Privacy Policy of Proof GmbH

Privacy Policy

1. Data Protection at a Glance

General Information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data with which you can be personally identified. For detailed information on data protection, please refer to our privacy policy listed below this text.

Data Collection on This Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the imprint of this website.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected in part by you providing it to us. This may be, for example, data that you enter into a contact form.

Other data is automatically collected by our IT systems when you visit the website or with your consent. This is primarily technical data (e.g., Internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the website functions properly. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain free information about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request correction or deletion of this data. If you have given consent to data processing, you can withdraw this consent at any time for the future. Furthermore, you have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal data under certain circumstances. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

For this and further questions regarding data protection, you can contact us at any time at the address specified in the imprint.

Analysis Tools and Third-Party Tools

When you visit this website, your surfing behavior may be statistically evaluated. This is done primarily using so-called analysis programs.

You will find detailed information about these analysis programs in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting and Content Delivery Networks (CDN)

External Hosting

This website is hosted by an external service provider (hoster). The personal data collected on this website is stored on the servers of the hoster. This may include IP addresses, contact requests, metadata and communication data, contract data, contact information, names, website access, and other data generated via a website.

The use of the hoster is for the purpose of fulfilling contracts with our potential and existing customers (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR) and in the interest of secure, fast, and efficient provision of our online offering by a professional provider (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR).

Our hoster will only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfill its service obligations and will follow our instructions regarding this data.

We use the following hoster:

artif GmbH & Co. KG
Alexanderstrasse 65
72072 Tübingen
info@artif.com
https://artif.com/

Conclusion of a Data Processing Agreement

To ensure compliant data processing, we have concluded a data processing agreement with our hoster.

3. General Information and Mandatory Information

Data Protection

The operators of this site take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with legal data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating by email) may have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the Responsible Party

The responsible party for data processing on this website is:

proof GmbH
Gölzstrasse 17
72072 Tübingen

Phone: 07071-7952740
Email: info@proof.de

The responsible party is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g., names, email addresses, etc.).

Storage Duration

Unless a more specific storage period is stated in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a justified request for deletion or revoke consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g., tax or commercial retention periods); in the latter case, deletion will occur after these reasons cease to apply.

Note on Data Transfer to the USA

Our website includes tools from companies based in the USA. When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to the US servers of the respective companies. We point out that the USA is not a safe third country within the meaning of EU data protection law. US companies are required to disclose personal data to security authorities without you as the affected person being able to take legal action against this. It therefore cannot be ruled out that US authorities (e.g., secret services) process, evaluate, and permanently store your data located on US servers for surveillance purposes. We have no influence over these processing activities.

Revocation of Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You can revoke any consent already given at any time. The lawfulness of data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to Object to Data Collection in Special Cases and to Direct Marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6 PARA. 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING THAT OUTWEIGH YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING SERVES TO ASSERT, EXERCISE, OR DEFEND LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 PARA. 1 GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING TO THE EXTENT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21 PARA. 2 GDPR).

Right to Lodge a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement. This right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to Data Portability

You have the right to have data that we process on the basis of your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. Insofar as you request direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done to the extent technically feasible.

SSL or TLS Encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar of the browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser bar.

When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Encrypted Payment Processing on This Website

If, following the conclusion of a paid contract, you are obligated to provide us with your payment data (e.g., account number for direct debit authorization), this data is required for payment processing.

Payment processing via common payment methods (Visa/MasterCard, direct debit) is conducted exclusively via an encrypted SSL or TLS connection. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar of your browser changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser bar.

With encrypted communication, your payment data that you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information, Deletion, and Correction

Within the scope of applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipient, and the purpose of data processing, and if applicable, a right to correction or deletion of this data. For this and further questions about personal data, you can contact us at any time at the address specified in the imprint.

Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time at the address specified in the imprint. The right to restrict processing exists in the following cases:

  • If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored with us, we typically need time to verify this. During the verification period, you have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal data.
  • If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
  • If we no longer need your personal data but you need it to assert, defend, or enforce legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal data instead of deletion.
  • If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR, a balancing of interests must be conducted. As long as it is not yet determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data may—apart from being stored—only be processed with your consent or for asserting, exercising, or defending legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

Objection to Advertising Emails

The use of contact data published in accordance with legal requirements for the transmission of unsolicited advertising and informational materials is hereby objected to. The operators of this site explicitly reserve the right to take legal action in the case of unsolicited transmission of advertising information, such as spam emails.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

Our websites use so-called "cookies." Cookies are small text files and do not cause any harm to your device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain on your device until you delete them yourself or automatic deletion occurs through your web browser.

Cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your device when you visit our site (third-party cookies). These enable us or you to use certain services of the third-party company (e.g., cookies for payment service processing).

Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary because certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart function or video display). Other cookies serve to evaluate user behavior or to display advertising.

Cookies required to conduct electronic communication (necessary cookies) or to provide certain functions you request (functional cookies, e.g., for shopping cart function) or to optimize the website (e.g., cookies for measuring web audience) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent to store cookies was requested, the storage of the relevant cookies is based exclusively on this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR); the consent can be revoked at any time.

Cookie Settings

You can configure your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and to allow cookies only in individual cases, to exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or generally, and to activate automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

Insofar as cookies from third parties or for analysis purposes are used, we will inform you separately in this privacy policy and, if necessary, request consent.

Server Log Files

The provider of this site automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files that your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

  • Browser type and browser version
  • Operating system used
  • Referrer URL
  • Hostname of the accessing computer
  • Time of server request
  • IP address

A consolidation of this data with other data sources does not take place.

The collection of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in technically error-free representation and optimization of its website—server log files must be collected for this purpose.

Contact Form

When you submit inquiries to us via contact form, your entries from the inquiry form, including the contact data you provide, are stored for processing your inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not pass this data on without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in effective processing of inquiries directed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this was requested.

The data you enter in the contact form remains with us until you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions—in particular retention periods—remain unaffected.

Inquiry by Email, Telephone, or Fax

If you contact us by email, telephone, or fax, your inquiry including all resulting personal data (name, inquiry) is stored and processed with us for the purpose of handling your request. We do not pass this data on without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in effective processing of inquiries directed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this was requested.

The data you transmit to us via contact inquiries remains with us until you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after processing of your request is complete). Mandatory statutory provisions—in particular statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.

Registration on This Website

You can register on this website to use additional functions on the site. We use the data entered only for the purpose of using the respective offer or service you registered for. The required information requested during registration must be provided in full. Otherwise, we will reject the registration.

For important changes such as changes to the scope of offerings or technically necessary changes, we use the email address provided during registration to inform you in this way.

The processing of data entered during registration is for the purpose of conducting the usage relationship established through registration and, if applicable, for initiating further contracts (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR).

The data collected during registration is stored by us as long as you are registered on this website and is subsequently deleted. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Comment Function on This Website

For the comment function on this page, in addition to your comment, information about when the comment was created, your email address, and, if you do not post anonymously, the username you chose is stored.

Storage of IP Address

Our comment function stores the IP addresses of users who submit comments. Since we do not review comments on this website before publication, we need this data to take action against the author in case of legal violations such as insults or propaganda.

Storage Duration of Comments

The comments and associated data are stored and remain on this website until the commented content has been completely deleted or comments must be deleted for legal reasons (e.g., insulting comments).

Legal Basis

The storage of comments is based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke any consent given at any time. A simple notification by email to us is sufficient. The lawfulness of data processing operations already carried out is not affected by the revocation.

5. Analysis Tools and Advertising

Matomo (formerly Piwik)

This website uses the open-source web analytics service Matomo. Matomo uses technologies that enable cross-site recognition of the user to analyze user behavior (e.g., cookies or device fingerprinting). Information collected by Matomo about the use of this website is stored on our server. The IP address is anonymized before storage.

