few times. However, you should be reading it every time you give a company any information about yourself. Privacy policies can be difficult to understand; there are a few things you should be looking out for.
First Thing First
When you go to any website such as internet clear, make sure to take the time to look at the privacy policy. At first, it may seem like a waste of time, but if you really want to understand the policy, you need to know what it says, first.
Information Collected
Every privacy policy should tell you what information may be collected. Keep in mind that the information listed may be more than what you will actually give the company. This is a way for the company to cover themselves. However, if you are uncomfortable with the listed items, make sure that you are clear with what they will actually collect before you enter an agreement with the company.
Are Cookies Used?
Some companies use cookies to track your use of their site. It is important to check the privacy policy to check the length of time the cookies are stored, and how they are used. Does the company track your usage for a month? Or only for the session you are on their site?
Is Your Information Being Given To Other Companies?
Did you know that you may be giving consent for your personal information to be given or even sold to outside companies? If you agree to a company’s privacy policy without fully reading it, you may be agreeing to this without understanding it. Make sure that you look out for this before agreeing to a policy. If you aren’t comfortable with it, don’t agree to it.
You Can’t Be Forced To Give Consent
If you don’t agree with a privacy policy, don’t feel forced to agree to it. Some companies are willing to let you opt out of specific parts of their policies. However, you may need to contact them directly for this. Other companies do not allow this. If that is the case and you are not comfortable with the privacy policy, work with a different company. Not all privacy policies are created equal. Make sure you are working with a company who has a policy you agree with.
Concerning Things You May Be Authorising
There are a lot of things you may be authorizing when you agree to a privacy policy. However, some of the most common and concerning things boil down to the following:
- Gathering of personal information
- Selling of personal information
- Long-term cookies that track your Internet browsing history
Many people say that they are concerned about their privacy. However, when it comes down to it, very few people actually read privacy policies. If you are concerned about your privacy, make an effort to read the privacy policies of the sites you frequent.
