Privacy Policy

1. Data privacy at a glance

1.1 General information

Below is a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit the TECOSIM website. Personal data means all data that can be used to identify you personally.

We take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data with confidentiality and in accordance with the provisions of data privacy law and this data privacy policy. In general, it is possible to use our website without providing your personal data. Collection of personal data through our website (such as name, address or email) is always voluntary. Your data will not be provided to third parties without your express permission. Please also note that sending data over the Internet (such as by email) may be susceptible to security breaches. 100% protection of data from third-party access is not possible.

1.2 Data collection on our website

– Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is handled by the website operator. You will find the relevant contact details in the copyright section of this website.

– How do we collect your data?

First, we collect your data if you provide them to us. One example here would be data that you enter in a contact form.

Other data are automatically collected by our IT systems when you visit our website. This mostly involves technical data (such as your web browser, operating system or time of website access). These data are collected automatically as soon as you access our website.

– What do we use your data for?

Some of your data are collected to ensure flawless availability of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.

– What are your rights with respect to your data?

You always have the right to receive information – free of charge – on the source, recipient and intended use of your stored personal data. In addition, you also have the right to request correction, blocking or deletion of these data. For further information on this topic or matters related to data privacy, please contact us at any time at the address indicated in the copyright section of this website. Moreover, you also have a right of appeal to the competent supervisory authority.

1.3 Analysis tools and tools of third-party providers

Your browsing behaviour may undergo statistical analysis during visits to our website. This mainly involves cookies and what are known as ‘analysers’. In principle, the analysis of your browsing behaviour is anonymised: the browsing behaviour cannot be linked back to you. You can opt out of this analysis or block it by not using certain tools. For further details on this, please see our data privacy policy under the heading ‘Analysis tools and advertising’.

You may opt out of this analysis. We provide information on how to opt out in this data privacy policy.

2. General information and mandatory information

2.1. Data privacy

We value your trust. This means we take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data with confidentiality and in accordance with the provisions of data privacy law and this data privacy policy.

When you use this website, we collect a variety of personal data. Personal data means data that can be used to identify you personally. This data privacy policy explains the data that we collect and what we use them for. It also describes how this is carried out and why.

Please also note that sending data over the Internet (such as by email) may be susceptible to security breaches. 100% protection of data from third-party access is not possible.

2.2 Controlling authority

TECOSIM Group GmbH
Dr Torben Birker
Gutenbergplatz
65187 Wiesbaden
Germany
Phone: +49 800 0005563
E-mail: info(at)tecosim.com

2.3 Opting out of data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You may opt out of previously approved processing at any time. You can do so with a simple informal email to us. The legality of the data processing prior to opting out shall remain unaffected by the decision to opt out.

2.4 Right of appeal to competent supervisory authority

In cases of breaches of data privacy law, the affected party also has a right of appeal to the competent supervisory authority. The competent supervisory authority for matters of data privacy law is the state data privacy authority in the federal state of Germany where the company has its registered office. For a list of data protection authorities and their contact details, please click: https://www.bfdi.bund.de/DE/Infothek/Anschriften_Links/anschriften_links-node.html

2.5 Right to data transferability

You have the right to have data that we process with your consent, or in order to complete an order, sent to you or to a third party in a customary machine-readable format. If you request direct transfer of data to another controller, this shall only be performed if technically possible.

2.6 SSL/TLS encryption

This site uses SSL and/or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transfer of confidential content, such as orders or requests that you send us, the site owners. You can identify an encrypted connection because the browser address bar will have ‘https://’ instead of ‘http://’ and will display a lock icon.

When SSL and/or TLS encryption is active, the data that you provide to us cannot be read by third parties.

2.7 Information, blocking, deletion

Under the applicable provisions of the law, you always have the right to receive information – free of charge – on your stored personal data, their source and recipient, the purpose of their processing and, where applicable, a right to correct, block or delete these data. For further information on this topic or matters related to personal data, please contact us at the address indicated above at any time.

2.8 Opt out of promotional emails

It is prohibited to use the contact details published in the copyright section of this website to send promotions and information materials not expressly solicited. The site operators reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited receipt of promotional information, such as spam.

3. Data collection on our website

3.1 Cookies

TECOSIM websites use what are known as ‘cookies’ and active components (such as JavaScript). Cookies do not harm your computer or contain viruses. Cookies help us provide a more user-friendly, efficient and secure website. Cookies are small text files stored on your computer in your browser.

Most of the cookies we use are what are known as ‘session cookies’. They are deleted automatically at the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your terminal until your delete them. These cookies enable us to recognise your browser again on your next visit.

