Privacy Policy

Purpose of this policy

This Privacy Policy explains what personal and non-personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and your choices regarding that information when you use our review site about repairing video files with free software. It's written for people who want to learn how to fix damaged or corrupted video files, compare free repair tools, read walkthroughs and reviews, or use these tools professionally. The goal is to be transparent about data practices so you can make informed choices while using the site's tutorials, downloads, comment areas, and newsletters.

Who we are (site name & contact)

We are Fix Video With Free Software (FVWFS), a review and tutorial site focused on tools and techniques to repair, recover, and convert video files using free software. Our editorial team tests tools, writes step-by-step guides, and publishes reviews to help hobbyists and professionals restore playable video from corrupt sources.

Contact:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Postal: 123 Recovery Lane, Suite 100, City, Country
  • Effective date: December 21, 2025

If you have questions about this policy, privacy requests (access, correction, deletion), or concerns about data practices, email the address above.

Information We Collect

Information you give us (contact forms, newsletter signups, comments)

We collect data you voluntarily provide when interacting with the site, including:

  • Contact form entries: name, email, subject, message.
  • Newsletter signups: email address and optional name.
  • Comments and forum posts: display name, email (if required), and any content you submit.
  • Support requests / bug reports: file attachments you upload (e.g., small sample video), timestamps, and any diagnostic notes you include.

We recommend not submitting sensitive personal data (financial, health, government ID) in site forms. Uploaded video samples are used only to diagnose issues or demonstrate fixes and may be retained as described below.

Automatically collected data (IPs, user agent, device, performance logs)

When you visit or use the site we automatically collect technical data needed to deliver and improve the service:

  • IP address and approximate location (city/region) for routing and basic analytics.
  • Device and browser information: user agent string, operating system, screen size.
  • Referral and navigation data: pages viewed, entry/exit pages, click paths, and timestamps.
  • Performance and error logs: page load times, script errors, upload/download errors, and server logs used to diagnose problems (including video-processing failures).
  • Interaction metadata: which tutorials you view, downloads initiated, and whether you play embedded videos.

This data helps us optimize content (e.g., guides for common OS/browser combinations), detect abuse, and troubleshoot issues with repair tools or file uploads.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to make the site functional and to improve user experience:

  • Essential cookies: required for site functionality (session management, secure form submission).
  • Analytics cookies: used by analytics providers to measure site usage and performance (e.g., pageviews, popular tutorials).
  • Preference cookies: remember language, display preferences, or consent choices.
  • Advertising/affiliate cookies: used when you click affiliate links so partners can attribute referrals (we disclose affiliate relationships elsewhere).

How to manage cookies:

  • Use your browser settings to block or delete cookies.
  • Opt out of analytics tracking via provided opt-out links in the cookie banner or privacy controls page (if available).
  • Note: blocking essential cookies may break site features (comments, uploads, or personalized settings).

We may also use local storage, web beacons, and similar technologies for the same purposes described above.

How We Use Your Information

To operate and improve the review site

We use collected data to run core site functions and make content more useful:

  • Deliver services: process form submissions, enable comments, manage newsletter subscriptions, and handle file uploads for troubleshooting.
  • Personalize experience: surface relevant tutorials, highlight tools and fixes that match your OS or typical file formats, and remember display or language preferences.
  • Content improvement: analyze which guides, reviews, and walkthroughs are most useful so we can refine instructions, add examples, and prioritize coverage of popular free repair tools.
  • Performance monitoring: track page load times and resource use to keep walkthroughs and downloads reliable.

To send updates, replies and marketing (newsletter)

We use contact information you provide to communicate relevant information:

  • Transactional messages: replies to contact or support requests, confirmations, and necessary notifications about your uploads or account actions.
  • Newsletters and marketing: periodic emails about new tutorials, major tool updates, and special guides. You can opt out of marketing at any time via an unsubscribe link; transactional messages are still sent when necessary.
  • Comment and reply notifications: alerts about replies to your comments or moderation actions when you request them.

We only send marketing to users who opt in or where permitted by law.

To detect abuse, fraud, and troubleshoot technical issues

Security and reliability are critical for file-repair workflows:

  • Abuse detection: analyze traffic patterns, rate limits, and upload behavior to identify bots, spam, or malicious file submissions.
  • Fraud prevention: monitor affiliate click patterns and payment-related activity (if applicable) to detect misuse.
  • Troubleshooting: use error logs, upload diagnostics, and uploaded sample files to reproduce issues, fix bugs in tutorials or tools, and improve repair success rates.
  • Legal compliance: retain and disclose data when required to comply with legal processes or protect the site, users, or rights (e.g., responding to valid subpoenas).

When possible we aggregate or anonymize data before analysis; identifiable diagnostics are accessed only by authorized personnel for support and security.

