1. Overview

PropFirmElite ("we," "us," "our," or "the Platform") operates a comparison and review platform for proprietary trading firms. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our website and services.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

By using our Services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Email address, username, profile information
• Reviews and Ratings: Your reviews, ratings, and comments about prop firms
• Communications: Messages you send us through contact forms or support
• Survey Responses: Feedback and responses to our surveys or polls
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address for marketing communications

Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, search queries
• Device Information: Browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (country/region level)
• Referral Information: Source of traffic (search engines, referring websites)
• Technical Data: IP address, browser settings, screen resolution, language preferences

Information from Third Parties

• Social Media: Profile information if you sign up through social media platforms
• Analytics Services: Aggregated usage statistics from analytics providers
• Affiliate Partners: Confirmation of successful referrals (no personal data)

3. How We Use Your Information

Service Provision

• Create and manage your account
• Display and moderate user reviews and ratings
• Provide personalized content and recommendations
• Process and respond to your inquiries
• Send important service notifications

Analytics and Improvement

• Analyze platform usage and user behavior
• Improve our website functionality and user experience
• Develop new features and services
• Generate aggregated statistics (non-personal)

Marketing Communications

• Send newsletters and promotional emails (with your consent)
• Notify you about new prop firm reviews and comparisons
• Share relevant discount codes and promotions
• Conduct market research and surveys

Legal and Security

• Comply with legal obligations and requests
• Protect against fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Resolve disputes and prevent harm

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

Limited Sharing Scenarios

We may share your information only in these specific circumstances:

Service Providers

• Web hosting and cloud storage providers
• Email service providers for newsletters
• Analytics services (Google Analytics, etc.)
• Customer support and communication tools
• Security and fraud prevention services

Legal Requirements

• Compliance with court orders or legal processes
• Response to law enforcement requests
• Protection of our rights, property, or safety
• Prevention of fraud or illegal activities

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of the business assets, subject to the same privacy protections.

Aggregated Data

We may share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information for research, analytics, or marketing purposes.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services. We use both session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (remain until deleted or expired).

Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

Required for basic website functionality:

• User authentication and session management
• Security and fraud prevention
• Load balancing and performance optimization
• Remember your cookie preferences

Analytics Cookies

Help us understand how visitors use our website:

• Google Analytics for usage statistics
• Page view tracking and user flow analysis
• Performance monitoring and error tracking
• A/B testing for feature improvements

Marketing Cookies

Support our marketing and affiliate programs:

• Track affiliate referrals and conversions
• Measure effectiveness of marketing campaigns
• Provide personalized content recommendations
• Retargeting and advertising optimization

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings and our cookie consent banner. However, disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality.

• Update preferences through our cookie settings
• Use browser settings to block or delete cookies
• Opt out of Google Analytics tracking
• Use private/incognito browsing modes

6. Your Privacy Rights

Universal Rights

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Restriction: Limit how we process your personal data
• Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent for marketing communications

How to Exercise Your Rights

Account Controls

You can also manage your data through your account settings:

• Update profile information and preferences
• Manage email subscription settings
• Delete or edit your reviews and comments
• Download your account data
• Delete your account permanently

7. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Technical Safeguards

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmissions
• Encrypted storage of sensitive data at rest
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Automated backup and disaster recovery systems

Organizational Measures

• Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular staff training on data protection practices
• Incident response procedures for data breaches
• Third-party security assessments of service providers

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, and resolve disputes.

Retention Periods

• Account Data: Retained until you delete your account, then deleted within 30 days
• Reviews and Ratings: Retained for service integrity; anonymized after account deletion
• Communication Records: 3 years for customer support purposes
• Usage Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely; personal data deleted after 26 months
• Marketing Data: Until you unsubscribe, then deleted within 30 days
• Legal Requirements: As required by applicable laws (typically 7 years for financial records)

Automated Deletion

We use automated systems to regularly review and delete data that has exceeded its retention period. You can also request immediate deletion of your data by contacting us.

9. International Data Transfers

PropFirmElite operates globally, and your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for all international data transfers.

Transfer Safeguards

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
• Adequacy decisions for transfers to countries with adequate protection
• Binding Corporate Rules for transfers within multinational organizations
• Certification schemes and codes of conduct

Data Processing Locations

Your data may be processed in:

• United States (cloud hosting and analytics services)
• European Union (GDPR-compliant data centers)
• Other countries only with appropriate safeguards in place

10. Children's Privacy

Parental Controls

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. We will take steps to remove such information from our systems.

Teen Privacy Protection

For users aged 13-17, we provide additional privacy protections:

• Restricted data collection to essential service provision
• No marketing communications without parental consent
• Enhanced review moderation for age-appropriate content
• Priority handling of deletion requests

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

Your CCPA Rights

• Right to Know: Request details about personal information collected, used, or shared
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (we don't sell data)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Equal service regardless of privacy choices
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information

Categories of Information We Collect

• Identifiers (email, username, IP address)
• Internet activity (browsing history, search history)
• Geolocation data (approximate location from IP address)
• Inferences (preferences and interests based on usage)

CCPA Disclosures

Exercising CCPA Rights

To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at:

• Email: privacy@propfirmelite.com
• Subject: "CCPA Rights Request"
• We will respond within 45 days
• We may request verification of your identity

12. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on:

• Contract: To provide our services and fulfill our Terms of Service
• Legitimate Interest: For analytics, fraud prevention, and service improvement
• Consent: For marketing communications and non-essential cookies
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

Your GDPR Rights

• Right of Access: Obtain confirmation and copy of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to Erasure: Delete your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent at any time

Supervisory Authority

You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we have violated your privacy rights. You can find your local authority at:

• European Data Protection Board: edpb.europa.eu
• UK Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk
• Swiss Federal Data Protection Commissioner: edoeb.admin.ch

Data Protection Officer

For GDPR-related inquiries, you can contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@propfirmelite.com.

13. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with various third-party services to provide functionality. Each service has its own privacy policy governing their data practices.

Analytics Services

• Google Analytics: Website usage analytics (privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy)
• Hotjar: User behavior analytics and heatmaps
• Mixpanel: Event tracking and user journey analysis

Communication Services

• SendGrid: Email delivery for notifications and newsletters
• Intercom: Customer support and live chat functionality
• Twilio: SMS notifications and two-factor authentication

Infrastructure Services

• AWS/Google Cloud: Cloud hosting and data storage
• Cloudflare: Content delivery network and security
• Stripe: Payment processing for premium features

Social Media Integration

• Social Login: OAuth integration with Google, Facebook, Twitter
• Social Sharing: Share buttons for social media platforms
• Embedded Content: YouTube videos and social media posts

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

Notification of Changes

• Material changes will be posted prominently on our website
• Email notifications for significant policy updates
• At least 30 days notice before changes take effect
• Updated "Last Modified" date at the top of this policy

Your Choices

If you disagree with any changes to this Privacy Policy, you may:

• Opt out of marketing communications
• Adjust your privacy settings and cookie preferences
• Delete your account before the changes take effect
• Contact us with specific concerns about the changes

15. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us using the information below.

Mailing Address

What to Include in Your Request

• Your full name and email address associated with your account
• Specific nature of your privacy request or concern
• Any relevant details or context
• Preferred method of response