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Privacy Policy

This policy explains what information Ctrl+Alt+Elite collects, how we use it, and the choices you have. We keep this short and plain on purpose.

September 18, 2026

1. Who we are and what this covers

Ctrl+Alt+Elite Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established September 8, 2023 in Wilmington, Delaware, EIN 93-3897750. Our mission is helping Black women break into cybersecurity, and allies are welcome. This Privacy Policy applies to this website and the forms and features on it. It does not cover other websites we link to, which have their own policies.

2. Information we collect

We collect only what we need to run the site and stay in touch with the people who ask us to. That is:

  • Newsletter signups. Your email address, and your first name if you choose to share it. The subscribe popup collects the same information.
  • Contact form submissions. Your name, email address, the category you select, and the message you send us.
  • Payment information. When you use our Stripe checkout, your payment details are collected and processed by Stripe. We do not receive or store your full card number. Stripe shares limited details with us, such as your name, email, and the amount, so we can record the transaction and provide the relevant purchase or donation support.
  • Compass progress. When you use our Compass career tool, your answers, the direction it finds, and where you left off are saved on your own device. If you create a free Compass account with your email, that same progress is also saved to our database so you can pick up on another device. You can export or delete all of it at any time.
  • Anonymous Compass analytics. Compass counts which steps people reach using a random id stored in your browser, so we can find where people get stuck and fix it. It carries no name, no email, and none of your answers, and there are no session recordings. It is on by default and disclosed here, and you can turn it off in one tap any time from the Compass privacy controls.

Outside of Compass, we do not run analytics or advertising trackers on this site, and we do not build behavioral profiles of visitors. We do not sell any of this information.

3. How we use your information

We use the information above to:

  • Respond to your messages and questions.
  • Send the newsletter and welcome emails you signed up for.
  • Send your Compass reading or packet when you ask us to email it, and occasional resources for your journey.
  • Save and resume your Compass progress across your devices, if you create an account.
  • Measure anonymously which Compass steps people reach, so we can fix the confusing parts. This is on by default and you can turn it off any time.
  • Process and acknowledge your donations.
  • Run, maintain, and improve the site.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for anyone else's advertising.

4. Third parties and service providers

We rely on a small set of trusted service providers to run the site. They process information on our behalf, and each has its own privacy policy:

5. Cookies and local storage

This site uses only essential and functional storage, the kind needed for the site to work properly. We do not use advertising cookies, and we do not load third-party ad trackers.

The Compass tool saves your progress in your browser's local storage so you can leave and come back, and it keeps small preferences the same way. That storage is functional, not advertising.

Compass analytics stores a single random id in your browser's local storage to count which steps are reached. It is anonymous, it sets no advertising cookies, and it carries no name, email, or answers. It is on by default and disclosed here and in our Terms; turning it off from the Compass privacy controls, or deleting your Compass data, removes that id, and you can change the choice any time.

If you are in the EU or UK, you have additional rights around cookies and personal data under laws like the GDPR and UK GDPR. The rights described below apply to you, and you can contact us to exercise them.

6. The Compass career tool

Compass is a free tool that helps you find a realistic first direction in cybersecurity. It is built to keep as little as possible and to keep it where you can see it.

  • Your data lives on your device first. Your answers, your direction, and where you stopped are saved in your browser. You do not need an account to use the whole tool.
  • An account is optional. If you create one with your email, we save your progress to our database (Supabase) so it follows you across devices. We ask for your clear yes before creating it, and we store only what we use.
  • Email is only ever a convenience. Nothing in Compass is locked behind giving an email. If you ask us to email your reading or packet, we use your address to send it and occasional resources, and every message has one-click unsubscribe.
  • Analytics is anonymous, on by default, and yours to turn off. We measure which steps people reach, never your answers, using an anonymous id. It is disclosed here and in our Terms rather than behind a pop-up, and you can turn it off in one tap. There are no session recordings.
  • We record it if you turn analytics off. If you opt out (or turn it back on), we keep a small record of that choice, when you made it, and which version of this notice it was under, so it is honest and auditable. Your export includes it, and a delete removes it.
  • Export and delete, any time. You can download everything Compass holds about you as a single file, or delete all of it, from your device and from your account, in one step.

7. Email and unsubscribing

Every newsletter and marketing email we send includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time. We honor opt-out requests promptly, in keeping with the US CAN-SPAM Act. We may still send you essential, non-marketing messages, such as a reply to a question you sent us or a receipt for a donation.

8. Your rights and choices

You can ask us to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correct information that is wrong or out of date.
  • Delete your information.
  • Opt out of our newsletter and marketing emails.

If you live in California, the CCPA gives you rights to know what personal information we collect, to request deletion, and not to be discriminated against for exercising those rights. As noted above, we do not sell personal information.

If you are in the EU or UK, you also have GDPR-style rights, including access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, and the right to object to certain processing. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below.

9. Data retention

We keep personal information only for as long as we need it for the purposes described in this policy, such as keeping you subscribed until you opt out, or keeping a record of a donation for our financial and legal obligations. When we no longer need it, we delete it or remove what identifies you.

10. Children's privacy

This site is not directed to children under 13, and in regions where a higher age applies, under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has given us their information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time as the site grows or the law changes. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. If the changes are significant, we will do our best to give you a clearer heads up.

12. How to contact us

For any privacy request or question, the easiest way to reach us is through our contact page. Choose “General” and describe your privacy request. Do not include passwords or payment card details.

This policy is governed by the laws of Delaware, USA.

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