Privacy Policy
This explains what personal information this website collects, what happens to it, and what your rights are. I have tried to keep it short and plain. If anything is unclear, just ask.
1. Who I am
Really Useful Tech is run by Andrew J Young, a sole trader trading as Innovato. I am the “controller” of your personal information under UK data protection law, which means I decide how and why it is used. My contact details are at the end.
2. What I collect, why, and the legal basis
| What | What I use it for | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter sign-up. Your email address, only if you type it into the sign-up form. | To send you the occasional email about new videos and guides. Every email has an unsubscribe link. | Your consent. |
| Sign-up checks. When you use the sign-up form, Google reCAPTCHA (run through the form) checks that you are a person. It looks at things like your IP address, browser details and how you interact with the box. | To stop automated sign-ups and spam. | Legitimate interests (keeping the sign-up form secure). |
| Emails you send me. Your email address and whatever you write. | To reply to you. | Legitimate interests (answering people who write to me). |
| Website usage, only if you accept cookies. Pages viewed, device and browser type, approximate location. | To see which pages are useful so I can make better guides. | Your consent. |
| Technical records. My web host automatically records your IP address, the page requested and the time. | To keep the site secure and working. | Legitimate interests (security). |
I do not sell your information, do not make decisions about you by automated means, and do not build profiles of visitors.
3. Cookies and similar technologies
When you first visit, I ask whether you agree to Google Analytics cookies. Nothing is set unless you click Accept, and the site works exactly the same if you click Reject. You can change your choice at any time with “Cookie settings” in the footer.
| Name | Set by | What it does | Lasts up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_89E68PKGSB | Google Analytics | Counts visitors and shows which pages are used. Only after you accept. | 2 years |
| rut-consent-v1 | Me (browser storage) | Remembers whether you accepted or rejected, so I don’t keep asking. Not a tracking cookie. | Until you clear it |
A few things happen whatever you choose:
- Google Fonts. The pages load their typefaces from Google’s servers, so Google receives your IP address when a page loads.
- The sign-up form is provided by Brevo and is loaded from Brevo’s servers, so Brevo also receives your IP address. It may use essential cookies to make the form work.
- Google reCAPTCHA. The sign-up form uses Google reCAPTCHA, which loads from Google when the form appears. Google receives your IP address and may set a security cookie to tell people from bots. This is covered by Google’s own privacy policy and terms.
- Links to other sites (YouTube, Ko-fi, Proton, Bitwarden and so on) take you to their own sites, with their own policies. Nothing from those sites is loaded here unless you click through.
You can also delete or block cookies in your browser settings.
4. Who I share information with
- Brevo (email service) – holds the newsletter list and sends the emails.
- Google – website analytics if you accept cookies, fonts, the reCAPTCHA check on the sign-up form, and my email.
- My website host (a UK company) – stores the site and its server records.
I may also have to share information if the law requires it.
5. Where it goes
Brevo is based in France and uses servers in the EU. Google may process information in the United States. Where that happens it relies on safeguards UK law accepts, such as the UK’s approved data-transfer arrangements and standard contract clauses.
6. Affiliate links
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I don’t receive any personal information about you from this.
7. How long I keep it
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe, after which I keep only a note that you opted out so I don’t email you again.
- Emails you send me: up to two years after we last wrote.
- Analytics: Google Analytics keeps usage data for 14 months or less.
8. Your rights
You can ask me to tell you what I hold about you and give you a copy; correct it; delete it; restrict or object to how I use it; or give it to you in a form you can pass on. Where I rely on consent (the newsletter and optional cookies) you can withdraw it at any time, using the unsubscribe link, “Cookie settings”, or by telling me. I will reply within one month.
9. Children
This site is for adults and is not aimed at children. I do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13.
10. Changes
If I change how I use your information I will update this page and the date at the top.
11. Contact
Andrew Young, Innovato (trading as Really Useful Tech)
Upper Brook Cottage, Birch Cross, Marchington, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 8NU
Email: hello@reallyusefultech.co.uk