Privacy Policy

Your privacy is critically important to us. Here at Dyer Psychology, Inc we have a few fundamental principles:

We are thoughtful about the personal information we ask you to provide and the personal information that we collect about you through the operation of our services.
We store personal information for only as long as we have a reason to keep it.

We aim to make it as simple as possible for you to control what information on your website is shared publicly (or kept private), indexed by search engines, and permanently deleted.
We aim for full transparency on how we gather, use, and share your personal information.

Below is our Privacy Policy, which incorporates and clarifies these principles.

Who We Are and What This Policy Covers

This Privacy Policy applies to information that we collect about you when you use:

Scope of this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to the following:
- Our website (dyerpsy.com) and any associated subdomains.
- Mobile applications or other digital platforms provided by Dyer Psychology, Inc.
- Third-party services or websites that use our Services while you are logged into your account with us.
For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, we collectively refer to our website, mobile applications, and related products or services as “Services.”
Please note that this Privacy Policy does not apply to any third-party products, platforms, or services not directly provided by Dyer Psychology, Inc., including those that may have a separate privacy policy (e.g., third-party scheduling or payment systems).
Purpose of this Privacy Policy
Below, we explain how we collect, use, and share information about you, along with the choices you have regarding that information.

Information We Collect

We collect information about you only when we have a valid reason to do so—such as to provide our Services, communicate with you, or improve your experience with our Services.

We gather this information from the following sources:

Information You Provide: When you interact with us directly, such as by filling out forms, scheduling appointments, or contacting us.
Automatically Collected Information: Data gathered through the operation of our website or other Services, such as usage statistics, device information, and cookies.
Information from External Sources: Data from third-party services or platforms that you use to interact with our Services, if applicable.

Below, we detail the specific types of information we collect and how it is used.

Information You Provide to Us

It’s probably no surprise that we collect information that you provide to us directly. Here are some examples:

Information You Provide

It’s no surprise that we collect information you provide directly to us. Below are examples of the types of information we may collect:

Basic Information: When you engage with us, we may request basic information such as your name, email address, phone number, and other contact details to set up appointments, communicate with you, or provide our Services.
Communications: Any time you contact us—whether via email, phone, forms, or other methods—we may collect and store a record of those communications. This includes information you provide when responding to surveys, subscribing to newsletters, or seeking support.
Payment and Billing Information: If you make a purchase, such as paying for therapy sessions or related services, we collect personal and payment details like your name, billing address, and credit card information. We also maintain a record of your transactions for administrative purposes.
Content Information: If you share personal details through any forms, feedback, or uploaded files (e.g., documents for assessments or other related materials), we may collect and store this information to better serve your needs.
Public Information: If you voluntarily provide information that is intended to be public (e.g., reviews or testimonials), we may collect and display it with your consent.

We ensure that any information you provide is handled securely and in compliance with applicable laws. For more details, see the section on How We Use Your Information below.

Information We Collect Automatically

We also collect certain information automatically to help us improve our Services and understand how they are used. Below are examples of the types of information we may collect:

Log Information: Like most online service providers, we collect data that web browsers, mobile devices, and servers typically make available. This includes browser type, IP address, unique device identifiers, language preferences, referring sites, date and time of access, operating system, and mobile network information.
Usage Information: We gather information about how you interact with our Services, such as the pages you visit, the time spent on those pages, and the features you use. This helps us analyze trends and improve the user experience.
Location Information: We may approximate your location using your IP address. This data helps us understand geographic trends in how our Services are accessed. For mobile app users, we may collect precise location data if you permit access through your device’s settings.
Stored Information: If you use our mobile applications, we may access certain information stored on your device (e.g., photographs or files) when you grant us permission through your device’s operating system.
Information from Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies, such as pixel tags, to collect data about how visitors use our Services. These tools help us track website usage, preferences, and email campaign effectiveness, as well as deliver targeted content. For more details, refer to our Cookie Policy.

We use this information to provide and enhance our Services, gain insights into user behavior, and improve the overall experience.

