Cookies & Privacy Policies
Last updated: January 22, 2022
Scout is committed to protecting and respecting visitor privacy. At scoutatheart.com (the Site), cookies are used and personal data is collected automatically and directly from visitors through the website features and tools utilized. This page addresses the use of cookies, the collection, processing, and storage of personal data, and the rights and options of visitors. By continuing to use the Site, visitors attest that they are at least 18 years of age and agree to its Cookies & Privacy Policies, which were developed in large part using the website platform‘s and the email service provider‘s privacy policies.
Cookies
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data stored on a visitor’s computer (or other device) whenever they visit a site. They 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. They also allow information about a visitor’s activity to be recognized, collected, and tracked 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.
Categories of Cookies Used & Purposes
At scoutatheart.com, the following types of cookies may be used for the following purposes:
| Cookie Category | 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, Pinterest, Twitter profile and social sharing buttons are used to enhance visitor experience. Cookies may be set by third parties such as these to track online activity. |
| Analytics and Performance | 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 sites 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 are set to build user profiles. |
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. However, 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 no longer remembers them.
Privacy
Automatic Data Collection
Data that are usually made available by web browsers, servers, and mobile devices, such as browser type, operating system, 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 and Google Analytics are used for site statistics, analytics, and performance. This data, including IP address, is anonymized and aggregated.
Blog Post Activities
Links – Links to websites outside of scoutatheart.com may be included to indicate where information and music 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. scoutatheart.com does not have control over this, so visitors are encouraged to review the cookies and privacy policies of these sites. Before clicking on a link, visitors may view the website address they will be taken to by hovering a cursor over it (on desktop) or holding down on it until a dialog box appears (on mobile and tablet). Affiliate links will be italicized, as well as underlined.
Shares – When visitors share a blog post, for example on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, third parties such as these may set cookies and track online activity. The Site does not have control over cookies being set by outside or third parties through external links or social sharing. Visitors are encouraged to review the cookies and privacy policies of outside and third parties.
Comments – When visitors leave a reply, the comment is held for moderation. After it is manually approved, their web image or Globally Recognized Avatar (Gravatar), and the name and comment they enter and submit, are collected and displayed. The email address they enter and submit is collected but not displayed. If they enter a website address, it will be viewable when hovering a cursor over their name (on desktop) or holding down on their name until a dialog box appears (on mobile or tablet). Comments are a way for visitors to interact with the Site and are included in 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. IP address and user agent information are also collected for spam checking. The Akismet plug-in 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” link.
Subscription Form & Emails
Visitors may get future posts directly in their inbox by clicking the, “Notify me of new posts by email” box when commenting on a post or by subscribing to our email list: 1) on the freebie page, 2) at the right side of the blog page, or 3) at the left side of the home page. The name (if a field is provided) and email address they enter and submit are collected. When subscribing via the freebie page, subscribers will receive a preliminary welcome email before being added to the Site’s email service provider list. If they wish to unsubscribe at this time, they can contact scout@scoutatheart.com. The email service provider collects subscriber usage data and performance information to provide secure, reliable service to the Site and to improve their services. Subscribers may update their information or manage their email preferences by using the links provided at the bottom of future post emails. They may submit privacy rights requests, such as opting out of analytics, by using the email service provider form.
Contact Form
Visitors may get in touch with Scout for any questions, comments, concerns, or requests at scoutatheart.com via the Site contact form, as well as at scout@scoutatheart.com. The email address and message they enter and submit are collected. If they enter a name and website, those will be collected. IP address and user agent information are also collected for spam checking. The Akismet plug-in 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” link. Visitors may also check out Scout’s social profiles by clicking on the Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter social profile buttons. Third parties, such as these, may set cookies and track online activity. The Site does not have control over this, so visitors are encouraged to review the cookies and privacy policies of third parties.
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 for third-party advertising. Visitor information may be shared to subsidiaries, employees, or independent contractors in order to provide services for the Site, protect the rights, property, and of others, satisfy any legal requests, or in the case of a business transfer. Receivers of this information must follow a privacy notice or agree to privacy commitments.
Data Storage
Visitor information is kept if legally required by the website operator 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 or use the contact form may opt their email address out of all long-term tracking by clicking on the “Learn How Your Comment Data is Processed” link. They may also contact Scout to request erasure of personal data, using email. Subscribers may update their information or manage their email preferences by using the links provided at the bottom of new post emails. They may submit privacy rights requests, such as opting out of analytics, by using the email service provider form.
Children
scoutatheart.com 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 at scout@scoutatheart.com or via the contact form for erasure. Alternatively, parents or guardians may comment on blog posts, subscribe to scoutatheart.com, and contact Scout.
Questions, Comments, or Requests
For any questions, comments, concerns, or requests at scoutatheart.com, please contact Scout at scout@scoutatheart.com or via the contact form. Scout would be happy to assist you, as able.
