Privacy Policy
Digital Media Geek ("Digital Media Geek," "DMG," "we," "us," or "our") respects the privacy of customers, website visitors, prospective customers, and other individuals who interact with our websites, accounts, communications, and services.
This Privacy Policy explains how Digital Media Geek collects, uses, discloses, protects, and retains personal information in connection with our websites, customer accounts, technical services, hosting services, infrastructure management, retainers, Geek Hours, support activities, and related business operations (collectively, the "Services").
By using the Services or providing information to Digital Media Geek, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
The information Digital Media Geek collects depends on how you interact with us and which Services you use.
We may collect information directly from you, automatically through our systems, from service providers, or from other sources reasonably necessary to provide or protect the Services.
1.1 Contact and Identity Information
We may collect information such as:
- name;
- company or organization name;
- email address;
- telephone number;
- billing address;
- service address;
- account identifiers; and
- other contact or identity information you provide.
1.2 Account Information
When you create or use a Digital Media Geek account, we may collect and maintain information such as:
- account profile information;
- login and authentication information;
- account preferences;
- verification status;
- account activity;
- service history; and
- information necessary to administer and secure your account.
Passwords maintained by Digital Media Geek systems should be stored using appropriate one-way password hashing rather than in readable form.
1.3 Order, Billing, and Transaction Information
When you purchase Services, we may collect information concerning:
- Services ordered;
- order history;
- transaction amounts;
- billing status;
- invoices;
- refunds;
- payment status;
- payment-method type or limited payment-method details made available by a payment processor;
- transaction identifiers; and
- information relating to payment disputes or chargebacks.
Digital Media Geek uses third-party payment processors, including Stripe, to process payment-card transactions.
Digital Media Geek does not store complete customer credit or debit card numbers on its own systems when card information is collected and processed directly by the payment processor.
Stripe and other applicable payment providers may independently collect and process payment-card information, authentication information, transaction data, fraud-prevention information, and other payment-related information according to their own terms and privacy practices.
2. Service and Technical Information
Providing technical Services may require Digital Media Geek to receive, access, or process information relating to your websites, systems, accounts, or infrastructure.
Depending on the Service, this information may include:
- domain names;
- DNS records;
- SSL/TLS information;
- website information;
- WordPress information;
- hosting-account information;
- server information;
- IP addresses;
- infrastructure configuration;
- email-system information;
- database information;
- application information;
- configuration files;
- logs;
- diagnostic information;
- malware or security information;
- migration data;
- backup data; and
- other technical information reasonably necessary to perform the requested Service.
The exact information accessed depends on the work you authorize Digital Media Geek to perform.
3. Credentials and Privileged Access
Some Services require customers to provide credentials or privileged access.
This may include:
- WordPress administrator credentials;
- hosting-control-panel credentials;
- server credentials;
- SSH credentials or keys;
- root or administrator access;
- domain-registrar credentials;
- DNS-provider access;
- email-account credentials;
- database credentials;
- API credentials or tokens;
- cloud-platform credentials; or
- other authentication information.
Digital Media Geek uses customer-provided access only as reasonably necessary to perform authorized Services, troubleshoot problems, maintain Services, protect systems, or carry out other activities authorized by the customer.
Customers should provide only the access reasonably necessary for the requested work and should rotate, revoke, or change credentials after work is completed when appropriate.
Digital Media Geek may request a safer or more limited access method when one is available.
4. Support and Communications
When you contact Digital Media Geek, we may collect and retain information contained in or associated with:
- support requests;
- emails;
- contact forms;
- service-intake forms;
- account messages;
- technical reports;
- troubleshooting communications;
- project communications;
- billing inquiries; and
- other correspondence.
These records may include technical information, attachments, screenshots, files, account details, and other information you choose to provide.
5. Device, Network, and Security Information
When you access Digital Media Geek websites, accounts, systems, or Services, our systems or service providers may process technical information such as:
- IP address;
- browser type;
- device type;
- operating system;
- request timestamps;
- requested pages or resources;
- login activity;
- session information;
- authentication events;
- error information;
- network information;
- security events; and
- other operational logs.