Information We Collect from Other Sources

We may receive information about you from other sources to enhance our ability to provide services. For example:

If you schedule an appointment or interact with us through a third-party platform (such as a scheduling or telehealth service), we may receive basic information such as your name, email address, and contact details.
If you authorize another service (such as Google) to share information with us, we may collect data such as your username or basic profile details as permitted by that service’s authorization procedures.

The type of information we receive depends on the services you use or authorize and the options available through those services.

We may also receive limited information from third-party sources, such as mailing addresses, to communicate with prospective clients or for marketing purposes. For example, we may send informational mailers about our Services to individuals who may benefit from them.

How and Why We Use Information

Purposes for Using Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To Provide Our Services:
This includes setting up and maintaining your account, scheduling appointments, providing customer support, processing payments, and verifying user information.
To Ensure Quality, Maintain Safety, and Improve Our Services:
We monitor and analyze how our Services are used to identify areas for improvement, introduce new features, and ensure a safe and seamless experience for our clients.
To Market Our Services:
We use your information to tailor marketing efforts, such as sharing updates about new offerings or promotions that may interest you. We also analyze the effectiveness of our campaigns to improve how we communicate with potential and current clients.
To Protect Our Services and Users:
We take measures to detect and prevent security incidents, malicious activity, fraud, and other illegal actions. This includes complying with legal obligations and safeguarding the rights and property of Dyer Psychology, Inc. and its users.

To Address Issues or Fix Problems:
We use collected information to monitor, debug, and resolve any technical issues that may affect your experience.
To Customize Your Experience:
We strive to personalize your interactions with our Services, including tailoring notifications, recommendations, or other content to better suit your preferences.

To Communicate With You:
We use your information to reach out regarding appointments, account updates, or other important notices. We may also send tips, feedback requests, or promotional offers. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time, though you’ll still receive essential updates related to your account or services.

Legal Bases for Collecting and Using Information

For individuals in the European Union, our legal grounds for processing your information under EU data protection laws are as follows:

To Fulfill Our Commitments to You:
The use of your information is necessary to fulfill our obligations under applicable terms of service or agreements with you. For example, this includes enabling access to our website, scheduling services, or processing payments.
For Compliance with Legal Obligations:
We process your information when it is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
To Protect Vital Interests:
Processing is necessary to protect your vital interests or the interests of another person.
For Legitimate Interests:
We have a legitimate interest in using your information to:
- Provide and update our Services
- Enhance your user experience
- Safeguard and improve the security of our Services
- Communicate with you
- Measure and improve the effectiveness of our communication and marketing
- Monitor and address issues with our Services
- Personalize your experience with tailored content and recommendations
With Your Consent:
In specific instances, we rely on your consent. For example, this applies when placing certain cookies on your device and later accessing them, as outlined in our Cookie Policy.

If you have any questions about how we process your information or your rights under EU data protection laws, please contact us.

Sharing Information

How We Share Information

We share information about you in limited circumstances, and with appropriate safeguards on your privacy. These are spelled out below, as well as in the section called Ads and Analytics Services Provided by Others:

To protect rights, property, and others:

We may disclose information about you when we believe, in good faith, that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to:

Protect the property, rights, or safety of Dyer Psychology, Inc., third parties, or the public at large.
Respond to emergencies where there is an imminent risk of death or serious physical harm. For example, if we have a good faith belief that an emergency requires immediate action, we may disclose relevant information to address the situation without delay.

We handle such disclosures with the utmost care and in compliance with applicable laws and ethical guidelines.

Business transfers:

In the event of a merger, sale of company assets, or acquisition of all or part of our business by another company, user information may be transferred as part of the transaction. Additionally, in the unlikely event that Dyer Psychology, Inc. ceases operations or enters bankruptcy, user information may be considered a transferrable asset.

If such a transfer occurs, this Privacy Policy will continue to apply to your information. The party receiving your information will be required to use it only in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy.

Sharing information with your consent:

We may share or disclose your information with your explicit consent or at your direction. For example, we may share your information with third parties if you authorize us to do so for specific purposes, such as coordinating with other service providers or entities involved in your care.