Third Parties and Sharing

Analytics and performance tools (Google Analytics, alternatives)

We use third-party analytics to measure site usage and improve content. These tools collect aggregated data such as page views, session duration, device/browser type, and referral sources. Common providers we may use include Google Analytics and privacy-focused alternatives. Data shared with analytics providers is limited to what's needed for reporting; we disable personally identifying features (e.g., user-ID tracking) where possible and rely on aggregated, anonymized metrics for product decisions.

Advertising and affiliate partners (how affiliate tracking works)

Some pages include affiliate links to free or freemium repair tools, hosting, or related services. Affiliate tracking works by sending a non-sensitive identifier to the partner when you click a tracked link (usually via URL parameters or cookies). That identifier allows partners to attribute referrals and, where applicable, pay commissions. We do not share personal contact details with affiliate partners for attribution; only the tracking token and click metadata needed for attribution are provided. Affiliate relationships are disclosed on relevant pages.

Plugins, embeds and external content (YouTube, GitHub, download links)

We embed or link to third-party content to illustrate repair steps or provide downloads (for example, YouTube tutorial embeds, GitHub repositories, or file hosting services). Embedded content may set its own cookies and collect usage data directly from your browser; we do not control those practices. When you interact with an embed (play a video, visit a repo, download a file), you may be subject to the third party's privacy policy. For downloadable repair tools and sample files, we link to official sources when possible and recommend verifying checksums or signatures for safety.

Cookies, Tracking & Opt-outs

Types of cookies we use (essential, analytics, advertising)

  • Essential cookies: Required for core site functions (session management, secure form submissions, file uploads). Without these, comments, uploads, and account-related features may not work.
  • Analytics cookies: Used to measure site performance and understand which tutorials and repair guides are most helpful (pageviews, session length, error rates). Data is aggregated and anonymized where possible.
  • Advertising/affiliate cookies: Placed when you click affiliate links to allow partners to attribute referrals (non-sensitive tracking tokens, timestamps). We do not share personal contact details for affiliate attribution.

How to control cookies and opt-out links

  • Use the cookie banner or privacy controls on the site (if shown) to accept or reject non-essential cookies.
  • Opt out of analytics where provided via explicit opt-out links in the banner or privacy settings page.
  • To stop affiliate tracking, avoid clicking tracked referral links or clear site cookies after visiting.
  • For email marketing, use the unsubscribe link in any newsletter to opt out of marketing messages; transactional messages will still be sent if necessary.

Do Not Track and browser settings

  • We respect browser controls but do not rely solely on Do Not Track (DNT) since support is inconsistent across browsers and vendors.
  • To control tracking: adjust browser privacy settings (block third-party cookies, enable strict tracking protection), use browser extensions that block trackers, or clear cookies/local storage regularly.
  • Blocking essential cookies or scripts may break site features such as uploads, comment posting, or embedded tutorials.

Affiliate Links & Sponsored Content

Disclosure of affiliate relationships

We disclose when content includes affiliate links or is sponsored. Reviews, tutorials, or comparison pages that contain affiliate links will include a clear notice near the top of the article and in the footer where applicable. Sponsorships or paid placements are labeled so you can distinguish editorial opinions from sponsored content. Our editorial reviews remain independent; affiliate relationships do not determine review scores.

How affiliate tracking affects data collection

Affiliate tracking uses non-sensitive tokens (URL parameters, tracking cookies) to attribute referrals and calculate commissions. When you click an affiliate link we may pass a referral ID and basic click metadata (timestamp, referring page) to the partner-no personal contact details are shared for attribution. Partners may set their own cookies or tracking mechanisms; those parties collect data under their own privacy policies. You can avoid affiliate tracking by not clicking affiliate links or by clearing cookies after following a link.

Data Retention, Security & Access

How long we keep data

  • Form submissions, comments, and support messages: retained for 2 years by default to allow follow-up and troubleshooting; deleted sooner on request.
  • Uploaded sample files (e.g., short video clips for diagnosis): retained up to 90 days after resolution unless you request earlier deletion; longer retention only with explicit consent.
  • Analytics and logs: aggregated metrics retained indefinitely in anonymized form; raw server logs and error reports retained for 90 days and then purged or archived in aggregated form.
  • Affiliate and transaction records: retained for 2-4 years as required for accounting and fraud prevention.
  • Retention periods may be adjusted to comply with legal obligations or to resolve disputes; we anonymize data where practical to reduce retention needs.

Security measures

  • Access controls: role-based access for staff; administrative actions logged and reviewed.
  • Encryption: HTTPS/TLS in transit; sensitive data at rest encrypted where supported by storage provider.
  • Least privilege & segmentation: production systems separated from analytics and support tools; uploaded files stored in isolated buckets with limited access.
  • Backups & recovery: regular encrypted backups with tested restore procedures.
  • Monitoring & incident response: automated monitoring for suspicious activity, plus an incident response plan that includes notification to affected parties when required by law.
  • Third-party vetting: vendors and plugins are evaluated for security practices and contractual data protections before integration.

