This Privacy Policy describes how Auto User Manual (autousermanual.com) handles personal information collected when you use our website. It also explains the role of third-party services, including advertising partners, and tells you how to exercise your rights under applicable privacy law. We have written this document in plain language because legal disclosure should be understandable, not intimidating.
1. Information We Collect
1a. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, our servers and third-party analytics tools collect standard technical data. This includes your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, time spent on each page, and general geographic location derived from your IP address. This data is collected in aggregate and is used solely to understand how the site is being used and to improve performance.
We use Google Analytics for this purpose. Google Analytics stores this data on Google’s servers under their own privacy policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
1b. Information You Provide Voluntarily
If you contact us using our email address or any contact form on the site, we collect the name and email address you provide, along with the content of your message. We use this information only to respond to your enquiry. We do not add you to any mailing list, marketing database, or CRM system based on a contact form submission alone, and we will never share your contact details with third parties for marketing purposes.
2. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Auto User Manual uses cookies, which are small text files placed on your device by your browser when you visit the site. Cookies serve several distinct purposes:
- Essential cookies: These are required for the website to function correctly. They manage session integrity and basic navigation.
- Analytics cookies: Placed by Google Analytics to collect anonymised usage data as described above.
- Advertising cookies: Placed by Google AdSense to serve and personalise ads based on your browsing history across websites.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Instructions vary by browser; consult your browser’s help documentation for guidance. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality and the relevance of advertisements you see.
If you are visiting from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, a consent banner will ask for your permission before non-essential cookies are placed on your device, consistent with our obligations under the GDPR and the EU ePrivacy Directive.
3. Google AdSense and Advertising
We display advertisements on this website through Google AdSense, a service provided by Google LLC. Google AdSense uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests based on your prior browsing activity on this and other websites. This is known as interest-based or behavioural advertising.
Third party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to your website or other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to this site and other sites on the internet.
As a user, you have the following choices regarding Google’s advertising cookies:
- Opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings page at adssettings.google.com
- Alternatively, opt out of advertising from participating third-party vendors through the consumer choice tool at www.aboutads.info
- Opt out of the Network Advertising Initiative member networks by visiting optout.networkadvertising.org
- Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent Analytics tracking across all sites
Google’s use of advertising cookies is governed by Google’s own Privacy Policy, available at policies.google.com/privacy. Auto User Manual has no access to or control over the cookies placed by Google AdSense, and we do not receive data about individual users from Google’s advertising systems.
The presence of an advertisement on this site does not constitute an endorsement of any advertised product, service, or company by Auto User Manual.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the information collected through this website for the following purposes:
- To operate and improve the website, based on aggregated analytics data
- To respond to questions or messages you send us directly
- To serve contextually relevant advertising through Google AdSense
- To comply with legal obligations that apply to us as a publisher
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. We do not use your data to build personal profiles, and we do not engage in automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
Legal basis for processing (GDPR Article 13): Where applicable, we process analytics data on the basis of our legitimate interest in operating and improving this website. Advertising cookies are placed and processed on the basis of your consent, which you may withdraw at any time using the opt-out methods described in Section 3. Contact form data is processed on the basis of your consent and our legitimate interest in responding to your enquiry.
5. Third-Party Services and Links
Our articles frequently link to external websites, including manufacturer websites, government databases, and industry publications. These sites operate under their own privacy policies, which we have no control over. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site before submitting personal information to it.
Third-party services that may process data in connection with your use of this site include Google Analytics, Google AdSense, and any embedded media providers. Each of these is governed by its own terms and privacy policy.
6. Data Retention
Contact messages are retained for as long as necessary to address your enquiry and for a reasonable period thereafter in case of follow-up. Analytics data is retained in anonymised, aggregate form and is not linked to any identifiable individual. We do not retain personal data beyond the period necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
7. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding your personal data. These may include:
- The right to know what personal data we hold about you
- The right to request correction of inaccurate data
- The right to request deletion of your personal data
- The right to object to or restrict certain types of processing
- The right to data portability
- For California residents: the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.
8. Children’s Privacy
This website is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through this site, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.
9. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect the information we hold from unauthorised access, disclosure, or loss. Our website is served over HTTPS, and access to contact data is restricted to authorised personnel. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, applicable law, or the services we use. When we do, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. Continued use of the website after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. We recommend checking this page occasionally if privacy matters to you.
11. Contact
For privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, contact us at: [email protected]