Aggregated or de-identified information:

We may share information that has been aggregated or de-identified, ensuring it can no longer reasonably be used to identify you. For example, we may publish aggregate statistics about how our Services are used or share anonymized data to analyze trends or improve our offerings.

To protect rights, property, and others:

We may disclose information about you when we believe in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of Dyer Psychology, PLLC, third parties, or the public at large. For example, if we have a good faith belief that there is an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, we may disclose information related to the emergency without delay.

Business transfers:

In connection with any merger, sale of company assets, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company, or in the unlikely event that Dyer Psychology, PLLC goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would likely be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. If any of these events were to happen, this Privacy Policy would continue to apply to your information and the party receiving your information may continue to use your information, but only consistent with this Privacy Policy.

With your consent:

We may share and disclose information with your consent or at your direction. For example, we may share your information with third parties when you authorize us to do so, like when you connected your site to a social media service through our Publicize feature.

Aggregated or de-identified information:

We may share information that has been aggregated or de-identified, so that it can no longer reasonably be used to identify you. For instance, we may publish aggregate statistics about the use of our Services, or share a hashed version of your email address to facilitate customized ad campaigns on other platforms.

Site owners:

If you have a WordPress.com account and interact with another site using our Services, your information may be shared with the administrators of the site. For example, if you leave a comment on a site created on WordPress.com or running Jetpack, your IP address and the email address associated with your WordPress.com account may be shared with the administrator(s) of the site where you left the comment. Or if you make a payment (like via Recurring Payments) to a site, your public display name, user name, and email address may be shared with the administrator(s) of the site.

Subsidiaries and independent contractors:

We may disclose information about you to our subsidiaries and independent contractors who need the information to help us provide our Services or process the information on our behalf. We require our subsidiaries and independent contractors to follow this Privacy Policy for any personal information that we share with them.

Third-party vendors:

We may share information about you with third-party vendors who need the information in order to provide their services to us, or to provide their services to you or your site. This includes vendors that help us provide our Services to you (like Stripe, which powers WooCommerce Payments, payment providers that process your credit and debit card information, payment providers you use for your own ecommerce operations, fraud prevention services that allow us to analyze fraudulent payment transactions, cloud storage services, postal and email delivery services that help us stay in touch with you, customer chat and email support services that help us communicate with you, registrars, registries, and your hosting provider; those that assist us with our marketing efforts (e.g., by providing tools for identifying a specific marketing target group or improving our marketing campaigns, and by placing ads to market our services); those that help us understand and enhance our Services (like analytics providers); those that make tools to help us run our operations (like programs that help us with task management, scheduling, word processing, email and other communications, and collaboration among our teams); other third-party tools that help us manage operations; and companies that make products available on our websites (like the extensions on WooCommerce.com), who may need information about you in order to, for example, provide technical or other support services to you. We require vendors to agree to privacy commitments in order to share information with them. Other vendors are listed in our more specific policies (e.g., our Cookie Policy).

Legal and regulatory requirements:

We may disclose information about you in response to a subpoena, court order, or other governmental request. For more information on how we respond to requests for information about WordPress.com users, please see our Legal Guidelines. Additionally, if you have a domain registered with WordPress.com, we may share your information to comply with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) regulations, rules, or policies. For example, your information relating to your domain registration may be available in the WHOIS database, or we may be required to share your information with ICANN-approved Dispute Resolution Service Providers. Please see our Domain Registrations and Privacy support document for more details.

Published support requests:

If you send us a request for assistance (for example, via a support email or one of our other feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish that request in order to clarify or respond to your request, or to help us support other users.

Interaction with Third-Party Services

If you engage with third-party platforms or services in connection with our offerings, certain information may be shared with those third parties as necessary to facilitate the interaction. For example, if you schedule an appointment or make a payment through a third-party service integrated with our platform, your contact information and transaction details may be shared with the administrator or service provider to complete the process.