We may use this information to operate the Services, authenticate users, diagnose problems, investigate abuse, detect fraud, maintain security, and protect Digital Media Geek and its customers.
6. Information We Do Not Intentionally Request
Unless specifically necessary for an authorized Service, you should not provide Digital Media Geek with highly sensitive personal information that is unrelated to the Services.
If technical work provides incidental access to information stored within a customer-controlled system, Digital Media Geek will generally process that information only as reasonably necessary to perform the authorized work, maintain security, troubleshoot the system, or comply with applicable obligations.
7. How We Use Information
Digital Media Geek may use personal and operational information to:
- provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Services;
- create and administer customer accounts;
- process orders and transactions;
- provide technical support;
- diagnose and repair technical problems;
- perform migrations and recovery work;
- manage hosting and infrastructure;
- authenticate users;
- communicate with customers;
- send service, account, security, billing, and renewal notices;
- process refunds;
- respond to payment disputes;
- prevent fraud;
- detect and investigate abuse;
- maintain network and information security;
- enforce our agreements and policies;
- comply with legal obligations;
- maintain business, tax, accounting, and transaction records;
- analyze and improve business operations;
- protect Digital Media Geek, our customers, service providers, and third parties; and
- carry out other purposes reasonably related to a Service you request or authorize.
8. Transactional and Service Communications
Digital Media Geek may send communications necessary to administer your relationship with us.
These may include:
- account verification messages;
- password or security notices;
- order confirmations;
- invoices and receipts;
- payment-failure notices;
- renewal notices;
- service-status communications;
- support responses;
- abuse or security notices;
- policy notices; and
- other operational communications.
Because these communications may be necessary to provide or secure the Services, you may not be able to opt out of all transactional or service-related communications while maintaining an active account or Service.
9. Marketing Communications
Digital Media Geek may send promotional, educational, product, service, or marketing communications where permitted by applicable law.
Marketing communications will provide an unsubscribe or opt-out method where required.
You may opt out of marketing communications without opting out of necessary account, transaction, billing, security, support, or service communications.
10. Payment Processing
Digital Media Geek uses third-party payment providers, including Stripe, for payment processing.
When you submit payment information through a payment processor, that provider may collect and process information directly from you.
Digital Media Geek may receive transaction-related information from the payment processor, such as:
- transaction identifiers;
- payment status;
- payment-method type;
- limited card information such as card brand or last digits where provided;
- billing information;
- fraud or risk indicators;
- refund information; and
- dispute information.
Digital Media Geek does not need to receive or store your complete payment-card number when payment information is collected directly by the payment processor.
Payment providers process information according to their own terms, privacy notices, legal obligations, security requirements, and payment-network rules.
11. Service Providers
Digital Media Geek uses third-party providers to operate portions of its business and infrastructure.
These providers may perform functions involving:
- payment processing;
- hosting;
- data-center infrastructure;
- network connectivity;
- cloud infrastructure;
- DNS and network services;
- security;
- email delivery;
- communications;
- software;
- storage;
- backups;
- fraud prevention; and
- other technical or business functions.
Current providers may include:
- Stripe for payment processing;
- Resend for email and communications infrastructure;
- Cloudflare for web, network, DNS, performance, and security-related services; and
- Wholesale Internet for server, data-center, network, or upstream infrastructure.
Providers may change as Digital Media Geek's technical and business requirements evolve.
We may provide service providers with information reasonably necessary for them to perform services for Digital Media Geek.
12. Customer-Directed Processing
When Digital Media Geek performs technical work on customer-controlled systems, we may process information on the customer's behalf.
For example, a website migration, email migration, server repair, malware cleanup, backup restoration, or infrastructure-management task may require temporary or ongoing access to information stored within the customer's systems.
In those circumstances, the customer is responsible for determining that it has lawful authority to provide Digital Media Geek with access to the applicable systems and information.
Digital Media Geek will use such access for the authorized technical purpose and other reasonably necessary purposes such as security, troubleshooting, service administration, or compliance.
