Effective date: September 4, 2026
Orthogonal Thinking explains how software, security, homelab infrastructure, and technical products work. This policy describes the information processed when you use orthogonal.info.
Information you provide
We may process information you choose to provide, such as a comment, a subscription address, or information included in a support request. Do not send credentials, private keys, account tokens, or other secrets.
Hosting and security logs
The hosting provider and content delivery network may process ordinary request metadata needed to deliver and secure the site. That can include an IP address, request time, requested path, browser information, and a referring page. These logs are used for availability, abuse prevention, debugging, and security. They are not sold.
Aggregate affiliate funnel measurement
Selected buying guides use a first-party aggregate counter to measure whether readers move from an information page to a buying guide and whether they click a direct Amazon link. The aggregate table stores only the date, public WordPress page ID, page type, CTA slot, event category, and a count.
The affiliate counter does not store an IP address, User-Agent, raw referrer, email address, customer identifier, session identifier, Amazon ASIN, or destination URL. Its event endpoint is excluded from the site’s Apache access log. Infrastructure providers may still process network metadata while carrying the request.
The browser uses a sessionStorage key containing the public page ID and date to avoid counting the same page view repeatedly within one browser tab. It is not an advertising cookie and is removed when that tab’s browser session ends. Aggregate click counts are best-effort measurements; they do not prove a person or a purchase.
Affiliate links
Some articles contain direct Amazon links using Store ID orthogonalinf-20. Those links are marked as sponsored, and a disclosure appears before the first affiliate link. When you follow a link to Amazon, Amazon processes the visit under its own privacy and affiliate policies. We do not receive your Amazon identity, order details, or payment information through the site counter.
Payments
If you choose a paid product or service elsewhere on the site, the payment provider processes payment and checkout information under its own policy. Orthogonal Thinking does not store complete card numbers.
Cookies and local browser storage
The public site does not currently run Google Analytics. WordPress may use cookies for logged-in users, comments, security, or requested functionality. The affiliate funnel described above uses sessionStorage rather than a persistent tracking cookie.
Service providers and sharing
We use service providers for hosting, content delivery, security, payment processing, and site operation. They receive only the information needed to provide those functions. We may disclose information when required by law or when necessary to protect users, the site, or our rights. We do not sell personal information.
Retention and security
Aggregate affiliate counts contain no visitor identifiers and may be retained for trend comparison. Operational and security logs are retained only as needed for service reliability, abuse investigation, and legal obligations. We use access controls and technical safeguards, but no internet service can guarantee absolute security.
Your choices and rights
You can avoid affiliate measurement by not opening a buying guide or affiliate link, clear sessionStorage by closing the tab, and control WordPress cookies through your browser. Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or object to processing of personal information about you that we process.
Children and international processing
This site is not directed to children under 13. Service providers may process data in countries other than your own, subject to their legal and security safeguards.
Changes and contact
Material changes will be reflected on this page with a new effective date. Use the public contact details on the About page for privacy requests.