We ensure that such interactions are handled securely and in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.

Subsidiaries and independent contractors:

We may share information about you with our subsidiaries and independent contractors who require it to assist us in providing our Services or to process information on our behalf. These parties are obligated to adhere to this Privacy Policy and maintain the confidentiality and security of any personal information shared with them.

Third-party vendors:

We may share information about you with third-party vendors who require it to provide their services either to us or directly to you. These vendors support us in delivering our Services effectively and securely. Examples include:

Payment Processing: Vendors that process credit and debit card payments (e.g., payment gateways or processors).
Scheduling and Communication: Tools that assist with appointment scheduling, email communication, and customer support.
Data Storage and Security: Cloud storage providers that securely store data and fraud prevention services that analyze payment transactions.
Marketing Support: Vendors that help us target marketing efforts or improve the effectiveness of campaigns.
Operational Tools: Software used for task management, email communications, word processing, and team collaboration.
Analytics and Improvement: Tools that help us monitor, analyze, and enhance our Services for a better user experience.

We require all third-party vendors to adhere to strict privacy commitments to ensure your information is handled securely and in compliance with this Privacy Policy.

Legal and regulatory requirements:

We may disclose information about you in response to a subpoena, court order, or other lawful governmental request. Such disclosures are made in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

We ensure that any disclosure is carefully reviewed and handled in accordance with legal and ethical obligations, prioritizing the confidentiality and security of your information.

Published support requests:

Advertising and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Disclosure

We may display advertisements on our website to support the availability of certain services and resources. These advertisements help ensure access to valuable mental health information without financial barriers.

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), certain types of personalized advertising may be considered a “sale” of information, even though we do not share personally identifiable information such as your name or email address as part of our advertising program.

You have choices about how your information is used for advertising purposes. To learn more about your options and our advertising practices, please review our Privacy Policy or Cookie Policy.

Information Shared Publicly

Information that you choose to make public is — you guessed it — disclosed publicly.

Any information you choose to make public—such as posts, comments, or profile details—may be visible to others. For example, if you provide a testimonial or review for our services, this information could be displayed on our website with your consent.

Please keep in mind that when you share public content, it can be accessed by others. Be mindful of the information you choose to share, as it reflects your personal preferences and privacy choices.

Public content you share, such as testimonials or comments, may be accessible to others and could also be indexed by search engines or used by third parties. While we ensure compliance with our Privacy Policy, public information may still be visible to a wider audience.

Please keep this in mind when deciding what information you choose to share publicly. If you have concerns about privacy or visibility, we encourage you to contact us for further guidance.

How Long We Keep Information

We retain information about you only as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, as outlined in the section above on How and Why We Use Information, and in compliance with legal obligations.

For example, we keep server logs that record visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, and operating systems, for approximately 30 days. This helps us analyze website traffic, improve our services, and investigate technical issues should they arise.

When data is no longer needed for its original purpose and is not required to be retained by law, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Security

While no online service can be guaranteed 100% secure, we are committed to protecting your information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. We implement reasonable security measures and continuously monitor our systems for potential vulnerabilities and threats.

If applicable, we encourage you to take additional steps to safeguard your information, such as using strong passwords and enabling any advanced security settings available through the platforms you use to interact with us.

Your Rights

If you are located in certain regions, including California or countries subject to the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you may have specific rights regarding your personal information. These rights may include:

The right to access the personal data we hold about you.
The right to request corrections or updates to your personal information.
The right to request the deletion of your data, subject to applicable legal requirements.
The right to restrict or object to the processing of your data in certain circumstances.

For more information about your rights or to submit a request regarding your personal information, please contact us. We are committed to handling your data with transparency and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

If you are located in a country governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have specific rights regarding your personal data, subject to certain legal exemptions. These rights include the ability to:

Request Access: Obtain a copy of your personal data that we hold.
Request Correction or Deletion: Request that inaccuracies in your data be corrected or that your data be deleted, where permissible by law.
Object to Processing: Challenge our use or processing of your personal data.
Request Data Limitation: Ask us to limit how your personal data is used or processed in specific circumstances.
Request Data Portability: Receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, or request that it be transferred to another controller where technically feasible.

