Privacy Policy

1. About This Policy

Istara Almanac is an independent editorial publication focused on everyday wellness practices. The publication is not affiliated with any commercial, governmental, or institutional body. This Privacy Policy explains how Istara Almanac collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information that visitors provide when using this website (istara.info).

This policy applies to all visitors to the website. By continuing to use istara.info, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please discontinue use of the site.

Istara Almanac is the data controller for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our registered correspondence address is 29 Charterhouse Street, London EC1N 6AR, United Kingdom. To contact us regarding data matters, please write to [email protected].

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the personal information that is necessary to operate this publication and respond to reader enquiries. The categories of information we may collect are as follows:

• Contact form data: When you submit a message through the contact form, we collect your name, email address, the subject you selected, and the content of your message.
• Technical data: We may collect standard server log data including IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, and pages visited. This data is collected automatically and is used solely for website security and performance monitoring.
• Cookie data: This website uses cookies. Details of the cookies used and how to manage them are described in our Cookie Policy.

We do not collect sensitive personal data, financial information, or information relating to protected characteristics. We do not collect personal information from individuals we know to be under 16 years of age.

3. How We Use Your Information

Information collected through this website is used for the following purposes:

• Responding to enquiries: Contact form submissions are used exclusively to respond to the enquiry submitted. We do not add contact form respondents to mailing lists without explicit consent.
• Website security: Technical log data is used to identify and respond to security incidents, unusual access patterns, or technical errors.
• Performance monitoring: Aggregated, anonymised data may be used to understand how the website is used and to improve its content and structure.

We do not use personal information for automated decision-making or profiling. We do not sell personal information to third parties under any circumstances.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Istara Almanac processes personal data on the following legal bases under UK GDPR:

• Legitimate interests: The handling of technical log data and the functioning of the website's basic functionality are conducted on the basis of our legitimate interest in maintaining a secure and functional publication.
• Contract performance: Where you contact us regarding a submission or contribution, processing your enquiry is necessary to respond to your request.
• Consent: Where cookies that are not strictly necessary are placed on your device, this is done on the basis of your consent, which may be withdrawn at any time via the Cookie Settings link in the footer.

5. Data Retention

Contact form submissions are retained for a maximum of 12 months from the date of receipt, after which they are deleted unless an ongoing editorial relationship exists. Technical log data is retained for a maximum of 90 days. Cookie data retention periods are described in the Cookie Policy.

Where we are required by law to retain data for longer periods, we will do so. We will inform you if this applies to your data.

6. Sharing of Information

Istara Almanac does not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for commercial purposes. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: We may share data with service providers who assist in operating this website (for example, hosting providers). These providers are contractually obligated to handle data in accordance with UK GDPR and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.
• Legal obligations: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the publication or its readers.

7. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

• Right of access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to erasure: In certain circumstances, you have the right to request that we delete your personal data.
• Right to restrict handling: You have the right to request that we limit the way in which we use your personal data in certain circumstances.
• Right to object: You have the right to object to the handling of your personal data where we rely on legitimate interests as the legal basis.
• Right to data portability: Where applicable, you have the right to receive personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one month of receipt. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk if you believe your data has been handled unlawfully.

8. Security

Istara Almanac takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. All data transmitted between your browser and this website is encrypted using HTTPS.

No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we take data security seriously and follow industry-standard practices, we cannot ensure absolute security.

9. Third-Party Links

Articles on this website may contain links to external websites. Istara Almanac is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit. Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the linked site or its privacy practices.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in applicable law. When we make material changes, the "Last updated" date at the top of this page will be revised. Continued use of the website after changes have been made constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

We recommend reviewing this policy periodically. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].