Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you create an account or contact us, you share certain details. This includes your name, email address, company information, and communication preferences. If you subscribe to our research reports or request consultation, we'll also collect billing information and specific areas of interest.

Automatically Collected Data

Our platform collects technical information to improve your experience. This covers IP addresses, browser types, device information, and how you interact with our analysis tools. We track which reports you access, search queries you run, and time spent on different sections.

Financial Analysis Preferences

To deliver relevant industry insights, we collect information about your research interests, saved reports, custom alerts, and portfolio watchlists. This helps us tailor our analysis recommendations and market updates specifically to your needs.

How We Use Your Information

We use collected data to operate and enhance our financial analysis services. Your information helps us deliver accurate market insights, send relevant research updates, and maintain platform security. Specifically, we use your data for:

• Providing access to industry financial analysis reports and market data
• Customizing research recommendations based on your stated preferences
• Sending email notifications about market developments in your areas of interest
• Processing subscription payments and managing account billing
• Improving our analytical tools through usage pattern analysis
• Responding to your questions and providing customer support
• Detecting and preventing unauthorized access or fraudulent activity
• Complying with financial reporting regulations and legal requirements in Taiwan

We don't sell your personal information to third parties. Your data stays within SmartPonder's operational systems unless you've explicitly requested otherwise or legal obligations require disclosure.

Data Retention and Storage

We maintain your information for as long as your account remains active or as needed to provide services. Different types of data have different retention periods:

All data is stored on secure servers with encryption both in transit and at rest. We use industry-standard security protocols to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction of your information.

Sharing and Disclosure

SmartPonder shares your information only in limited circumstances. We work with trusted service providers who help us operate our platform, but they're contractually bound to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.

Service Providers

We engage third-party companies for payment processing, email delivery, cloud hosting, and data analytics. These providers have access only to information needed to perform their functions and cannot use it for other purposes.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by Taiwan law, court orders, or government regulations. This includes compliance with financial oversight authorities, tax reporting obligations, and responses to valid legal requests from law enforcement.

Business Transfers

If SmartPonder undergoes a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred to the new entity. We'll notify you before this happens and explain any changes to how your data will be handled.

Your Rights and Choices

Under Taiwan's Personal Data Protection Act, you have specific rights regarding your personal information. You can exercise these rights by contacting us directly.

Access and Correction

You can request a copy of all personal data we hold about you. We'll provide this information within 15 business days in a commonly used electronic format. If you find any inaccuracies, you can request corrections, which we'll implement promptly after verification.

Data Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and associated data. We'll remove your information within 30 days, though some records may be retained longer to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes. Financial transaction records, for example, must be kept for seven years under Taiwan accounting standards.

Marketing Communications

You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any promotional message. You'll continue to receive essential account-related communications such as security alerts and billing notifications.

Data Portability

You can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format that allows transfer to another service. This includes your profile information, research preferences, and saved reports.

Security Measures

We've built security into every layer of our platform. Your information is protected through multiple technical and organizational safeguards:

• End-to-end encryption for all data transmission using TLS 1.3 protocol
• AES-256 encryption for stored data on secure servers located in Taiwan
• Multi-factor authentication options for account access
• Regular security audits and penetration testing by independent firms
• Strict access controls limiting employee access to personal data
• Automated monitoring systems detecting suspicious activity
• Secure backup procedures with encrypted off-site storage
• Incident response protocols for potential security breaches

Despite these measures, no internet transmission is completely secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your account.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

SmartPonder uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance platform functionality and understand user behavior. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us recognize you and remember your preferences.

Types of Cookies We Use

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Blocking certain cookies may limit some platform features but won't prevent access to core financial analysis content.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our platform may contain links to external websites or integrate with third-party financial data providers. SmartPonder is not responsible for the privacy practices of these external services. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before sharing any information.

When you access third-party content through our platform, those providers may collect their own data about your usage. This includes financial news sources, market data feeds, and research tools we integrate to enhance your experience.

Children's Privacy

SmartPonder's services are designed for professional use and not directed at individuals under 18 years old. We don't knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we discover that a child has provided us with personal data, we'll delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We update this privacy policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we'll notify you via email and display a notice on our platform. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this document shows when the most recent revisions took effect.

Continued use of SmartPonder after policy updates indicates your acceptance of the revised terms. If you disagree with changes, you may close your account before they take effect.