Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Geekste (“we,” “our,” or “us”) operates the website located at https://www.geekste.com (the “Website”). We are an independent technology publication based in Pakistan that publishes articles about software development, artificial intelligence, startups, productivity, business technology, and digital innovation.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Website, read our articles, subscribe to our newsletter, submit a contact form, or otherwise interact with Geekste. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data.

By using the Website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please discontinue use of the Website.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with Geekste, you may voluntarily provide us with:

• Contact Form Data: Your name, email address, subject, and message content when you submit an inquiry through our contact page.
• Newsletter Subscription Data: Your email address when you subscribe to receive our newsletter.
• Correspondence Data: Any information you include when you email us directly or communicate with our editorial team.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Website, certain information is collected automatically:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on articles, referring URLs, exit pages, and navigation patterns.
• Device & Browser Data: Browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and language preferences.
• Server Log Data: IP address, access timestamps, request details, and status codes recorded by our web server for operational and security purposes.
• Cookie Data: Information stored through cookies and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy for details).

3. How We Use Your Information

Geekste uses the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Website Operation: To operate, maintain, and improve the Website, its content, and the reader experience.
• Communication: To respond to your contact form submissions, editorial inquiries, correction requests, and other messages.
• Newsletter Delivery: To send our newsletter to subscribers who have explicitly opted in to receive it. Every newsletter email includes an unsubscribe link.
• Analytics & Improvement: To understand how readers discover and engage with our content — which topics resonate, where readers come from, and how we can improve the reading experience.
• Advertising: To serve advertisements through Google AdSense and measure ad performance.
• Security & Protection: To detect, prevent, and address abuse, spam, fraud, and security incidents.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

4. Newsletter Data

When you subscribe to the Geekste newsletter, we collect and store your email address. We may also track basic engagement metrics such as open rates and click-through rates to understand which topics interest our subscribers and to improve the content we send.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any newsletter email. Once unsubscribed, your email address is removed from our active mailing list. We retain a record of unsubscribed addresses to prevent accidental re-subscription.

5. Contact Form Data

When you submit a message through our contact form, we collect your name, email address, subject, and message content. This information is used solely to respond to your inquiry and for internal editorial record-keeping.

We retain contact form submissions for operational reference and to improve our editorial processes. If you would like your message and associated data deleted, please email us at contact@geekste.com.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Geekste uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to provide core functionality, analyze readership, and serve advertisements. For a detailed explanation of the cookies we use and how to manage them, please read our Cookie Policy.

In summary:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Website to function properly, including theme preferences (light/dark mode) and security features.
• Analytics Cookies: Used by Google Analytics to understand how readers interact with our content.
• Advertising Cookies: Used by Google AdSense and potential future advertising partners to serve relevant ads.
• Preference Cookies: Used to remember your preferences, such as theme settings.

7. Google Analytics

Geekste uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about how visitors use the Website, including pages visited, time spent on pages, referring sources, and device/browser information.

This data helps us understand which articles are most useful, where our readers come from, and how to improve the content we publish. The information generated by Google Analytics cookies about your use of the Website is transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States and other countries.

Google may use this data in accordance with its own privacy policy. You can learn more about how Google collects and processes data at Google's Privacy Policy. To opt out of Google Analytics, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

8. Google AdSense

Geekste uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google AdSense is an advertising service provided by Google that enables us to show ads on the Website. Google and its third-party vendors use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to Geekste and other websites.

Key points about Google AdSense on Geekste:

• Google uses the DoubleClick cookie to serve interest-based advertisements.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to Geekste and/or other websites.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
• You can also opt out of third-party vendor cookies for personalized advertising at www.aboutads.info.

We do not have direct access to or control over the cookies used by Google AdSense or its advertising partners. Their use of cookies is governed by their respective privacy policies.

9. Advertising Partners

Currently, Geekste uses Google AdSense as its primary advertising partner. In the future, we may work with additional advertising networks, affiliate programs, or sponsored content partners. If we add new advertising partners, this Privacy Policy will be updated to reflect those relationships.

All advertising on Geekste is clearly distinguishable from editorial content. We do not allow advertisers to influence editorial decisions, article content, or publication recommendations.

10. Third-Party Services

Geekste uses the following third-party services that may collect data as described in their respective privacy policies:

• Google AdSense: Advertising platform (see Section 8 above).
• Google Analytics: Website analytics (see Section 7 above).
• Vercel: Cloud hosting and infrastructure provider. Vercel may process server logs and operational data for performance and security purposes.

These services operate under their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these services to understand their data practices.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy:

• Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe.
• Contact form submissions are retained for operational and editorial reference purposes. You may request deletion by contacting us.
• Server logs and analytics data are retained for a reasonable period necessary for security monitoring, performance analysis, and readership insights.
• Records of unsubscribed email addresses are retained to prevent accidental re-subscription.

When personal information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.

12. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include secure data transmission (HTTPS), access controls, and regular security reviews.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

13. International Visitors

Geekste is operated from Pakistan, and our hosting infrastructure may be located in various jurisdictions. If you are visiting from outside Pakistan, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Pakistan and other countries where our servers or service providers are located.

By using the Website, you consent to the transfer of your information to our facilities and to the facilities of those third parties with whom we share it as described in this Privacy Policy. We take steps to ensure that your data receives an adequate level of protection in the jurisdictions in which it is processed.

14. Children's Privacy

Geekste is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at contact@geekste.com so we can take appropriate action.

15. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to 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: Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your personal data for certain purposes, including direct marketing.
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your personal data to another service provider.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent where processing is based on consent (e.g., newsletter subscription).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@geekste.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, in accordance with applicable law.

16. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

For material changes, we will provide a more prominent notice on the Website. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of the Website after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

17. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: contact@geekste.com
• Contact Form: Contact Page
• Response Time: We aim to respond to privacy-related inquiries within 3-5 business days.

If you are located in a jurisdiction with a data protection authority, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with that authority if you believe we have not adequately addressed your privacy concerns.