13. When We May Disclose Information
Digital Media Geek may disclose information when reasonably necessary:
- to provide the Services;
- to service providers acting on our behalf;
- to process payments;
- to respond to payment disputes;
- to investigate fraud or abuse;
- to protect systems, networks, customers, or third parties;
- to respond to an upstream-provider issue or abuse complaint;
- to enforce our agreements or policies;
- to comply with applicable law;
- to respond to lawful legal process;
- to protect rights, safety, property, or security; or
- in connection with a business transaction or organizational change.
We do not disclose personal information merely because someone requests it. We may evaluate the validity and scope of legal or other requests where appropriate.
14. Legal and Safety Disclosures
Digital Media Geek may preserve, access, or disclose information when we reasonably believe doing so is necessary to:
- comply with a law, subpoena, court order, warrant, or other valid legal process;
- respond to lawful governmental requests;
- investigate suspected fraud, abuse, attacks, or unlawful activity;
- enforce the Terms of Service or Acceptable Use Policy;
- protect Digital Media Geek infrastructure;
- protect customers or third parties;
- respond to emergencies involving safety or security; or
- establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
Nothing in this Privacy Policy requires Digital Media Geek to challenge a lawful request where we are not legally required or reasonably positioned to do so.
15. Payment Disputes and Fraud Prevention
If a transaction is disputed, Digital Media Geek may provide relevant information to Stripe, another payment processor, a financial institution, or a payment network.
Such information may include:
- order details;
- transaction records;
- account information;
- authorization records;
- communications;
- service-delivery records;
- access or usage records;
- IP or security logs; and
- other information reasonably relevant to the dispute.
Digital Media Geek may also process information to identify, prevent, investigate, or respond to fraudulent or abusive transactions.
16. Abuse and Upstream Providers
Digital Media Geek may share information with an applicable infrastructure provider, network provider, hosting provider, security provider, domain provider, or other upstream provider when reasonably necessary to investigate or respond to:
- spam;
- phishing;
- malware;
- unauthorized access;
- denial-of-service activity;
- security incidents;
- network abuse;
- intellectual-property complaints;
- unlawful activity;
- resource abuse; or
- other violations of applicable service rules.
Information disclosed for these purposes will generally be limited to what Digital Media Geek reasonably determines is relevant to the matter.
17. Business Transfers
If Digital Media Geek is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, transfer of Services, change of control, or similar business transaction, information may be transferred or disclosed as part of that transaction.
Any successor receiving personal information would remain subject to applicable legal obligations concerning that information.
18. Data Retention
Digital Media Geek retains information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or subsequently legitimately used.
Retention considerations may include the need to:
- provide and administer Services;
- maintain customer accounts;
- maintain transaction and billing records;
- meet tax and accounting requirements;
- maintain security records;
- prevent fraud and abuse;
- investigate incidents;
- resolve disputes;
- enforce agreements;
- respond to legal claims;
- comply with law;
- satisfy upstream-provider requirements; and
- maintain reasonable business records.
Different categories of information may therefore be retained for different periods.
When information is no longer reasonably necessary, Digital Media Geek may delete, anonymize, aggregate, or otherwise dispose of it, subject to legal obligations, legitimate business needs, security requirements, and backup systems.
Information may remain in backups for a period of time after deletion from active systems.
19. Service Data After Cancellation or Termination
Data associated with hosting, VPS, Dedicated Server, or other Services may be deleted after cancellation, expiration, suspension, or termination according to the applicable service terms and operational procedures.
Customers are responsible for obtaining copies of data they wish to retain before a Service terminates whenever reasonably possible.
Digital Media Geek is not a permanent archival-storage provider unless a specific written Service expressly provides otherwise.
20. Security
Digital Media Geek uses administrative, technical, and operational measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.
Security measures may include, where appropriate:
- authentication controls;
- access restrictions;
- password hashing;
- encryption;
- network protections;
- security logging;
- backups;
- infrastructure isolation;
- software updates; and
- security monitoring.
No system, network, storage platform, transmission method, or security control can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
You are responsible for protecting credentials issued to you and for using reasonable security practices on systems under your control.
21. Data Breaches and Security Incidents
If Digital Media Geek becomes aware of a security incident affecting personal information, we may investigate the incident, take appropriate containment or remediation measures, and provide notifications where required by applicable law.
