Data protection

1) Introduction and contact details of the controller

1.1 We are delighted that you are visiting our website and would like to thank you for your interest. Below, we explain how we handle your personal data when you use our website. Personal data refers to any data that can be used to identify you personally.

1.2 The data controller for this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is:

LanCologne UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Horbeller Str. 31
50858 Cologne
Germany

Telephone: +49 (0) 221 64306610
Fax: +49 (0) 221 64306611
E-mail: info@lancologne.de

The controller is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.

1.3 We have appointed an external data protection officer.
Our Data Protection Officer is:
Konrad Mauermann
Mauermann Expert Services
10 Tulip Lane
83083 Riedering

Telephone: +49 (0) 8036 3031 999
Email: info@it-forensik.bayern

If you have any questions regarding data protection or the processing of your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer directly. This applies in particular to matters relating to your rights as a data subject under the General Data Protection Regulation.

2) Data collection when visiting our website

2.1 When you use our website purely for information purposes – that is, if you do not register or otherwise provide us with information – we only collect the data that your browser transmits to the website server (so-called „Server log files“). When you visit our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display the website to you:

  • Our visited website
  • Date and time at the time of access
  • Amount of data sent in bytes
  • Source/reference from which you reached the page
  • Browser used
  • Operating system used
  • IP address used (if applicable: in anonymised form)

Data processing is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data will not be disclosed or used for any other purpose. However, we reserve the right to review the Server log files retrospectively should there be concrete indications of unlawful use.

2.2 For security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g. orders or enquiries to the data controller), this website uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the string „https://“ and the padlock icon in your browser address bar.

3) Cookies

To make your visit to our website more enjoyable and to enable you to use certain features, we use cookies – small text files that are stored on your device. Some of these cookies are automatically deleted when you close your browser (so-called „session cookies“), whilst others remain on your device for longer and enable page settings to be saved (so-called „persistent cookies“). In the latter case, you can find the storage period in the overview of your web browser’s cookie settings.

Where personal data is also processed by individual cookies we use, such processing is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, either for the performance of a contract; in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR where consent has been given; or in accordance with Article 6( (1)(f) of the GDPR to safeguard our legitimate interests in ensuring the best possible functionality of the website and a user-friendly and effective experience for visitors.

You can configure your browser so that you are notified when cookies are set and can decide on a case-by-case basis whether to accept them, or you can choose to block cookies in specific cases or generally.

Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.

4) Making contact

Personal data is collected when you contact us (e.g. via the contact form or by email). The data collected when using a contact form is specified on the relevant contact form. This data is stored and used solely for the purpose of responding to your enquiry or for establishing contact and the associated technical administration.

The legal basis for the processing of this data is our legitimate interest in responding to your enquiry in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. If the purpose of your enquiry is to enter into a contract, the additional legal basis for the processing is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. Your data will be deleted once your enquiry has been fully processed. This is the case when it is clear from the circumstances that the matter in question has been definitively resolved and provided that there are no statutory retention obligations to the contrary.

5) Google Tag Manager and conversion tracking

Google Tag Manager

This website uses Google Tag Manager, provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland („Google“). Google Tag Manager is a management tool that enables us to integrate and control the Google services described below on our website. When Google Tag Manager is loaded, a connection is established with Servern at Google, and your IP address is transmitted in the process. Google Tag Manager is only loaded once you have given your explicit consent via our „Cookie Consent Tool“ in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG. You may withdraw your consent at any time with future effect by deactivating the service in the „Cookie Consent Tool“.

Google Ads Conversion Tracking

We use Google Ads conversion tracking (provider: Google Ireland Limited, address as above) via Google Tag Manager. This enables us to measure whether visitors who have arrived at our website via one of our adverts on Google subsequently carry out specific actions on our website (so-called „conversions“). To this end, cookies (e.g. ‘_gcl_au’) are stored on or read from your device, and information about the ad click and the conversion is transmitted to Google, including your IP address. We only receive aggregated statistics from Google, such as the number of conversions, and no information that would allow us to identify you personally. According to Google, it also processes the data for conversion measurement as an independent data controller.

This processing, in particular the storage and retrieval of information on your device, will only take place if you have given your in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG. Without your consent, conversion tracking will not take place. You may withdraw your consent at any time with future effect by deactivating the service in the „Cookie Consent Tool“.

This may also involve data transfers to Google LLC, which is based in the USA. For data transfers to the USA, Google LLC is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which, on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission, ensures compliance with European data protection standards.

Further information is available at https://business.safety.google/intl/de/privacy/ and https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

6) Page features

Youtube

This website uses plugins to display and play videos from the following provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland

Data may also be transferred to: Google LLC, USA

When you visit a page on our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the provider’s Servern in order to load the plugin. In doing so, certain information, including your IP address, is transmitted to the provider.

