VPS Rankings (hereinafter referred to as "we") attaches great importance to your privacy protection. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, as well as our use of cookies.
1. Information Collection
When you visit this website, we automatically collect certain non-personally identifiable information, including but not limited to your IP address, browser type, access route, and access time. This information is only used to analyze website traffic trends and optimize user experience.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small data files sent to your browser and stored on your device by a website. They are widely used to make websites work properly, improve efficiency, and provide analytical information.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the basic functionality of the website and cannot be switched off. They are typically set only in response to actions you take that constitute a request for services, such as setting privacy preferences or logging into the admin panel.
Analytics Cookies
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies help us understand page views, visit duration, and traffic sources, allowing us to improve website content and user experience. All collected data is anonymized and aggregated.
Advertising Cookies
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google and its partners may use cookies to show you relevant ads based on your interests. You can manage your advertising preferences through Google Ad Settings.
4. Managing Cookies
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can choose to:
- View stored cookies and selectively delete them
- Block third-party cookies
- Block all cookies
- Delete all cookies when closing the browser
Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on this website.
5. Third-Party Links
This website contains links to third-party websites (such as VPS providers). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party websites. We suggest that you read the privacy policy of the target website after leaving this site.
6. Data Security
We will take reasonable security measures to prevent data loss, misuse, and alteration. However, please note that internet transmission is not absolutely secure.
7. Data Controller & Contact
The data controller for this website is the VPS Rankings operations team. For any questions regarding the processing of your personal data, to exercise the rights below, or to file a complaint, please contact us via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Please include "Privacy & Data Protection" in the subject line
8. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data in accordance with Article 6 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), on the following legal bases:
- Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)): You explicitly consent to our processing of your data by subscribing to our newsletter, accepting non-essential cookies, or similar actions.
- Contractual necessity (Art. 6(1)(b)): Necessary for the performance of a service you requested (e.g., account login, subscription services).
- Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)): For operational purposes such as website security (e.g., logging login IPs to prevent abuse), traffic analytics, content and experience improvement, provided these do not override your rights and freedoms.
9. Data Retention Period
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:
- Newsletter subscription records (email, name, IP, User-Agent): Deleted within 30 days after you unsubscribe, used to confirm the unsubscribe request and prevent duplicate entries.
- Admin login logs (IP, timestamp): Retained for 90 days for security audit and abnormal login tracing.
- Comment records (if any): Retained until you delete them or the article is deleted.
- Google Analytics / AdSense anonymous statistics: Handled by Google per its retention policy, default 14 months.
- Statutory retention requirements: Where mandatory retention periods apply under law, we will delete the data immediately upon expiration.
10. Data Subject Rights
Under Articles 15-22 of the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
- Right to erasure (right to be forgotten): Request deletion of your personal data where permitted by law.
- Right to restriction of processing: Request that we suspend processing of your data in certain circumstances.
- Right to data portability: Receive the data you provided to us in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and transmit it to another controller.
- Right to object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests; for direct marketing, you may object at any time.
- Rights related to automated decision-making: Not be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing (including profiling) that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
- Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw any previously given consent at any time; withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal.
To exercise these rights, email [email protected]. We will respond within 1 month of receiving your request. Identity verification may require you to provide necessary identifying information.
11. Data Processors & Third-Party Services (DPA)
We engage the following third-party services as data processors to process your personal data, subject to data processing agreements (DPA):
- Google Ireland Limited (Google Analytics, Google AdSense): Processes data in compliance with GDPR under the Google Controller-Controller Terms.
- Cloud hosting & CDN providers: Used for deploying and accelerating this website; process only necessary server logs under their privacy policies and DPAs.
- Email delivery service (if any): Used solely for sending newsletters, no other purpose.
All data processors process data only on our written instructions, have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure data security, and will not use the data for their own purposes.
12. Cross-Border Data Transfers (SCCs)
Because Google Analytics, Google AdSense, and cloud hosting services may transfer data to countries outside the European Union/European Economic Area (EEA), such as the United States, we rely on the following safeguards under Article 46 of the GDPR to ensure lawful transfers:
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) adopted by the European Commission signed with data recipients.
- For transfers to U.S.-based recipients, reliance on their certification under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
- Pre-transfer assessment of the destination country's data protection level, with supplementary measures where necessary.
You may request a copy of the relevant SCCs or a list of transfer destinations via the email above.
13. Right to Lodge a Complaint with a Supervisory Authority
If you believe our processing of your personal data violates the GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority of the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement. The list of EU supervisory authorities is available at European Data Protection Board (EDPB).
14. Policy Changes
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy & Cookie Policy at any time. The changed policy will be posted on this page, and we recommend that you review it regularly.