The timing and content of any notification may depend on the nature of the incident, applicable legal requirements, law-enforcement considerations, and available information.
22. International and Cross-Border Processing
Digital Media Geek and its service providers may operate systems or process information in locations different from your location.
As a result, information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in another state, region, or country where permitted by applicable law.
Applicable privacy protections may vary by jurisdiction.
23. Children's Privacy
Digital Media Geek Services are not directed to children under eighteen (18), and individuals under eighteen may not independently purchase or use Services governed by the Digital Media Geek Terms of Service.
Digital Media Geek does not knowingly solicit personal information from children for the purpose of establishing customer accounts or purchasing Services.
If you believe a child has provided personal information to Digital Media Geek inappropriately, contact us at legal@digitalmediageek.com.
24. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Digital Media Geek websites may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for website functionality, authentication, account sessions, security, preferences, or other essential operations.
Digital Media Geek does not currently represent that it operates an advertising or behavioral-tracking program through its website.
Digital Media Geek may introduce additional analytics or tracking functionality in the future.
If we introduce technologies that materially change how personal information is collected or used, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide additional notices or choices where required by applicable law.
A separate Cookie Policy may be adopted if our future use of cookies or similar technologies warrants one.
25. Do Not Track and Browser Signals
Because Digital Media Geek does not currently operate a behavioral advertising program, browser-based "Do Not Track" signals may not materially change current website behavior.
Privacy-control technologies and legal requirements continue to evolve.
Digital Media Geek may update its practices concerning recognized browser or device privacy signals as applicable Services and legal requirements evolve.
26. Your Privacy Choices
Depending on your relationship with Digital Media Geek and applicable law, you may be able to:
- update certain account information;
- correct inaccurate information;
- opt out of marketing communications;
- request information concerning personal information associated with you;
- request deletion of certain information; or
- exercise other privacy rights available under applicable law.
Some requests may be subject to exceptions.
For example, Digital Media Geek may need to retain information for transaction records, tax obligations, fraud prevention, security, dispute resolution, legal claims, contractual obligations, or other legitimate and lawful purposes.
27. Privacy Requests
Privacy-related requests may be submitted to:
Digital Media Geek
legal@digitalmediageek.com
Digital Media Geek may need to verify your identity or authority before fulfilling a request.
If a request concerns information controlled by a Digital Media Geek customer rather than Digital Media Geek, we may direct the request to the applicable customer where appropriate.
28. No Sale of Personal Information
Digital Media Geek does not sell personal information in exchange for money as part of its current business model.
If Digital Media Geek's practices materially change, this Privacy Policy will be updated and any legally required rights or notices will be provided.
29. Third-Party Websites and Services
Digital Media Geek websites or Services may link to or interact with third-party websites, platforms, applications, or services.
Digital Media Geek does not control the independent privacy practices of third parties.
Information you provide directly to a third party is governed by that third party's privacy practices.
30. Customer Responsibility for Personal Information
Customers using Digital Media Geek infrastructure or Services may independently collect, store, or process personal information belonging to their own users, employees, customers, or other individuals.
Unless expressly agreed otherwise, each Customer is responsible for its own privacy notices, legal bases, consents, data-handling practices, and compliance obligations relating to personal information it controls.
Digital Media Geek's Privacy Policy does not substitute for a Customer's own privacy policy or compliance obligations.
31. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Digital Media Geek may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in Services, technology, providers, business practices, or legal requirements.
The current version will be made available through the Digital Media Geek website and will identify its effective date.
When appropriate, Digital Media Geek may provide additional notice of material changes through email, account notifications, website notices, or other reasonable methods.
32. Relationship to Other Digital Media Geek Policies
This Privacy Policy should be read together with the Digital Media Geek Terms of Service and other policies applicable to your Services.
The Terms of Service govern the contractual relationship between Digital Media Geek and Customers.
The Acceptable Use Policy governs permitted and prohibited uses of Digital Media Geek Services.
The Refund & Cancellation Policy governs applicable refund and cancellation rules.
33. Contact
Questions, concerns, or privacy requests regarding this Privacy Policy may be directed to:
Digital Media Geek
Email: legal@digitalmediageek.com