Who we are
Hess WebTech is a web/app development and design firm based in Wisconsin, United States.
Website: https://hesswebtech.com
Contact: Use our contact form
Information we collect and why
Website analytics (Google Analytics 4)
We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors use our site and to improve performance, content, and navigation.
GA4 may collect information such as:
- Pages viewed and interactions (for example: clicks, scrolling, time on page)
- Approximate location (generally inferred from IP address)
- Device, browser, and operating system information
- Traffic source/referrer information
We use this information in aggregate to measure site usage and improve the site. Google processes this data for analytics purposes under its own terms and settings.
Your choices: You can limit or block cookies in your browser settings. You can also use Google’s Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Forms
When you submit a form on our site (for example: a contact request), we collect the information you enter. This commonly includes:
- Name
- Email address
- Message/details you provide
- Any other fields included in the form at the time you submit it
We use this information to respond to you, communicate about your request, and provide support.
How it is stored: Form submissions are stored in our database and are also sent to us by email.
Spam prevention (Google reCAPTCHA)
We use Google reCAPTCHA on some pages/forms to reduce spam and abuse. reCAPTCHA may collect and analyze information about your device, browser, IP address, and behavior on the page to determine whether activity appears automated. It may also use cookies or similar technologies.
reCAPTCHA is provided by Google and is subject to Google’s privacy terms.
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect:
- The data shown in the comments form
- The visitor’s IP address
- The browser user agent string
This helps with spam detection and site security.
Gravatar: An anonymized string (hash) created from your email address may be provided to Gravatar to check whether you have a profile image. If your comment is approved, your profile picture may be visible to the public alongside your comment.
Gravatar is operated by Automattic. Their privacy policy is available here (URL shown as reference):https://automattic.com/privacy/
Media uploads
If you upload images to the website, avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors may be able to download images and extract that data.
Cookies
We use cookies for site functionality and to support analytics and spam prevention.
If you leave a comment: You may opt in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies. These are for convenience and typically last one year.
If you visit our login page: A temporary cookie may be set to check whether your browser accepts cookies. It contains no personal data and is removed when you close your browser.
If you log in (admins/users):
- Login cookies typically last two days
- Screen preference cookies typically last one year
- If you select “Remember Me,” your login may persist for two weeks
- Logging out removes login cookies
If you edit or publish content (admins/authors): A cookie may be saved that indicates the post ID of the content you edited. It typically expires after 1 day.
Google Analytics and reCAPTCHA may also set cookies or use similar technologies depending on your settings and how those services operate.
Embedded content from other websites
Pages on this site may include embedded content (for example: videos, images, or articles). Embedded content behaves the same way as if you visited the other website directly.
Those websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with the embedded content—especially if you have an account with that service and are logged in.
Who we share your data with
We share data only as needed to operate this site and provide requested services. This may include:
- Google (GA4 analytics and reCAPTCHA spam prevention)
- Automattic/Gravatar (if you use Gravatar and comment on the site)
Password resets: If you request a password reset, your IP address may be included in the reset email.
We do not sell your personal information.
How long we retain your data
We keep personal information only as long as we have a reason to keep it for the purposes described in this policy (for example: responding to requests, maintaining site operations, security, and recordkeeping).
- Form submissions: Stored in WordPress and email. Retained as needed for communication and business records.
- Comments: Comments and related metadata may be retained indefinitely to help us recognize and approve follow-up comments.
- User accounts (if enabled): If you register for an account, we store the information in your user profile. You can edit or delete your profile information (username changes may be restricted). Site administrators can also view and edit that information.
Your rights over your data
If you have an account on this site, or you have left comments, you can request:
- An exported file of the personal data we hold about you, and/or
- Deletion of personal data we hold about you
This does not include information we must keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
To make a request, contact us using our site’s contact form.
Where your data is processed
Because we use third-party providers (including Google), some information may be processed outside of Wisconsin and may be processed outside of the United States.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as our site or tools change. The latest version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.