Additionally, you have the right to file a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe your rights have been violated or your data has been mishandled.

For any questions or requests regarding your data rights under the GDPR, please contact us directly. We are committed to addressing your concerns in compliance with applicable laws.

Choices

You have several choices available when it comes to information about you:

Limit the information that you provide:

If you have an account with us, providing optional account information, profile details, or transaction and billing information is your choice. However, please note that certain features of our Services may not be available without this information. For example, some premium services or offerings that require additional charges may be inaccessible if the necessary billing details are not provided.

Limit access to information on your mobile device:

Your mobile device’s operating system provides options to manage or restrict our ability to collect stored information or location data via mobile apps. If you choose to limit these permissions, certain features may be unavailable. For example, location-based functionality may be restricted if you disable access to location services.

Opt out of marketing communications:

You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from us at any time. Simply follow the instructions provided in the communication or contact us directly to let us know your preferences.

Please note that even if you opt out of promotional messages, we may still send you non-promotional communications, such as updates about your account, appointment reminders, or important legal notices.

Set your browser to reject cookies:

At this time, Dyer Psychology does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals sent by web browsers. However, you can manage your browser settings to remove or reject cookies. Please note that doing so may impact the functionality of certain features on our website, which rely on cookies to operate effectively.

For more information about how we use cookies and your options for managing them, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Opt out of our internal analytics program:

You can manage your preferences through your user settings to limit the information shared with our analytics tools. By opting out, no additional data about events or actions will be shared while you are logged in to your account.

For more details on managing your preferences and the use of cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Close your account:

While we’d be sorry to see you go, you may request to close your account if you no longer wish to use our Services. Please note that certain information may still be retained after account closure, as outlined in the section How Long We Keep Information.

For example, we may retain data to comply with legal obligations, respond to law enforcement requests, or support our legitimate business interests. This ensures compliance with applicable laws and the ability to address any future inquiries or issues related to your account.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) requires us to provide California residents with some additional information about the categories of personal information we collect and share, where we get that personal information, and how and why we use it.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires us to provide a list of the “categories” of personal information we collect, as defined by the law. In the past 12 months, Dyer Psychology, Inc. has collected the following categories of personal information from California residents, depending on the services used:

Identifiers: Such as your name, contact information, and device or online identifiers.
Commercial Information: Billing details and payment history related to our services.
Characteristics Protected by Law: For example, demographic details like gender if voluntarily provided as part of a research survey or assessment.
Internet or Other Electronic Network Activity Information: Information about your interactions with our website, such as the pages visited or forms submitted.
Geolocation Data: Approximate location based on your IP address.
Audio, Electronic, or Visual Information: Such as a profile photo if you upload one.
Professional or Employment-Related Information: Information provided as part of an intake form or during therapy sessions, where relevant.
Inferences: Insights derived from your interactions with us, such as preferences or trends related to your engagement with our services.

We use this information solely in compliance with the CCPA and other applicable privacy laws to deliver and improve our services.

If you are a California resident, the CCPA grants you additional rights regarding your personal information. Below is an overview of those rights:

Access to Information: You have the right to request details about the categories of personal information we collect, the purposes for collecting and using it, the sources of the information, the categories of third parties we share it with, and the specific pieces of information we have collected about you.
Deletion of Personal Information: You may request that we delete personal information we have collected or maintain, subject to certain legal exceptions.
Opt-Out of Sale: Although we do not sell personal information as defined under the CCPA, you have the right to opt out of any sale of personal information if it applies.
Non-Discrimination: You have the right to not be discriminated against for exercising your CCPA rights.

For more details about the personal information we collect, refer to the Information We Collect section above. To understand the purposes for which we use your data, see the How and Why We Use Information section. Information about sharing your data with third parties is described in the Sharing Information section.

If you wish to exercise your rights under the CCPA or have questions about your data, please contact us directly.

