Data protection

1. Data protection at a glance

General information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data that can be used to identify you personally. For detailed information on the subject of data protection, please refer to our data protection declaration listed below this text.

Data collection on this website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the ‘Information on the controller’ section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

On the one hand, your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may, for example, be data that you enter in a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically or with your consent by our IT systems when you visit the website. This is primarily technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system or time of page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure that the website is provided without errors. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right to receive information about the origin, recipient and purpose of your stored personal data free of charge at any time. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given your consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. You also have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You can contact us at any time if you have any further questions on the subject of data protection.

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

Mittwald

The provider is Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG, Königsberger Straße 4-6, 32339 Espelkamp (hereinafter referred to as Mittwald). When you visit our website, Mittwald collects various log files including your IP addresses. Details can be found in Mittwald’s privacy policy: https://www.mittwald.de/datenschutz.

Mittwald is used on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in displaying our website as reliably as possible. If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s terminal device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Order processing

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract prescribed by data protection law, which ensures that it processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General notes and mandatory information

Data protection

The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data that can be used to identify you personally. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We would like to point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g. when communicating by email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the responsible body

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is

SmartTECS Engineers GmbH
Dittesstrasse 15
09126 Chemnitz
Germany

Phone: +49 371/ 240 894 00
E-mail: engineers@smarttecs.de

The controller is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data (e.g. names, e-mail addresses, etc.).).

Contact details of the data protection officer

You can contact the Data Protection Officer (DPO) of the SmartTECS Group via the following email address:

E-Mail: datenschutz@smarttecs.de

Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period has been specified in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a justified request for deletion or revoke your consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g. retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, the deletion will take place after these reasons no longer apply.

General information on the legal basis for data processing on this website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR, insofar as special categories of data are processed in accordance with Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR. In the event of express consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information in your end device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), the data processing is also carried out on the basis of Section 25 (1) of the GDPR. Consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required for the fulfilment of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if this is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Information on the relevant legal bases in each individual case is provided in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Note on data transfer to the USA and other third countries

Among other things, we use tools from companies based in the USA or other third countries that are not secure under data protection law. If these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to these third countries and processed there. We would like to point out that a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed in these countries. For example, US companies are obliged to hand over personal data to security authorities without you as the data subject being able to take legal action against this. It can therefore not be ruled out that US authorities (e.g. secret services) may process, analyse and permanently store your data on US servers for surveillance purposes. We have no influence on these processing activities.

Withdrawal of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data collection in special cases and to direct advertising (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF THE DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6 ABS. 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA AT ANY TIME ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA CONCERNED UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OR THE PROCESSING SERVES THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 PARA. 1 GDPR)

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA ARE PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 PARA. 2 GDPR)

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged violation. The right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only take place if it is technically feasible.

Information, erasure and rectification

Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients and the purpose of the data processing and, if necessary, a right to correction or deletion of this data at any time.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time to do this. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:

• If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we generally need time to verify this. For the duration of the review, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.
• If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
• If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it for the exercise, defence or assertion of legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of its erasure.
• If you have lodged an objection in accordance with Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data – apart from its storage – may only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or of a Member State.

SSL or TLS encryption

This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries that you send to us as the site operator.

You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from ‘http://’ to ‘https://’ and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

Objection to advertising e-mails

We hereby object to the use of contact data published as part of our obligation to provide a legal notice for the purpose of sending unsolicited advertising and information material. The operators of this website expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising information, such as spam e-mails.

4. Data collection on this website

Cookies

Our Internet pages use so-called ‘cookies’. Cookies are small data packets and do not cause any damage to your end device. They are stored on your device either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies). Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your end device until you delete them yourself or they are automatically deleted by your web browser.

Cookies may originate from us (first-party cookies) or from third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain services from third-party companies within websites (e.g. cookies for processing payment services).

Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping basket function or the display of videos).

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process, to provide certain functions that you have requested (e.g. for the shopping basket function) or to optimise the website (e.g. cookies to measure the web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the storage of necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG); the consent can be revoked at any time.

You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and only allow cookies in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be restricted.

You can find out which cookies and services are used on this website in this privacy policy.

CookieYes

This website uses the cookie consent tool ‘CookieYes’ from Mozilor Limited to obtain user consent for cookies and cookie-based applications. An integrated JavaScript code displays a banner to users when they access the website, in which they can give their consent to certain cookies by ticking boxes. Cookies requiring consent are blocked until consent is given. Certain user data (e.g. IP address) is collected and transmitted to the CookieYes servers in order to clearly assign and store the consent settings.

Further information on the use of data by CookieYes’ can be found in CookieYes’ privacy policy:

Mozilor Ltd.
3 Warren Yard,
Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes, MK12 5NW, United Kingdom
Privacy Policy: https://www.cookieyes.com/privacy-policy/

The basis for data processing in this respect is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR, which allows the processing of data to fulfil a legal obligation to which the controller is subject. Another legal basis for the data processing described is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, which allows the processing of data to safeguard the legitimate interests of the controller, unless the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject prevail.

Server log files

The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are

• Browser type and browser version
• Operating system used
• Referrer URL
• Host name of the accessing computer
• Time of the server request
• IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

This data is collected on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimisation of its website – the server log files must be recorded for this purpose.

Contact form

If you send us enquiries via the contact form, your details from the enquiry form, including the contact details you provide there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the enquiry and in the event of follow-up questions. We will not pass on this data without your consent.

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your enquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of the enquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

We will retain the data you provide on the contact form until you request its deletion, revoke your consent for its storage, or the purpose for its storage no longer pertains (e.g. after fulfilling your request). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

Enquiry by e-mail, telephone or fax

If you contact us by e-mail, telephone or fax, we will store and process your enquiry including all personal data (name, enquiry) for the purpose of processing your request. We will not pass on this data without your consent.

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your enquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of the enquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

The data you send to us via contact requests will remain with us until you ask us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

5. Newsletter

Newsletter data

If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an e-mail address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No further data is collected, or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The data entered in the newsletter registration form is processed exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the e-mail address and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the ‘unsubscribe’ link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations that have already taken place remains unaffected by the cancellation.

The data you provide us with for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will be stored by us or the newsletter service provider until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe from the newsletter or after the purpose no longer applies. We reserve the right to delete or block e-mail addresses from our newsletter distribution list at our own discretion within the scope of our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Data stored by us for other purposes remains unaffected by this.

After you unsubscribe from the newsletter distribution list, your e-mail address may be stored by us or the newsletter service provider in a blacklist if this is necessary to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist will only be used for this purpose and will not be merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with the legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). Storage in the blacklist is not limited in time. You can object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interest.

6. Plugins and tools

Wordfence Security

We use the Wordfence security plugin on our website, provided by Defiant, Inc, 1700 Westlake Ave N Ste 200, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.

Wordfence processes your data, including in the USA. We would like to point out that, according to the European Court of Justice, there is currently no adequate level of data protection in the USA, which may entail risks for the legality and security of data processing.

Wordfence uses so-called standard contractual clauses (= Art. 46. para. 2 and 3 GDPR) as the basis for data processing with recipients based in third countries (outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, i.e. in particular in the USA) or data transfer to these countries. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are templates provided by the EU Commission and should ensure that your data complies with European data protection standards even if it is transferred to third countries (such as the USA) and stored there. Through these clauses, Wordfence undertakes to comply with the European level of data protection when processing your relevant data, even if the data is stored, processed and managed in the USA. These clauses are based on an implementing decision of the EU Commission. You can find the decision and the corresponding standard contractual clauses here, among others: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/914/oj?locale=de

The data processing conditions (Data Protection Regulation), which correspond to the standard contractual clauses, can be found at: https://www.wordfence.com/help/general-data-protection-regulation/

You can find out more about the data processed through the use of Wordfence in the privacy policy at https://www.wordfence.com/privacy-policy/

Elementor

We use the plugin ‘Elementor Website Builder for WordPress’, provided by Elementor, 8 THE GRN STE A DOVER, DE 19901 USA. This plugin does not process any personal data.

You can find more information about Elementor’s privacy policy here: https://elementor.com/about/privacy/

WPML

We use WPML, a multilingual plugin from OnTheGoSystems Limited, 22/F 3 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong (hereinafter referred to as WPML). WPML enables the multilingual display of our website. When you visit the website, WPML stores a cookie on your device to retain the selected language setting. Personal data such as user activities (e.g. pages visited and click behaviour), device and browser information (IP address, operating system) may be collected. Further information can be found at: https://wpml.org/documentation/privacy-policy-and-gdpr-compliance.

WPML is used to provide the website in different languages.

The processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR based on our legitimate interest in addressing visitors in their preferred language.

WPML stores cookies on your device. Details on the storage period can be found at: https://wpml.org/documentation/privacy-policy-and-gdpr-compliance.

Ninja Forms

We use Ninja Forms to provide a contact form on our website. Visitors can use this form to contact us to submit enquiries or concerns directly to us.

This data is processed in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your enquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, we base data processing on our legitimate interest in the efficient processing of enquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR), provided that this has been given; consent can be revoked at any time.

We will retain the data you provide on the contact form until you request its deletion, revoke your consent for its storage, or the purpose for its storage no longer pertains (e.g. after fulfilling your request). Legal provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected by this.

Further information about Ninja Forms can be found at the following URL https://ninjaforms.com/gdpr-compliance-wordpress-forms/

Rank Math SEO

We use the SEO plugin Rank Math. The service provider is the company One.com India Private Limited, located at Office No. 2, 5th Floor, Tower A, Building 9, DLF Cyber City Complex, Phase III, Haryana, Gurgaon, India.

Data can be transmitted to India via the service. We would like to point out that India, as a third country, does not fall under the scope of the GDPR. This may result in possible restrictions with regard to data protection and data security.

Further information on the data processed through the use of Rank Math can be found in the privacy policy at https://rankmath.com/privacy-policy/.

Font Awesome (local hosting)

This site uses Font Awesome for the uniform display of fonts. Font Awesome is installed locally. There is no connection to the servers of Fonticons, Inc.

Further information about Font Awesome can be found in the Font Awesome privacy policy at: https://fontawesome.com/privacy.

reCAPTCHA v2

We use Google reCAPTCHA, provided by Google Ireland Limited, to protect our website in the best possible way. This tool helps us to differentiate between human users and bots and protects us from unwanted automated access caused by spam software, for example. Unlike traditional CAPTCHAs, which required puzzles, reCAPTCHA often allows for easier confirmation with a simple tick or even works completely in the background without the user having to take any action.

We want to make sure that only real people can access our website. The use of reCAPTCHA protects us from bot attacks, such as the mass registration of email addresses, which could then be used for spam. Data is transmitted to Google to analyse user interactions and confirm that they are human users.

eCAPTCHA collects various data, including the IP address, information on the operating system used, cookies and user behaviour (mouse and keyboard input). This information helps Google to assess whether the user is human. Much of this data is collected before you tick the box or use the Invisible reCAPTCHA version, which works without visible interaction.

The data collected via reCAPTCHA is stored on Google servers. It is unclear exactly where this data is stored, but the IP address is not considered to be linked to other Google data unless you are logged in to Google. If you do not want your data to be transmitted, you should log out of Google before visiting our website and delete all Google cookies. To delete data, you must contact Google support.

Your data is processed on the basis of your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. We also have a legitimate interest in making our website more secure through the use of reCAPTCHA (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). Google complies with European data protection standards, even if data is transferred to the USA, and uses standard contractual clauses.

For more information about reCAPTCHA and the associated data protection practices, please visit the Google Privacy Policy and the reCAPTCHA developer page.

Matomo

7. Inclusion and validity of the privacy policy

By using our websites, you consent to the data processing described above. This privacy policy only applies to the web content of SmartTECS Cyber Security GmbH. Other data protection and data security provisions apply to the linked external content. You can find out who is responsible for these offers in the respective legal notice.

Due to the further development of our websites or the implementation of new technologies, it may become necessary to amend this privacy policy. We therefore reserve the right to amend the privacy policy at any time with effect for the future. The version available at the time of your website visit always applies.

Status: June 2025