Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how DC DevNotes (https://blog.darpanchaudhari.com/) collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information when you visit our website, read articles, subscribe to our newsletter, submit the contact form, or interact with other features on the site.

The website is operated by Darpan Chaudhari. By using this website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

We may collect the following types of information depending on how you use the site:

• Contact form data: name, email address, subject, and message content when you use the contact form.
• Newsletter data: email address and subscription preferences when you subscribe via MailPoet.
• Comments: name, email address, website URL (optional), and comment content if you leave a comment on a post.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, referring URLs, pages viewed, and approximate location derived from IP address.
• Cookies and similar technologies: small files stored on your device to remember preferences and measure site usage (see the Cookies section below).
• Local storage: your theme preference (light/dark mode) and saved article bookmarks are stored locally in your browser and are not sent to our servers.

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• To respond to messages sent through the contact form.
• To send newsletter emails, subscription confirmations, and related service messages.
• To publish and moderate comments on blog posts.
• To operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website.
• To analyze traffic and understand how visitors use the site.
• To detect, prevent, and address spam, abuse, and security issues.
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.

Where applicable under data protection laws, we process personal information based on one or more of the following grounds:

• Consent: for example, when you subscribe to the newsletter or accept non-essential cookies where required.
• Legitimate interests: to operate the website, improve content, maintain security, and communicate with you about inquiries you initiate.
• Contractual necessity: to provide features you request, such as responding to a contact form submission.
• Legal obligation: when we must retain or disclose information to comply with applicable law.

We use trusted third-party services to operate the website. These providers may process personal information on our behalf:

• Contact Form 7 — processes contact form submissions.
• MailPoet — manages newsletter subscriptions and email delivery.
• WP Mail SMTP — sends transactional email from the website.
• Rank Math SEO — SEO, sitemap, and analytics integrations (such as Google Analytics or Search Console when connected).
• Wordfence — website security, firewall, and malware protection.
• Akismet — spam detection for comments and forms when enabled.
• WebP Converter for Media — optimizes images for faster loading.
• Hosting and infrastructure providers — store website files and database records necessary to run the site.

Each third-party service has its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review their policies to understand how they handle data.

Cookies are small text files placed on your device. We use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functionality, security, analytics, and preference storage.

• Essential cookies: required for core WordPress functionality, security (e.g. Wordfence), and form submission.
• Preference storage: theme mode (light/dark) and bookmarked articles stored in your browser local storage.
• Analytics cookies: may be set if analytics tools such as Google Analytics are enabled through Rank Math.
• Newsletter and marketing cookies: may be set by MailPoet to manage subscription status and form behavior.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features. Where required by law, we will request consent before placing non-essential cookies.

When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address to send articles, updates, and subscription-related messages. We use a double opt-in process where applicable: you may receive a confirmation email and must confirm before being added to the mailing list.

Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link. You can also contact us to opt out at any time. We do not sell your email address to third parties.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

• Contact form messages: retained as long as needed to respond and for reasonable business records.
• Newsletter subscribers: retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
• Comments: retained while published on the site unless removed by moderation.
• Server and security logs: retained for a limited period for security and troubleshooting.

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with service providers listed above, when required by law, to protect our rights and users, or in connection with a business transfer such as a merger or acquisition.

Our website may be accessed globally. Your information may be processed in countries other than your own, including where our hosting or email providers operate. We take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards when data is transferred internationally.

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including:

• The right to access the personal data we hold about you.
• The right to request correction of inaccurate information.
• The right to request deletion of your personal data.
• The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• The right to object to or restrict certain processing.
• The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

This website is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information, including HTTPS (on production), access controls, security plugins, and secure email delivery. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. Please also review our Terms of Use.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact Darpan Chaudhari at [email protected] or through our contact page.