Cookies & Privacy Policies
Last updated: January 12, 2020
Scout is committed to protecting and respecting visitor privacy. At scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog (the Site), cookies are used and personal data are collected automatically through the website platform used and directly from visitors through the tools and features enabled. The use of cookies, collection, processing, and storage of personal data, and the rights and options of visitors are addressed here. By continuing to use the Site, visitors agree to Scout’s Cookies & Privacy Policies, which were created in large part using Automattic‘s Privacy Policy.
Cookies
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on a visitor’s computer (or other device) whenever they visit a site. Cookies appear as text files on the visitor’s web browser and allow sites to “remember” them and their preferences to perform essential functions and provide a consistent, efficient, and personalized experience. Cookies also allow site owners — and the website platform and its partners — to recognize, collect, and track information about a visitor’s activity to analyze and understand site usage, improve services, and display relevant ads. Session cookies remember visitors from single visits, whereas persistent cookies remember them from repeat visits.
Types of Cookies Used & Purposes
At scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog, the following types of cookies may be used for the following purposes:
| Type of Cookie | Purpose |
| Strictly Necessary | Allow visitors to register, and registered users to perform essential functions, such as logging and staying logged in and carrying out account-related functions |
| Security | Help identify and block potential security threats |
| Functionality | Store preferences set by registered users, e.g., account name, language, and time zone |
| Third Party/Embedded Content | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest social sharing and profile buttons are used to enhance visitor experience. Cookies may be set by third parties such as these to track online activity. |
| Analytics and Performance and Site Stats | Collect information about visitors’ and registered users’ activity to analyze and understand site usage. Collect number of views, visitors, likes, comments, posts and pages most visited, countries where visitors’ devices are from, and referring websites to help site owners and the website platform improve their services. |
| Advertising | Track information about a visitor’s activity to display relevant ads and analyze and understand ad usage. Track number of unique visitors, times ads have been displayed, and times ads have been clicked. Persistent cookies set by the website platform and its partners to build user profiles. |
Specific Cookies Used & Purposes
| Specific Cookie | Purpose |
| country_code | Immediately set on page load to remember a visitor’s country. |
| CookieLawInfoConsent cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary viewed_cookie_policy | Records the user’s consent for the usage of cookies. Set only upon user action (accept or reject). Does not track any personal data. Records the default button state of corresponding category. |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Checks if cookies are enabled to provide an appropriate experience |
| wordpress_logged_in* | Checks if a visitor is a registered user |
| wp-settings-{user_id} | Maintains a registered user’s administrator configuration |
| comment_author_{HASH}* comment_author_email_{HASH}* comment_author_url_{HASH}* | Display to the user comments that have been submitted and are pending approval |
| jetpack_blog_subscribe_{HASH}* | Remembers the user’s choice to subscribe to the site in order to show a visual indication to the user |
| tk_ai, tk_ni, tk_qs | Gathers information about how the website platform’s services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience. |
| ga, gali, gat, gid, utma, utmb, utmc, utmt, utmz | Cookies set by Google Analytics through the website platform and/or sites that set it up. Collect and track information about visitor activity to help analyze and understand site usage and improve services. Information may be used and shared to display relevant ads and analyze and understand ad usage. |
| wordpress_eli | Reduces the display of ads for repeat visitors |
*A HASH is an anonymized string of information. To see more details, such as cookie name/ID, type (session, persistent, or third party), and duration (when it expires), please go to the cookie banner that pops up at the bottom of the screen and click on “Cookie Settings” then “Show more.”
Controlling Cookies
With efforts made to protect and respect visitor privacy, no site is 100% secure. Visitors may control cookies by adjusting the privacy and security settings on their web browser before visiting the Site. Blocking cookies could affect browsing experience and cause certain features to malfunction. Through the pop-up cookie banner, they may see details about specific cookies used (i.e., name/ID, type, duration, and description). They may review and adjust the cookie settings and accept or reject. Through the privacy and security settings on their web browser, they may see cookies and site data, such as domain and expiration date & time, and remove certain cookies after visiting the Site. Return visitors may have to re-enter information that they saved because the Site does not remember them.
Privacy
Automatic Data Collection
Data made available by web browsers, web servers, and mobile devices, such as router Internet Protocol (IP) address and mobile network information are collected automatically and used to help block spam and tally country where visitors’ devices are located. The Jetpack plug-in by Automattic and Google Analytics are used for analytics, performance, and site statistics. IP address is anonymized.