If playback of embedded videos is initiated via the plugin, the provider also uses cookies to collect information about user behaviour, compile playback statistics and prevent abusive behaviour.

If you are logged into a user account with the provider whilst visiting the site, your data will be directly linked to your account when you click on a video. If you do not wish for your data to be linked to your account, you must log out before clicking the play button.

All the aforementioned processing activities, in particular the setting of cookies to retrieve information from the device you are using, will only take place if you have given us your explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You may withdraw the consent you have given at any time with future effect by deactivating this service via the „Cookie Consent Tool“ provided on the website.

For data transfers to the US, the provider has adhered to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which, on the basis of an adequacy decision by the European Commission, ensures compliance with European data protection standards.

7) Tools and miscellaneous

Cookie Consent Tool

This website uses a so-called „cookie consent tool“ to obtain valid user consent for cookies and cookie-based applications that require consent. The „cookie consent tool“ is displayed to users when they visit the site in the form of an interactive user interface, on which they can give their consent to specific cookies and/or cookie-based applications by ticking the relevant boxes. Through the use of this tool, all cookies and services requiring consent are only loaded once the user has given the relevant consent by ticking the appropriate boxes. This ensures that such cookies are only set on the user’s device once consent has been given.

The tool sets technically necessary cookies to save your cookie preferences. Personal user data is not processed in this context.

Should the processing of personal data (such as the IP address) nevertheless take place in individual cases for the purpose of storing, assigning or logging cookie settings, this is carried out in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in ensuring that our cookie consent management is legally compliant, user-specific and user-friendly, and consequently in ensuring that our website is designed in a legally compliant manner.

A further legal basis for the processing is Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR. As the data controller, we are subject to a legal obligation to make the use of cookies that are not technically necessary conditional upon the user’s consent.

Where necessary, we have concluded an order processing contract with the provider, which ensures the protection of the data of our website visitors and prohibits unauthorised disclosure to third parties.

Further information about the operator and the settings options for the cookie consent tool can be found directly in the relevant user interface on our website.

AI information assistant “Bubs”

On our website we offer “Bubs”, an AI-based information assistant. Bubs answers general questions about digital forensics and data recovery, for example about IT forensics, mobile forensics, digital evidence preservation and the process of an examination or enquiry with us. Bubs is not a natural person; the answers are generated automatically and may contain errors. Use is voluntary and possible without registration. It is not required in order to contact us; you can also reach us at any time by phone, by e-mail or via the contact form.

When you start the chat and send a message, it is transmitted via our web server to the AI service provider named below, which generates an answer from it. The connection to the AI service provider is established exclusively by our server; your browser does not connect to it directly, so the AI service provider does not receive your IP address. The text of your message, the previous messages of the current session (at most the last four exchanges) and excerpts from content on our website used to answer the question are transmitted. Recognisable passwords, login credentials, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and similar information are automatically masked before transmission where possible; complete detection cannot be technically guaranteed.

So that follow-up questions can be answered in context, we store the conversation history of the current session together with a randomly generated session identifier in our database. A session ends after two hours without activity, but no later than 24 hours after it began; the session data is then automatically deleted by an hourly clean-up. In addition, we store the conversations – your messages in the redacted form described above and the answers given by Bubs – together with a randomly generated conversation ID, the language, an automatic topic assignment and the time for 30 days in order to evaluate which questions visitors ask and to improve our information offering and the answers given by Bubs. IP addresses are not stored in this context. After the 30 days have expired, the conversations are deleted automatically by a daily deletion routine. Access is restricted to authorised persons at LanCologne; the conversations are not published or used for advertising purposes. The conversation ID is displayed to you in the chat; by stating it, you can request early deletion of your conversation at any time. If you rate an answer using the “Yes” or “No” buttons (helpful or not helpful), we store this rating together with the conversation. To protect against misuse and overload, we also process your IP address briefly and only in the form of an irreversible hash value, which is generated with a secret key that changes daily and is deleted after approximately two hours at the latest. For cost control, we only record aggregated usage figures without personal reference (e.g. number of requests per day).

Bubs does not set any cookies. So that the conversation can be continued when the page is reloaded in the same browser tab, the session identifier, the conversation history, your confirmation of the notice and, where applicable, a summary you have selected for transfer to the contact form are stored in your browser’s session storage (sessionStorage). This data is deleted automatically when the tab is closed; you can also remove the conversation data at any time using the “New conversation” button. Storage takes place in accordance with Section 25 (2) No. 2 TDDDG, as it is technically necessary for the chat you have expressly requested.

