1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files that are stored on your device when you access or interact with our website. They serve a variety of purposes, ranging from keeping track of your preferences and settings to enabling us to analyze website usage and performance for security and technical maintenance. Cookies also allow us to remember information about your visit so that you do not have to re-enter details on subsequent visits. While many people view cookies as a technical tool to improve their online experience, they can also raise important issues regarding personal data protection.

In this document, the term "cookies" covers all similar technologies, including web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage objects. Our use of these technologies is guided by a commitment to transparency and the necessity of ensuring that data collected is used lawfully and with respect for the privacy of our users.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

We utilize several different types of cookies on our website, each fulfilling distinct purposes. The following classifications outline the types of cookies you may encounter:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the core functionalities of our website. They include cookies that enable page navigation, secure area access, and the correct operation of essential elements. Without these cookies, some parts of the website may not function correctly, and your user experience might be compromised.
• Performance Cookies: Performance cookies help us analyze how visitors use our website by collecting anonymous information about the pages visited, the duration of the visit, and any error messages encountered. These statistics help us improve the overall performance and usability of our website.
• Functionality Cookies: These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make during your visit, such as your preferred language or other customized settings. This enhances your experience by personalizing the site according to your past behavior and preferences.
• Targeting and Advertising Cookies: Although our website does not offer commercial services or transactions, these cookies may be used to compile user profiles or deliver advertisements that may be relevant on other platforms. We review third-party partnerships and advertising standards regularly to ensure compliance with applicable guidelines.

The use of these cookies is implemented with a focus on ensuring that any personal data remains secure and is used only in line with our privacy principles and regulatory requirements.

3. How We Use Cookies

At Skillmatchhub, our use of cookies is carefully structured to balance functionality with user privacy. The reasons for using cookies include:

• Managing session functionality to help you navigate the site in a more efficient manner.
• Personalizing content and tailoring the experience based on your past interactions. This includes remembering language preferences and settings for an optimal display.
• Providing aggregated statistical data to assist in the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the website’s design, ensuring that any issues are detected and resolved promptly.
• Enhancing security by identifying unusual behavior that may indicate unauthorized access or potential threats, thereby protecting both the website and its visitors from cyber risks.
• Delivering relevant content in instances where data from cookies is used to assess visitor interests, although this may also involve third-party technologies subject to stricter protocols.

Our methodology adheres to the principle of data minimization: only data that is necessary for the stated purposes is collected. We avoid gathering any extraneous information that does not add genuine value to our service or safeguard user privacy.

4. Data Protection and Legal Compliance

We are committed to protecting your privacy with robust security measures and transparent procedures. In alignment with relevant privacy laws and regulations, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other applicable federal or state laws, our use of cookies is subject to strict guidelines. These regulatory frameworks offer you certain rights over your information, such as the ability to request details about the data we have collected about you, to ask for its correction, and in some cases, to demand its deletion.

Our approach to data security includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect any data linked to your interactions on our website. This includes both encrypted data transmission and secure storage protocols to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction of personal information.

In addition, we periodically review our data management processes to ensure compliance with any changes in applicable laws or regulations. With data retention practices clearly defined, information collected via cookies is maintained only for the period necessary to fulfill its intended purposes, after which it is securely deleted or anonymized. Our retention policies are designed to prevent data accumulation beyond its useful period, aligning with modern privacy and cybersecurity standards.

5. Your Rights and Choices

We value your right to control your personal data. When it comes to cookies, you have a variety of options. Most web browsers are configured to accept cookies by default; however, you can change your browser settings to block or delete cookies at any time. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality or performance of our website, and you might not be able to access all the features we offer.

Under laws such as the CCPA, you have the right to:

• Request that we disclose what personal data we have collected through the use of cookies.
• Obtain information regarding the specific purposes for which this information is collected and the categories of third parties with whom it may be shared.
• Request the deletion of your personal data, including data accumulated via automatic tracking technologies, subject to legal and operational requirements.
• Opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal data where applicable, thereby allowing you to control how your personal information is distributed.

To adjust your cookie settings within your web browser, please consult your browser’s help documentation or settings menu. We recommend periodically reviewing these settings to ensure that they continue to meet your privacy preferences.

In instances where you believe that your rights under applicable laws have been infringed, you may have the option to initiate a request directly through our website's designated contact form or through the channels provided in our general privacy practices documentation.

6. Third-Party Cookies and External Content

Certain sections of our website may contain content provided by third parties, which could use cookies or similar tracking technologies independently. This Policy does not extend to the practices of such third parties. We urge you to review the privacy and cookie policies of any third-party sites you access from our website for specific information regarding those practices.

Although we exercise due diligence in vetting the external content and partners linked with us, our responsibility is limited to our site and its direct operations. No third-party privacy practices should be assumed to mirror our own.

7. Updates to Our Cookie Policy

We may modify this Cookie Usage Policy from time to time in response to changes in our operational practices, technological advancements, or evolving legal requirements. Any such changes will be reflected on this page and the effective date will be updated accordingly. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are using cookies and managing data privacy.

The updated version of our Policy will always apply to data collected from the effective date, and continued use of our website will be deemed as acceptance of any changes. Maintaining transparency is central to our approach, and as such, any major revisions will be communicated in a manner that is both clear and accessible.

8. Contacting Us Regarding Your Privacy

Your privacy is of paramount importance to us. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Usage Policy or our broader privacy practices, please refer to the contact options provided within our website’s privacy section. We are committed to addressing your concerns in a clear and timely manner. Should you wish to exercise any of your rights under the applicable consumer privacy laws, our dedicated procedures have been put in place to ensure your request is handled securely and efficiently.

While we are unable to provide direct contact details such as email addresses, telephone numbers, or physical addresses in this document, please use the designated communication forms available on our website to submit your inquiries or requests.