1. Introduction & Scope

StockMasteryZone (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates stockmasteryzone.com (the “Website”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what personal and non-personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, with whom we share it, and the controls and choices you have.

This policy applies to all users of the Website including visitors, subscribers, commenters, community members and users of any StockMasteryZone services or content.

2. Principles & Legal Bases

We follow privacy principles consistent with global standards and applicable laws (GDPR, CCPA, DPDP and similar frameworks):

• We collect the minimum data necessary for the stated purpose.
• We aim for transparency — we explain how data is used and how long it is retained.
• We secure your data with reasonable technical and organizational measures.
• Where required, we rely on lawful bases for processing (consent, legitimate interest, performance of a contract, legal obligation).

3. Information We Collect

A. Information you provide directly

You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:

• Subscribe to newsletters or mailing lists;
• Submit comments or feedback;
• Contact us via contact forms, email or social channels;
• Participate in surveys, polls, or promotions;
• Apply to contribute content or collaborate.

Typical fields may include your name, email address, phone number (if provided), social handles, and any message content you submit.

B. Information collected automatically

When you access the Website we, and our service providers, may automatically collect technical and usage data, including:

• IP address;
• Browser type and version;
• Device and operating system information;
• Referring and exit pages, pages viewed, and time spent on pages;
• Clickstream and navigation patterns;
• Approximate geographic location (city-level) derived from IP;
• Cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies.

C. Cookies & tracking technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for functionality, analytics, personalization and advertising (if ads are enabled). Cookies may be:

• Essential: required for the Website to function;
• Performance/Analytics: help us understand usage and improve the site (e.g., Google Analytics);
• Personalization: remember preferences and provide tailored content;
• Advertising: enable targeted advertising and ad measurement.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use information for legitimate purposes including:

• Providing and improving the Website and services;
• Delivering newsletters, alerts, and communications you opt into;
• Responding to inquiries, comments and support requests;
• Analyzing trends, monitoring usage, and conducting research to improve content;
• Preventing fraud, abuse and ensuring site security;
• Administering promotional activities or features you opt into;
• Complying with legal obligations or responding to lawful requests from authorities.

We do not sell your personal information. In jurisdictions where “sale” has a specific legal meaning (e.g., CCPA), we do not engage in such activity without explicit disclosure and consent.

5. Legal Basis for Processing (Where Applicable)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or other jurisdictions with similar requirements, we rely on lawful bases such as:

• Consent: where you have given explicit permission (e.g., newsletters, cookies);
• Contractual necessity: to provide services you request;
• Legitimate interests: for analytics, security and content improvement (balanced against your rights);
• Legal obligation: to comply with laws and regulatory requests.

6. Third Parties & Service Providers

We may share aggregated or non-personal information with partners for analytics, advertising, or research. Personal data may be shared with trusted service providers who perform functions on our behalf, such as:

• Email service providers (for newsletter delivery);
• Hosting providers and CDN services;
• Analytics providers (for example, Google Analytics);
• Customer support providers and form handlers;
• Advertising platforms if ads are enabled.

We require vendors to protect your data and only use it to provide contracted services. Where required by law, we enter agreements that include appropriate data protection clauses.

7. Advertising, Affiliate Links & Monetization

Our Website may display ads or contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or engage with ads, third parties may collect certain information as described in their own policies. We:

• Disclose affiliate relationships clearly where applicable;
• Work with ad networks that follow industry opt-out mechanisms;
• Do not permit deceptive or malicious advertising on our site.

To opt out of interest-based advertising, you can use industry opt-out pages (for example, Google’s Ads Settings) or browser/OS tools that limit tracking.

8. Analytics & Cookies — Google Services

We use tools such as Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to measure site usage and performance. We typically enable IP anonymization and follow Google’s data retention best practices where possible.

• Google may collect information about your interactions with our site;
• We use aggregated reports to improve content and user experience;
• You can control Google Analytics cookies via browser settings or opt-out add-ons.

9. Data Retention & Deletion

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

• Newsletter subscription records: retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion;
• Comment content: retained unless you request removal (some comments may be cached by search engines);
• Analytics data: typically retained in aggregated form according to our analytics provider settings;
• Support and administrative records: retained for operational needs and to maintain security logs.

You may request deletion of your personal data using the contact information below. We will respond to deletion requests in accordance with applicable law.

10. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights over your personal data including:

• Access to the personal data we hold about you;
• Correction of inaccurate or incomplete data;
• Deletion (right to be forgotten) subject to legal exceptions;
• Restriction of processing or objection to processing for direct marketing;
• Data portability where technically feasible;
• Opting out of targeted advertising and third-party analytics where available.

To exercise any rights, contact us using the details in the Contact Us section. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling requests.

11. Security Measures

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal data. Measures include:

• HTTPS / SSL encryption;
• Secure hosting and firewalls;
• Regular software updates and malware scanning;
• Access controls and role-based permissions;
• Data backups and incident response planning.

Despite these measures, no online system is completely secure. If we become aware of a breach that may materially affect you, we will notify you and the relevant authorities as required by law.

12. International Data Transfers

Some processing and storage of data may occur outside your country. When information is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses or other legally recognized mechanisms for cross-border transfers.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or higher minimum age in certain jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you believe we have collected personal data from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

14. Third-Party Websites & Links

We may link to third-party websites (including social platforms like YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram) for additional resources or community engagement. These sites have independent privacy practices that we do not control. Please review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or service changes. Substantive changes will be posted with an updated “Last updated” date. For material changes, we may provide additional notice (for example, via email or site banner).

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your rights, or request data deletion, please contact us:

• Website contact form: Contact page
• Email: use the contact form for the most direct route
• Official channels: refer to links above for community engagement

We will respond to legitimate requests in accordance with applicable law and may require reasonable proof of identity for certain requests.