To generate the answers, we use the AI service of the following provider: Anthropic Ireland, Limited, 6th Floor, South Bank House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, D04 TR29, Ireland. Anthropic processes the transmitted content as a processor on our behalf. We have concluded a data processing agreement with Anthropic, which forms part of the provider’s contractual terms. Under these terms, Anthropic does not use the transmitted content to train its AI models.

Using the “Prepare enquiry” button, Bubs can create a short summary of your request at your request. For this purpose, your previous messages in the current session are transmitted again to the provider named above; names, contact details and login credentials are not included. The summary is not sent to us automatically. You can check and change it and transfer it to our contact form yourself, copy it or send it to us with your own e-mail program. We only receive the information when you submit the contact form or send the e-mail; in this respect, the information on contacting us in Section 4 of this privacy policy applies.

Where up-to-date or more extensive information is needed to answer a question, Bubs can search the internet using a search function provided by the provider. In doing so, the provider transmits search terms derived from your question to a search service it uses; your IP address is not transmitted. Bubs is instructed not to include any personal information from your message in search queries; however, this cannot be ruled out completely for technical reasons. This is another reason why we ask you not to enter any personal or confidential information in the chat.

According to the provider, inputs and outputs are generally deleted within 30 days when the application programming interface (API) is used. Longer storage by the provider is possible if content is classified by its automated safety systems as violating its usage policies (up to two years) or if there is a legal obligation to do so.

Processing by the provider may also take place outside the European Union or the European Economic Area, in particular in the USA, including by its sub-processors. For these transfers, the standard contractual clauses of the European Commission pursuant to Art. 46 (2) (c) GDPR have been agreed in the data processing agreement.

The legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interest lies in providing an efficient, low-threshold information and communication channel for prospective clients and visitors to our website and – with regard to storing the conversations for 30 days – in evaluating the questions asked in order to improve our information offering. Before you start the chat, we ask you to confirm that you have read the notice on its use.

Please do not enter any passwords, PINs, login credentials, file contents, evidence, confidential case information, health data or other particularly sensitive personal data in the chat. For case-related matters, please contact us directly.

Bubs provides general information only. Binding quotes, appointments and case-related, forensic or legal assessments are provided exclusively by us in person. Bubs does not conclude contracts and does not make decisions. No decision based solely on automated processing which produces legal effects or similarly significantly affects you within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR takes place.

Your rights as a data subject, in particular the right to object to processing based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, are set out in Section 8 of this privacy policy.

8) Rights of the data subject

8.1 Under current data protection law, you are entitled to the following data subject rights (rights of access and intervention) vis-à-vis the data controller with regard to the processing of your personal data; please refer to the legal basis cited for the respective conditions for exercising these rights:

  • Right of access under Article 15 of the GDPR;
  • Right to rectification under Article 16 of the GDPR;
  • Right to erasure under Article 17 of the GDPR;
  • Right to restriction of processing under Article 18 of the GDPR;
  • Right to be informed under Article 19 of the GDPR;
  • Right to data portability under Article 20 of the GDPR;
  • Right to withdraw consent already given in accordance with Article 7(3) of the GDPR;
  • Right to lodge a complaint under Article 77 of the GDPR.

8.2 RIGHT OF OBJECTION

IF, AS PART OF A BALANCING OF INTERESTS, WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA ON THE BASIS OF OUR OVERRIDING LEGITIMATE INTEREST, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME, ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, to object to such processing with effect for the future.

IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL CEASE PROCESSING THE DATA IN QUESTION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE PROCESSING, HOWEVER, IF WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR IF THE PROCESSING IS NECESSARY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS.

IF WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING. YOU MAY EXERCISE THIS RIGHT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OBJECT, WE WILL STOP PROCESSING THE DATA CONCERNED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES.

9) Duration of storage of personal data

The period for which personal data is stored is determined by the relevant legal basis, the purpose of the processing and – where applicable – the relevant statutory retention period (e.g. retention periods under commercial and tax law).

When processing personal data on the basis of explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR, the data in question will be stored until you withdraw your consent.

Where statutory retention periods apply to data processed in the context of contractual or quasi-contractual obligations on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, such data is routinely deleted upon expiry of the retention periods, provided that it is no longer required for the performance of a contract or for entering into a contract and/or we no longer have a legitimate interest in continuing to store it.

Where personal data is processed on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, such data will be stored until you exercise your right to object under Article 21(1) of the GDPR, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

When personal data is processed for the purposes of direct marketing on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, this data will be stored until you exercise your right to object under Article 21(2) of the GDPR.

Unless otherwise specified in the other information contained in this statement regarding specific processing situations, stored personal data will otherwise be erased when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed.