At Colonest, we believe your financial data deserves respect. This isn't about legal jargon or covering our backs. It's about being upfront with how we handle your information while you're learning to build better investment habits.

We know privacy policies can be tedious. But if you're trusting us with details about your financial goals and learning preferences, you deserve to know exactly what happens with that information.

Who We Are

Colonest operates as an educational platform focused on investment habits and financial literacy. We're based in Kitchener, Ontario, and we comply with Canadian privacy legislation including PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act).

Our office is located at 664 Erinbrook Dr, Kitchener, ON N2E 2R1, Canada. You can reach us at +16049419009 or support@colonest.vip for any privacy-related questions.

What Information We Collect

We collect different types of information depending on how you interact with our platform. Some of it you give us directly. Some of it we gather automatically as you use our services.

Information You Provide

• Account details when you sign up: name, email address, phone number
• Educational preferences and investment experience level
• Learning progress and module completion data
• Questions you submit through our support channels
• Feedback you share about our programs
• Payment information when you enroll in paid courses (processed securely through third-party processors)

Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit our website or use our learning platform, we automatically gather certain technical information:

• Device type, browser version, and operating system
• IP address and general location (city level, not your exact address)
• Pages you visit and time spent on different sections
• Links you click and features you use
• Access times and referring website addresses

How We Use Your Information

Everything we collect serves a specific purpose. We're not hoarding data for the sake of it.

Sharing Your Information

We keep your information within our organization as much as possible. But running an online educational platform means working with certain service providers who need access to some data.

Service Providers We Work With

• Payment Processors: Secure payment handling for course enrollment (they see billing details but not your learning progress)
• Email Service: Sending course notifications and educational updates (they handle delivery but don't own your contact information)
• Cloud Hosting: Storing course materials and user data securely (servers located in Canada)
• Analytics Tools: Understanding how people use our platform (anonymized data only)

All these providers are bound by contracts that limit how they can use your information. They're processing data on our behalf, not collecting it for their own purposes.

Legal Disclosures

We might need to share your information if required by Canadian law, court order, or government regulation. This could happen in cases involving fraud investigation, legal disputes, or regulatory compliance. We'll notify you about such disclosures when legally permitted to do so.

Data Security Measures

We take security seriously, but we're also realistic about it. No system is completely bulletproof, though we've implemented multiple layers of protection.

• Encryption for data transmission (SSL/TLS protocols)
• Secure password requirements and authentication systems
• Regular security audits and vulnerability testing
• Limited employee access to personal information (need-to-know basis)
• Backup systems to prevent data loss
• Monitoring for suspicious activity and unauthorized access attempts

If we experience a data breach that affects your personal information, we'll notify you within the timeframe required by Canadian privacy law (typically 72 hours of becoming aware). We'll explain what happened, what information was involved, and what steps we're taking.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We don't keep information longer than necessary. Different types of data have different retention periods:

• Active Account Data: Retained while your account remains active and for 18 months after your last login
• Course Completion Records: Kept for 7 years to provide certificates and verify educational history
• Payment Records: Maintained for 7 years to comply with Canadian tax and financial regulations
• Support Communications: Stored for 3 years for quality assurance and dispute resolution
• Analytics Data: Anonymized within 26 months and retained in aggregate form only

When retention periods expire, we securely delete or anonymize your information so it can no longer be linked back to you personally.

Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy law, you have several rights regarding your personal information. These aren't just theoretical. We've set up processes to actually honor these requests.

Access Your Information

You can request a copy of all personal information we hold about you. We'll provide this within 30 days in a readable electronic format. If you just want to check your basic account details, you can view most of this directly in your account dashboard.

Correct Inaccurate Data

Found something wrong? You can update most information yourself through your account settings. For data you can't change directly, contact our support team and we'll make corrections within 10 business days.

Delete Your Account

You can request full account deletion at any time. We'll remove your personal information within 30 days, except for records we're legally required to keep (like payment history for tax purposes). Once deleted, your learning progress and account access cannot be restored.

Withdraw Consent

You can opt out of non-essential communications anytime through your account preferences or by clicking unsubscribe links in emails. Keep in mind that withdrawing consent for essential service communications (like security alerts or important platform changes) might limit your ability to use certain features.

Data Portability

You can request your data in a structured, commonly used format that you can transfer to another service. This includes your learning progress, course completion records, and account information.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Like most websites, we use cookies and similar technologies. These are small files stored on your device that help our platform function properly and remember your preferences.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic platform functionality like keeping you logged in and maintaining security
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices (language preferences, interface customizations)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how people use our platform so we can improve it

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Blocking essential cookies will prevent you from using certain platform features. Blocking preference and analytics cookies won't affect functionality, though it might make your experience less personalized.

Third-Party Links

Our educational content sometimes links to external resources, articles, or tools. Once you click those links and leave our platform, this privacy policy no longer applies. We can't control how other websites handle your information, so check their privacy policies before sharing personal data.

Children's Privacy

Our platform is designed for adults (18 years and older). We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If we discover that we've accidentally gathered data from a minor, we'll delete it immediately. Parents who believe their child has provided information to us should contact support@colonest.vip right away.

International Data Transfers

Your data is primarily stored on servers located in Canada. Some of our service providers might process data in other jurisdictions, but we ensure they provide adequate protection that meets Canadian privacy standards. If your data is transferred outside Canada, we use standard contractual clauses and other safeguards required by PIPEDA.

Changes to This Policy

We update this policy occasionally 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 for at least 30 days. The "Last Updated" date at the top shows when the current version took effect.

Continuing to use our platform after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy. If you disagree with changes, you can close your account before they become effective.

Filing Privacy Complaints

If you're concerned about how we've handled your personal information, please contact us first at support@colonest.vip. We want to resolve issues directly when possible.

If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. You can reach them at:

• Website: priv.gc.ca
• Phone: 1-800-282-1376
• Mail: 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3