With the help of Matomo, we are able to collect and analyze data about the use of our website by website visitors. This allows us to find out, among other things, when which page views were made and from which region they came. We also collect various log files (e.g., IP address, referrer, browsers and operating systems used) and can measure whether our website visitors perform certain actions (e.g., clicks, purchases, etc.).

The use of this analysis tool is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in anonymized analysis of user behavior in order to optimize both its web offering and its advertising. If corresponding consent was requested (e.g., consent to store cookies), processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

Hosting

We host Matomo exclusively on our own servers, so all analysis data remains with us and is not passed on.

Google Ads

The website operator uses Google Ads. Google Ads is an online advertising program of Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Ads allows us to display advertisements in the Google search engine or on third-party websites when a user enters certain search terms in Google (keyword targeting). Furthermore, targeted advertisements can be displayed based on user data available at Google (e.g., location data and interests) (audience targeting). As the website operator, we can quantitatively evaluate this data by, for example, analyzing which search terms led to the display of our advertisements and how many impressions led to corresponding clicks.

The use of Google Ads is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in marketing its services and products as effectively as possible.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the EU Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses. Details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.

Google Conversion Tracking

This website uses Google Conversion Tracking. The provider is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

With the help of Google Conversion Tracking, Google and we can recognize whether the user has performed certain actions. For example, we can evaluate which buttons on our website are clicked how frequently and which products are viewed or purchased most frequently. This information is used to create conversion statistics. We learn the total number of users who clicked on our advertisements and what actions they performed. We do not receive information that would allow us to personally identify the user. Google uses cookies or comparable recognition technologies for identification.

The use of Google Conversion Tracking is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both its web offering and its advertising. If corresponding consent was requested (e.g., consent to store cookies), processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

More information about Google Conversion Tracking can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

6. Newsletter

Newsletter Data

If you wish to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we need an email address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No further data is collected or is only collected on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The processing of data entered into the newsletter registration form is based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke the consent you have given to store the data, the email address, and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the "Unsubscribe" link in the newsletter. The lawfulness of data processing operations already carried out is not affected by the revocation.

The data you provide for the purpose of newsletter subscription is stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter with us or the newsletter service provider and is deleted from the newsletter mailing list after unsubscription. Data stored for other purposes remains unaffected.

After you unsubscribe from the newsletter mailing list, your email address may be stored in a blacklist with us or the newsletter service provider to prevent future mailings. Data from the blacklist is used only for this purpose and is not consolidated with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). Storage in the blacklist is not time-limited. You can object to storage provided your interests outweigh our legitimate interest.

7. Plugins and Tools

YouTube with Enhanced Privacy Mode

This website embeds videos from YouTube. The operator of the site is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

We use YouTube in enhanced privacy mode. According to YouTube, this mode ensures that YouTube does not store information about visitors to this website before they watch the video. However, enhanced privacy mode does not necessarily exclude the sharing of data with YouTube partners. YouTube establishes a connection to the Google DoubleClick network regardless of whether you watch a video.

Once you start a YouTube video on this website, a connection to YouTube's servers is established. The YouTube server is informed which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to directly associate your browsing behavior with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

Furthermore, YouTube may store various cookies on your device after starting a video or use comparable recognition technologies (e.g., device fingerprinting). In this way, YouTube can obtain information about visitors to this website. This information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve usability, and prevent fraud attempts.

Potentially, further data processing activities may be triggered after starting a YouTube video, which we have no influence over.

The use of YouTube is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. If corresponding consent was requested, processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

You can find more information about data protection at YouTube in their privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

Google Maps

This site uses the Google Maps mapping service. The provider is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

To use the functions of Google Maps, it is necessary to store your IP address. This information is typically transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The operator of this site has no influence over this data transmission.

