Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

TechBide is an online cybersecurity training platform operated by Bilal Bashir, registered in England and Wales. Our website is techbide.co.uk. For data protection enquiries, contact us at: privacy@techbide.co.uk

2. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, including:

• Account data: name, email address, password (hashed)
• Purchase data: billing address, payment method details (processed securely via Stripe — we do not store card numbers)
• Contact data: messages sent through our contact form
• Training data: course progress, session notes, communications with your trainer
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on site (via cookies)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to:

• Provide and manage your course access and training sessions
• Process payments and issue receipts
• Send important service communications (account setup, session reminders)
• Respond to your enquiries
• Improve our website and services through anonymised analytics
• Send marketing emails if you have opted in (you can unsubscribe at any time)
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your data under the following legal bases:

• Contract: processing necessary to provide the services you purchased
• Legitimate interests: improving our services, fraud prevention, and security
• Consent: for marketing communications and optional cookies
• Legal obligation: for financial records and tax compliance

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with:

• Stripe: for secure payment processing
• Zoom / Google Meet: for delivering one-to-one training sessions
• Email service providers: for sending transactional and marketing emails
• Analytics providers: for anonymised website analytics
• Law enforcement: if required by law

All third-party providers are required to process data in accordance with applicable data protection law.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as required to provide you with services. Purchase records are kept for 7 years for tax and legal compliance. You may request deletion of your account at any time (subject to legal retention requirements).

7. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate personal data
• Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
• Restrict or object to processing
• Data portability
• Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@techbide.co.uk.

8. Cookies

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Essential cookies are necessary for the site to function. Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use the site. You can manage your cookie preferences through our cookie banner or your browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for full details.

9. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including SSL encryption, password hashing, and access controls. However, no internet transmission is completely secure and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or by displaying a notice on our website. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, contact us at:
Email: privacy@techbide.co.uk
Website: techbide.co.uk/contact