Contact Form
Visitors may get in touch with Scout for any questions, comments, concerns, or requests at scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog via the Site contact form, as well as at innovatenshare@gmail.com. The email address and message they enter and submit are collected. If they enter a name and website, those will be collected. Visitors may also check out Scout’s social profiles by clicking on the Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest social profile buttons. Third parties, such as these, may set cookies and track online activity, so visitors are encouraged to review the cookies and privacy policies of third parties.
Subscription Form
Visitors may get new posts delivered directly to their inbox by subscribing to scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog at the right side of the blog post page. or by clicking on the, “Notify me of new posts by email” box when commenting on a post. The email address they enter and submit is collected. Note: Subscribers may manage their email preferences by using the links provided at the bottom of new post emails.
Blog Post Activities
Links – Links to websites outside of scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog may be included to indicate where sources can be found or to direct visitors to a product that Scout suggests through an affiliate marketing program. Cookies may be set by these sites. Affiliate links will be italicized, as well as underlined. Before clicking on a link, visitors may view the website address they will be taken to at the bottom-left corner of the screen by hovering a cursor over it.
Likes – When visitors like a blog post by clicking on the like button, the web image or Globally Recognized Avatar (Gravatar) they use to represent themselves is displayed. The accompanying public display name and website address are viewable when a cursor is hovered over the image. Likes are a way for visitors to interact with the Site, are included in Scout’s performance statistics, and are reversible.
Shares – When visitors share a blog post on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, these third parties may set cookies and track online activity. Visitors are encouraged to review the cookies and privacy policies of third parties.
Comments – When visitors leave a reply, the comment is held for moderation. After it is manually approved, the name and comment they enter and submit are collected and displayed. Full seemingly real names are not displayed in the comment sections of scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog. The email address they enter and submit is collected but not displayed. If they enter a website address, it will be viewable when a cursor is hovered over their name and clickable. Comments are a way for visitors to interact with the Site and are included in Scout’s performance statistics. Visitors may consent to having their information saved by clicking on the box provided. This is so they will not have to re-enter it upon return visits. The Akismet plug-in by Automattic is used to prevent malicious or irrelevant content from being published. The vast majority of data needed to carry out this function is kept between 2 weeks and 3 months before automatically being deleted. A very small subset of data is kept longer. Visitors may opt their email address out of all long-term tracking by clicking on the “Learn How Your Comment Data is Processed” and contact form links.
Data Processing
Personal data is not sold to data brokers or sold to companies for email marketing. Personally identifiable information, such as name and email address, is not shared as part of the website platform’s advertising program. Ads and firehose sharing of information made public by visitors (i.e., likes, web images or Gravatars, accompanying public display names and website addresses, and entered and submitted comments, names, and website addresses) are not enabled.
The website platform may share visitor information to its subsidiaries, employees, or independent contractors in order to provide services for the Site. All must follow a privacy notice or agree to privacy commitments. The website platform may disclose visitor information, as needed, for protection of rights, property, and others, any legal request, or any business transfer.
Data Storage
Visitor information is kept if legally required by the website platform and only as needed to provide services for the Site. Web server log data, such as IP address, browser type, and operating system, are kept for about 30 days to investigate any issues and calculate monthly statistics before being discarded. The Akismet plug-in keeps the vast majority of data needed to prevent malicious or irrelevant content from being published between 2 weeks and 3 months before automatically being deleted. A very small subset of data is kept longer. Visitors, who comment on a blog post may opt their email address out of all long-term tracking by clicking on the “Learn How Your Comment Data is Processed” and contact form links. They may also contact Scout to request erasure of personal data, using email.
Children
scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog is intended for people 18 years of age or older. By continuing to use the Site, visitors attest that they meet this requirement. Scout does not intend to collect information from people under 18 years of age. If found to have been collected accidentally, it will be erased. If thought to have been collected accidentally, please contact Scout for erasure. Alternatively, parents or guardians may comment on blog posts, subscribe to scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog, and contact Scout.
Questions, Comments, or Requests
For any questions, comments, concerns, or requests at scoutatheart.com and scout2020.blog, please contact Scout at innovatenshare@gmail.com or via the contact form. Scout would be happy to assist you, as able.