The CCPA & Personalized Advertising in Our Ads Program

At Dyer Psychology, our mission is to make mental health resources accessible to as many people as possible. To support this goal, we may display advertisements on our website, which generate revenue to help maintain and grow our services.

As part of our advertising program, cookies and other tracking technologies may be used to share certain device identifiers and browsing activity with our advertising partners. These partners may use this information to display personalized ads on our site.

The information shared as part of our advertising program may include:

Online Identifiers: Such as cookie data, device identifiers, and IP addresses.
Internet or Device Activity: Information about how you interact with our website.
Geolocation Data: Approximate location based on your IP address.

These disclosures may be considered a “sale” of information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). However, we do not sell or share information that identifies you personally, such as your name or contact details. Additionally, we do not knowingly sell personal information of individuals under the age of 16.

If you are a California resident, you can learn more about your rights and how to opt out of data sharing by visiting our California Privacy Policy.

Contacting Us About These Rights

You can typically access, update, or delete your personal data using the tools provided through your account settings. If you are unable to make these changes or wish to exercise other rights, please refer to the How to Reach Us section for contact details.

When you contact us to exercise your rights, we are required to verify your identity before making any changes, disclosing, or deleting your data. For example, if you are a client, we may ask you to contact us from the email address associated with your account or provide additional identifying information.

If you wish to designate an authorized agent to act on your behalf, you may do so by providing us with written authorization. Please note that even with an authorized agent, we may still require you to verify your identity directly with us.

How to Reach Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise any of the rights mentioned in the Your Rights section, please feel free to contact us. You can reach us by:

Using our web form.
Sending an email to [insert email address].

We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Other Things You Should Know (Keep Reading!)

Transferring Information

As Dyer Psychology, Inc. offers services worldwide, the information we process about you when you use our services in the European Union (EU) may be used, stored, or accessed by individuals or entities operating outside the European Economic Area (EEA). These entities may include our team members, affiliates, or third-party data processors. This is necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in the How and Why We Use Information section above.

When transferring your personal information outside the EEA, we take appropriate measures to ensure that your data is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws. These measures include:

For U.S.-based entities: Entering into European Commission-approved Standard Contractual Clauses or ensuring compliance with the EU-US Privacy Shield (if applicable).
For entities in other countries outside the EEA: Entering into European Commission-approved Standard Contractual Clauses.

If you would like more information about the steps we take to safeguard your personal data when transferring it from the EU, please feel free to contact us.

Privacy Policy Changes

Although most changes are likely to be minor, Dyer Psychology, Inc. may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We encourage visitors to check this page frequently for any updates or changes.

If changes are made, we will notify you by updating the revision date or change log below. In some cases, we may provide additional notice, such as posting a statement on our homepage or sending you a notification via email.

Your continued use of our Services after any updates to the Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

Ads and Analytics Services Provided by Others

Advertisements displayed on our Services may be provided by third-party advertising networks. Additionally, third parties may offer analytics services via our website. These advertising networks and analytics providers may use tracking technologies, such as cookies, to collect information about how you interact with our Services and other websites or online platforms.

These tracking technologies allow third parties to recognize your device and gather information about your usage patterns. This data helps us and other companies analyze usage trends, evaluate the popularity of certain content, and deliver ads that may align with your interests.

Please note that this Privacy Policy applies only to the collection and use of information by Dyer Psychology, Inc. We do not govern or control the data collection practices of third-party advertisers or analytics providers. For more information on their practices, please review their respective privacy policies.

Third-Party Software and Services

If you choose to interact with third-party tools, plugins, or embedded services integrated into our website or platform, please be aware that this may involve sharing certain information with those third parties. For example, some third-party services may require access to your data through tracking technologies, such as cookies or pixels, to function properly.

Please note that any data you provide to or is accessed by these third parties will be governed by their own privacy policies and practices. Dyer Psychology, Inc. does not own, control, or manage these third parties, and their policies regarding data collection, use, and sharing may differ from ours. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party service or tool before granting access or sharing your information.