The use of Google Maps is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings and easy findability of the locations we specify on the website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. If corresponding consent was requested, processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the EU Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses. Details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/ and https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/sccs/.

You can find more information about how user data is handled in Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

8. E-Commerce and Payment Providers

Processing of Data (Customer and Contract Data)

We collect, process, and use personal data only insofar as it is necessary for establishing, designing the content of, or modifying the legal relationship (master data). This is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, which permits the processing of data to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual measures. We collect, process, and use personal data regarding the use of this website (usage data) only to the extent necessary to enable the user to use the service or to bill for it.

Customer data collected is deleted after completion of the order or termination of the business relationship. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Data Transfer in Conclusion of Contracts for Online Stores, Merchants, and Goods Shipment

We transmit personal data to third parties only when this is necessary as part of contract processing, for example to companies responsible for delivery of goods or financial institutions responsible for payment processing. Data is not transferred further or is only transferred if you have explicitly consented to the transfer. Your data is not passed on to third parties without explicit consent, for example for advertising purposes.

The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, which permits the processing of data to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual measures.

Data Transfer in Conclusion of Contracts for Services and Digital Content

We transmit personal data to third parties only when this is necessary as part of contract processing, for example to financial institutions responsible for payment processing.

Data is not transferred further or is only transferred if you have explicitly consented to the transfer. Your data is not passed on to third parties without explicit consent, for example for advertising purposes.

The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, which permits the processing of data to fulfill a contract or pre-contractual measures.

Payment Services

We integrate payment services from third-party companies on our website. When you make a purchase with us, your payment data (e.g., name, payment amount, account information, credit card number) is processed by the payment service provider for the purpose of payment processing. The respective contract and data protection terms of the respective providers apply to these transactions. The use of payment service providers is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (contract processing) and in the interest of a smooth, convenient, and secure payment process (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR). If your consent is requested for certain actions, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR is the legal basis for data processing; consents can be revoked at any time for the future.

We use the following payment services/payment service providers on this website:

PayPal

The provider of this payment service is PayPal (Europe) S.à.r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg (hereinafter "PayPal"). Details can be found in PayPal's privacy policy: https://www.paypal.com/en/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full.

Klarna

The provider is Klarna AB, Sveavägen 46, 111 34 Stockholm, Sweden (hereinafter "Klarna"). Klarna offers various payment options (e.g., installment purchase). If you choose to pay with Klarna (Klarna Checkout solution), Klarna will collect various personal data from you. Klarna uses cookies to optimize the use of the Klarna Checkout solution. For details on the use of Klarna cookies, see the following link: https://cdn.klarna.com/1.0/shared/content/policy/cookie/de_de/checkout.pdf.

You can find details in Klarna's privacy policy under the following link: https://www.klarna.com/de/datenschutz/.

Sofort Transfer

The provider of this payment service is Sofort GmbH, Theresienhohe 12, 80339 Munich (hereinafter "Sofort GmbH"). With the help of the "Sofort Transfer" procedure, we receive payment confirmation from Sofort GmbH in real time and can immediately begin fulfilling our obligations. If you have chosen the payment method "Sofort Transfer," you transmit your PIN and a valid TAN to Sofort GmbH, with which it can log into your online banking account. After logging in, Sofort GmbH automatically checks your account balance and makes the transfer to us using the TAN you provided. It then immediately transmits a transaction confirmation to us. After logging in, your transactions, the credit limit of any overdraft facility, and the existence of other accounts as well as their balances are automatically checked. In addition to the PIN and TAN, the payment data you enter and data about your person are transmitted to Sofort GmbH. The data about your person includes first and last name, address, telephone number(s), email address, IP address, and if necessary, other data required for payment processing. Transmission of this data is necessary to identify you beyond doubt and to prevent fraud attempts. For details about payment with Sofort Transfer, see the following links: https://www.sofort.de/datenschutz.html and https://www.klarna.com/sofort/.

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