Privacy Policy
This policy describes the information Bestopedia collects from visitors to bestopedia.com, how it is used, when it is disclosed, and how long it is kept. It is effective July 10, 2026.
Information collected
Visitors can read the site without creating an account or providing personal information. Bestopedia receives three kinds of information from visitors.
- Server logs. When a page is requested, the browser automatically transmits technical information, including the IP address, browser and device type, referring page, and the page requested. The web server records these requests in standard logs.
- Analytics. The site uses Google Analytics, which sets cookies on the visitor’s device and collects usage information such as the pages visited, the time and length of the visit, browser and device type, and approximate location. This information is collected and processed by Google.
- Email. A visitor who writes to hello@bestopedia.com provides an email address and the contents of the message.
Cookies
The Google Analytics cookies described above are the only cookies in use for readers; the site sets no advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. Analytics collection can be blocked with the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on or by disabling cookies in the browser. Every page of the site remains readable with cookies disabled.
Use
Server logs are used to deliver pages, maintain the security of the site, and diagnose technical problems. Analytics data is used to measure readership, understand which pages are read, and improve site performance. Email is used to respond to the sender and to act on the request, such as re-checking a profile against the official record. No visitor information is used for advertising, and no visitor is added to a mailing list without requesting it.
Disclosure
Bestopedia does not sell or rent personal information, and does not share it with any third party for marketing. Visitor information is disclosed in two circumstances: to the service providers that operate the site (the hosting provider, which stores server logs, and Google, which processes analytics data), and when disclosure is required by law, such as by a subpoena or court order.
Retention
Server logs and analytics data are kept for limited periods by the hosting and analytics services; Bestopedia does not maintain its own archive of visitor activity. Email correspondence is kept for as long as the matter it concerns requires.
Security
The site is served over HTTPS, and visitor information is accessible only to Bestopedia and the service providers named above. Bestopedia operates from the United States.
Do Not Track
Some browsers can send a “Do Not Track” signal. The site’s collection practices are the same for every visitor and do not change in response to this signal. The only collection beyond server logs is Google Analytics, which any visitor can block as described in the Cookies section.
Children
The site is a reference work about licensed businesses and is not directed to children. Bestopedia does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. A parent or guardian who believes a child has sent personal information to Bestopedia can request its deletion at hello@bestopedia.com.
Business profiles and links to other sites
Information about the licensed businesses profiled on the site comes from official government records and is addressed in the Terms of Use, not this policy. Profiles link to official government records, and pages may link to other external sites; those sites are operated by others under their own privacy practices, which this policy does not cover.
Privacy rights
Privacy laws in some jurisdictions give visitors rights over the personal information an organization holds about them. The California Consumer Privacy Act, for example, gives California residents the right to know what personal information is collected, to request a copy of it, to request its correction or deletion, and to opt out of its sale; other laws provide comparable rights. The visitor information Bestopedia holds is limited to server logs, analytics records, and email correspondence, and none of it is sold. Requests sent to hello@bestopedia.com are answered within the time applicable law requires, and exercising these rights does not affect access to the site.
Changes
Changes to this policy are posted on this page with a new effective date. If the site begins collecting information not described here, such as through optional reader accounts, this policy will be updated before that collection starts.
Contact
Questions about this policy: hello@bestopedia.com.