You can set your browser to inform you of the use of cookies and to only permit cookies on a case-by-case basis, to accept cookies in certain cases or to generally refuse them and automatically delete them when you close your browser. Deactivating cookies may limit website functionality.

Cookies that are needed to perform electronic communication processes or provide certain functions requested by the user are stored by virtue of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies in order to provide technically flawless and optimal service. Any other cookies stored (such as cookies to analyse your browsing behaviour) are covered separately in this data privacy agreement.

3.2 Third-party cookies

Some TECOSIM websites feature embedded content and services from others providers (such as YouTube, Facebook or Twitter) that use cookies and active components on their end. TECOSIM has no control over the processing of personal data by these providers.

Please see the website of the relevant provider for information on their handling of your data.

3.3 Contact form

If you send us an inquiry through our contact form, we store your form entries, including the contact details you enter in the form, in order to process your inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not disclose these data without your permission.

Thus, the data entered in the contact form are processed exclusively based on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may withdraw this consent at any time. You can do so with a simple informal email to us. The legality of the data processing operations prior to withdrawal of consent shall remain unaffected by the withdrawal.

We will retain the data you entered on the contact form until you request their deletion or withdraw your consent for storage or until the purpose for their storage no longer applies (such as after completion of inquiry processing). Mandatory provisions of the law – in particular the storage periods – remain unaffected.

4. Social Media

4.1 LinkedIn Plugin

Our website contains integrated plugins from the social network LinkedIn from the LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The LinkedIn plugins are recognizable on our website by the LinkedIn logo or the "Recommend Button" on our web page.

When you visit our website, the plugin creates a direct link between your browser and the LinkedIn server. LinkedIn then receives information to the effect that you have visited our website with your IP address. If you visit a web page which contains a LinkedIn plugin while you are logged in to your LinkedIn account, LinkedIn uses this information to recommend contents which are of special relevance for you. This information is used to personalize the functions offered to you by LinkedIn on third-party web pages. LinkedIn may share reports of the impression data that they’ve accumulated with the companies that are hosting the plugins, in order to help them measure the traffic that the LinkedIn plugin has generated on their site.

More information: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

4.2 XING Plugin

This website uses plugins from XING.de, which is operated by XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

When you visit a web page on our website that contains a plugin of this kind or actively click on the XING logo, a connection is made to the XING servers which then instruct your browser to display the plugin on that web page. Information about those of our web pages which you have visited is then sent to the XING server. If you are logged in as a XING member, XING will associate this information with your personal XING account for this platform. If you use this plugin, by for example clicking the XING logo/button or adding a comment, this information will be associated with your XING user account. This can only be avoided by logging out of XING before using the plugin's features.

Information about how XING gathers and usese data and about XING plugins can be found in XING data privacy statement:  https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection

4.3 Twitter Plugin

Our website contains integrated plugins from the social network Twitter, which is operated by Twitter Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.

When a user accesses a web page on our website which includes such a button, the user's browser establishes a direct link to the Twitter servers. The content of the Twitter Button is sent from Twitter directly to the user's browser and then integrated in the website. Information about those of our web pages which you have visited is then sent to the Twitter server. If you are logged in as a Twitter member, Twitter will associate this information with your personal Twitter account for this platform. The provider therefore has no influence at all on the scope of the data collected by Twitter using this Button. According to Twitter, no personal data is collected unless the user clicks the Button.

The purpose and scope of data collection and further processing and use of data by Twitter and your rights and data privacy setting options in this regard are detailed in Twitter’s own privacy policy:
help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/update-privacy-policy

5. Website Analysis

5.1 Google Analytics

On our Website we use Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States.

Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

Of course you may also visit our website without cookies. Most browsers accept cookies by default. You can block cookies from being saved on your hard drive by selecting the 'do not accept cookies' option in your browser settings. For specific instructions, please refer to the user's guide from your browser provider. You can also delete previously saved cookies from your computer at any time. If you do not accept any cookies, this may result in reduced functionality in our offers.

– IP-Anonymization

Please note that on this website, Google Analytics code is supplemented by “gat._anonymizeIp();” to ensure an anonymized collection of IP addresses (so called IP-masking). In case of activation of the IP anonymization, Google will truncate/anonymize the last octet of the IP address for Member States of the European Union as well as for other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. ?Only in exceptional cases, the full IP address is sent to and shortened by Google servers in the USA.

On behalf of the website provider Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage to the website provider. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

– Browser Plugin

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. However, please note that if you do this, you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. Furthermore you can prevent Google’s collection and use of data (cookies and IP address) by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Further information concerning the terms and conditions of use and can be found at www.google.com/analytics/terms/gb.html.