Your rights (access, correction, deletion, portability)

  • Access: You can request a copy of personal data we hold about you (email address, form submissions, comments).
  • Correction: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Deletion: Ask us to delete your personal data; we will honor requests unless retention is required for legal reasons (e.g., fraud investigation) or to complete a requested transaction. Deletion requests do not remove copies of your comments or data already published to third parties (e.g., embeds) - we will flag content removal where possible.
  • Portability: Receive your personal data in a commonly used, machine-readable format (JSON or CSV) upon request.
  • How to exercise rights: Email [email protected] with a clear subject (e.g., "Data Access Request") and the action you want. We verify requestors to prevent unauthorized disclosures.
  • Response timeframe: We respond to verified requests within 30 days; if we need more time we will notify you with reasons and expected date.
  • Complaints: If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority (contact info provided in the Contact section).

Children's Privacy

Age restrictions and parental controls

  • No deliberate collection from children under 16: We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 without parental consent. If you are under 16, do not submit personal information on the site (comments, contact forms, newsletter signups, or uploaded video samples) unless a parent or guardian has given consent.
  • Parental consent and requests: Parents or guardians who believe their child has submitted personal information can contact us at [email protected] to request deletion or review. We will verify the requestor's identity and relationship before taking action.
  • Minimizing children's data: Uploaded sample files or diagnostic info that may come from minors are treated the same as other uploads but are deleted promptly on verified request. We recommend parents supervise the sharing of any video files or identifying details.
  • Content and forums: Public comments and forum posts are visible to others; do not post personal information about children. We may remove content that appears to be from a minor or contains sensitive personal information upon notice.

International Transfers & Legal Bases

GDPR / European users: legal bases and rights

We comply with applicable EU data-protection laws when processing personal data from users in the European Economic Area.

  • Legal bases for processing:
    • Consent: for optional processing such as marketing emails and non-essential cookies (you can withdraw consent at any time).
    • Contract performance / service provision: to deliver requested services like handling support requests, processing uploads, and sending transactional messages.
    • Legitimate interests: for site maintenance, security, fraud detection, analytics (balanced against your rights and freedoms).
    • Legal obligations: to comply with laws or respond to lawful requests from authorities.
  • EU user rights: you can exercise the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, object to processing, and data portability. To exercise rights, contact [email protected]; we will verify identity and respond within one month (extended when necessary). Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw consent without affecting processing done prior to withdrawal.
  • Data transfers: when we transfer EU personal data outside the EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses, adequacy decisions, or anonymization. Details of transfer mechanisms are available on request.

CCPA/CPRA: California resident rights and opt-outs

If you are a California resident, the following rights apply under the CCPA/CPRA to personal information we collect about you:

  • Right to know: request disclosure of categories of personal information collected, sources, purposes of collection, and third parties with whom we share data for the past 12 months.
  • Right to access: request a copy of specific pieces of personal information we hold.
  • Right to deletion: request deletion of personal information we collected directly from you, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., completing a transaction, legal obligation, fraud prevention).
  • Right to opt out of sale/sharing for cross-context behavioral advertising: we do not "sell" personal data for monetary consideration. If any future partner offers sharing that meets the statute's definition, you may opt out via a clear "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link on the site.
  • Right to nondiscrimination: we will not discriminate against you for exercising CCPA/CPRA rights (e.g., by denying access to the site).

How to submit California requests:

  • Email [email protected] with subject line like "California Privacy Request." Provide information required to verify your identity. We will respond within the statutory timeframe and describe any information we cannot disclose and why.

For all legal requests (subpoenas, government inquiries), we review requests for legal validity and provide data only as compelled or permitted by law.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

How we notify users of changes

We post updates to this Privacy Policy on the site and highlight material changes in one or more of these ways, depending on their scope:

  • Banner or notice on the homepage for significant changes affecting data use or user rights.
  • In-article notice at the top of the Privacy Policy when changes are minor but still substantive (e.g., new third-party integration).
  • Email notification to users who have subscribed to newsletters or support threads when changes materially affect how we handle their personal data (sent to subscribed addresses only).

Each notification will summarize what changed, why, and the date the change takes effect. For changes requiring user consent (e.g., new non-essential cookie categories), we will obtain consent via the cookie banner or privacy controls before activating those features.

Effective date

This Privacy Policy is effective as of December 21, 2025.

Contact Information

How to contact us about privacy or data requests

Email: [email protected] (use subject lines like "Data Access Request", "Deletion Request", or "Consent Withdrawal").

Postal: Fix Video With Free Software, 123 Recovery Lane, Suite 100, City, Country.

For verified requests we may ask for minimal ID to confirm your identity; we respond within 30 days or notify you if we need more time.