Privacy Policy

Last updated: 4 May 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information Hirsch Index (“we”, “us”) collects when you visit hirschindex.com, why we collect it, and what you can do about it. We aim to be straightforward. If anything below is unclear, contact us via WhatsApp and we will explain.

We follow the principles of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as our baseline, which means the same protections apply to all visitors regardless of where they are located.

What we collect

This site is currently informational. We do not run user accounts, paid products, or marketing pixels. The data that does pass through is limited to:

• Visit data handled by our hosting and security provider (Cloudflare): IP address, browser type, pages requested, timestamps. This is standard server log information needed to deliver the page and to block abuse.
• Messages you send us: if you email us, your name, email address, and the contents of your message reach our inbox.
• Newsletter or contact-form submissions, if you submit one in the future. Today the site has no active form; if we add one, this policy will be updated before it goes live.

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16. We do not collect special-category data (health, religion, etc.) through this site.

How we use it

• To respond to your message or request.
• To keep the site online, fast, and secure (rate-limiting, bot mitigation).
• To understand which pages people read so we can improve them. We look at aggregate traffic, not individual profiles.

We do not run behavioural advertising. We do not build profiles. We do not use your data to train AI models. We do not sell or rent personal data to anyone.

Cookies

The site uses a small number of strictly necessary cookies set by Cloudflare for security and load-balancing (for example, __cf_bm and cf_clearance). These do not track you across other sites and are not used for advertising.

We do not currently set analytics, marketing, or social-media cookies. If we add any in the future, we will ask for your consent first via a cookie banner.

You can clear or block cookies in your browser settings. The site will keep working, though some security features may behave differently.

Third parties

The only third party that processes data on our behalf today is Cloudflare, Inc., which provides hosting, DNS, and security. Cloudflare may process your IP address and request metadata under its own privacy terms.

If you click an external link from our site (for example to a journal, social network, or partner), that destination has its own privacy policy and we are not responsible for it.

Where data is stored and how long

Server logs from Cloudflare are short-lived (typically a few days to a few weeks, per Cloudflare’s defaults). Email correspondence is kept for as long as it is useful to the conversation, and deleted on request. We do not keep personal data longer than we need it.

Your rights

Under GDPR and similar laws, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Delete your data (“right to be forgotten”).
• Restrict or object to certain processing.
• Receive a copy of your data in a portable format.
• Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.
• Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority in your country.

To exercise any of these rights, message us on WhatsApp. We will respond within 30 days. There is no charge.

Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect data, including HTTPS in transit and access controls on our inbox. No system is perfectly secure; if we ever suffer a breach that affects you, we will notify you without undue delay.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site evolves (for example, when we add a contact form or analytics). The “Last updated” date at the top will always reflect the current version. Material changes will be highlighted at the top of the page for at least 30 days.

Contact

Questions, requests, or concerns about your privacy:
Message us on WhatsApp