6. Newsletter

6.1 Newsletter data

If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an email address, as well as information proving that you are the owner of the indicated email address and/or that its owner consents to receiving the newsletter. Other data will only be collected if volunteered. We will only use these data to send the requested information. We will not disclose them to third parties.

The data entered in the newsletter subscription form are processed exclusively based on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may withdraw your consent for storage of the data and the email address and for their use to send newsletters at any time, such as by using the unsubscribe link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations already completed shall remain unaffected by the withdrawal.

We will store the data received from you, in order to provide the newsletter, until you unsubscribe from the newsletter, and will delete them after you cancel the newsletter. This does not apply to data that we store for other purposes (such as email addresses for the membership area).

6.2 Rapidmail

The website uses the services of Rapidmail GmbH (Augustinerplatz 2, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany) to send the newsletter. The data that you provide in order to receive the newsletter are stored on Rapidmail GmbH servers, which meet the highest of security standards. This is verified regularly by means of periodic testing. Rapidmail uses 128-bit SSL encryption. This ensures that we are the only party that can access your recipient data and third parties never have access to your data or the ability to intercept them during transfer.

– Data analysis by Rapidmail

When we send the newsletter with Rapidmail, we can tell whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links have been clicked. If you do not want to participate in analysis by Rapidmail, you will need to unsubscribe from the newsletter. We provide a link for this in every newsletter message.

– Legal framework

Data processing is based on your consent (Article 6.1. (a) GDPR). You may withdraw this consent at any time. The legality of the data processing operations already completed shall remain unaffected by the withdrawal.

– Storage period

We will store the data received from you, in order to provide the newsletter, until you unsubscribe from the newsletter, and we will delete the data after you cancel the newsletter – both from our server and from the Rapidmail GmbH server. This does not apply to data that we store for other purposes (such as email addresses for the membership area).

7. Plugins and Tools

7.1 YouTube

Plugins are used on this website from YouTube.de/YouTube.com which - represented by Google Inc. - is operated by YouTube, LLC, Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. When you visit a web page on our website that contains a plugin of this kind, a connection is made to YouTube's webservers which then instructs your browser to display the plugin on that web page. In this way information about which of our web pages you have visited is passed on to the YouTube server.

If you are logged in as a YouTube member, YouTube will associate this information with your personal YouTube account. If you use the plugin directly, by for example clicking/start button of a video or adding a comment, this information will be associated with your YouTube account. This can only be avoided by logging out of YouTube before using the plugin's features.

Information about how YouTube gathers and uses the data on the platform and about plugins can be found in YouTube's data privacy policy: http://www.YouTube.com/.

7.2 Google Maps

Our website is using map services provided by Google Maps via API, Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Using the services of Google Maps, your IP address will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. ?The provider therefore has no influence at all on the scope of the data collected by Google. According to Google, no personal data is collected unless the user clicks the corresponding Button.

Further information concerning the terms and conditions of use and can be found at
https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

7.3 External services or content on our Website

Our Internet site also features links to other websites on the Internet. We would like to inform you that we do not have any influence over the design or content of the linked sites. Therefore, we cannot offer any guarantees regarding the relevance, correctness, completeness or quality of the information given there. In light of this, we hereby dissociate ourselves from any and all content on these sites. This declaration applies to all of the links to external sites on our Internet sites, and their content.

Since we have no control over data collected and processed by third parties, we are not in a position to provide binding information regarding the scope and purpose of such processing of your data. For further information regarding the scope and purpose of such collection and processing of your data, please consult the privacy statements of the providers whose services and/or content we include and who are responsible for the protection of your data in this context.

8. Licence Rights

TECOSIM would like to offer you an innovative and informative web-based program. Therefore, we hope that you enjoy our creative design just as much as we do. However, we do ask for your understanding that TECOSIM must protect its intellectual property, including patents, trademarks and copyrights, and that these Internet sites cannot grant any licence rights of any kind to the intellectual property of TECOSIM or to the rights of third parties.

The images and videos used on our sites are the property of TECOSIM, Getty Images, iStockphoto, Shutterstock and partner companies and are accordingly copyright protected. It is not permitted to extract the images as individual files, download them or use them in any other way. Unauthorised use of these materials is expressly prohibited and constitutes an infringement of copyrights, trademark rights or other intellectual property rights. The following exception applies: The images and video provided for download under the 'Press' section have been released for editorial or scientific use with citation of the source. The nature and scope of permissible application of the image/video are detailed in the menu under 'Press Material'.

9. Liability

The information and instructions on these pages do not constitute any assurance or guarantee, whether express or tacit. In particular, they do not constitute any tacit promise or guarantee with regard to composition, merchantability, suitability for particular purposes or non-infringement of laws or patents.