Welcome to The Lost Miles (https://thelostmiles.com). Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your data in compliance with Indian law (IT Act, DPDP Act, 2023), GDPR, and other global privacy standards.
1. Who We Are
Our website address is: https://thelostmiles.com. This is a travel blog sharing experiences, tips, and stories.
2. What We Collect & Why
a. Analytics Tracking
We use Google Analytics to understand how users interact with the site. Data collected may include:
- Browser type and device
- Pages visited and session duration
- Approximate location (e.g., city-level IP)
- Referring websites
This helps us improve the site experience. Data is anonymized and not linked to personal identity.
b. Comments
If you leave a comment on the site:
- We collect the data shown in the comment form (name, email, message)
- Your IP address and browser user agent string are also collected for spam detection
- If you’re using Gravatar, an anonymized hash may be sent to Gravatar to show your profile picture
c. Media Uploads
If you upload images (e.g., as a guest contributor), avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors may download and extract location data from images.
d. Cookies
We use cookies to enhance site performance and remember your preferences. Cookies may:
- Store your name, email, and website if you leave a comment
- Track session information (e.g., for logged-in users if applicable)
- Help with analytics tracking
You can disable cookies via your browser settings.
3. Embedded Content & Third-Party Links
Articles may include embedded content (e.g., YouTube videos, maps). Embedded content behaves as if you visited the third-party site directly, which may collect data, use cookies, or track your activity.
We are not responsible for the privacy policies of third-party sites.
4. How Long We Keep Data
- Comments and their metadata are stored indefinitely for moderation and continuity
- If users register (future feature), their profile information is stored until they delete it
- Login cookies expire after 2–14 days depending on settings
5. Where Your Data Goes
- Visitor comments may be checked through automated spam detection (e.g., Akismet)
- Analytics data is processed by Google Analytics, governed by Google’s Privacy Policy
6. Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated from time to time. Please revisit this page for the latest version.