Cookie Policy

This site uses cookies. Here's what that means and how to control them.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit websites. They help sites remember you, understand how you use them, and provide certain functionality.

Cookies can't:

• Access other files on your device
• Install malware or viruses
• Directly identify you personally (in most cases)
• Read your email or browsing history from other sites

They can:

• Remember your preferences
• Track which pages you visit
• Recognize when you return
• Help us understand how people use the site

What Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

Purpose: Basic site functionality and security

Examples:

• Session cookies (remember you're logged in, if we add login functionality)
• Security cookies (prevent fraud, protect against attacks)
• Load balancing cookies (distribute traffic across servers)

Can you block them? Technically yes, but the site may not work properly without these.

Lifespan: Session cookies expire when you close your browser; some persist longer for functionality.

Analytics Cookies

Purpose: Understand how visitors use the site

What we use: Google Analytics

What they track:

• Pages you visit
• How long you spend on pages
• How you found the site (search, social, direct)
• Approximate location (city/country level, not precise)
• Device and browser type
• General demographic information

What they don't track:

• Your name or personal identity
• Precise geolocation
• Content of forms before submission
• Medical information or health data

Can you block them? Yes, easily (see "How to Control Cookies" below)

Lifespan: Typically 2 years

Google's policy: Google Analytics Privacy Policy

Affiliate Cookies

Purpose: Track referrals so we earn commissions when you sign up for services

How they work:

• You click an affiliate link on our site
• The destination site sets a cookie
• If you sign up within the cookie's lifespan, we earn a commission
• The cookie expires after a set period (typically 30-90 days)

What they track:

• That you came from our site
• Which specific link you clicked
• Your activity on the destination site (per their privacy policy)

Can you block them? Yes, but we won't earn a commission for your referral if you do.

Important: Once you click an affiliate link, you're on the provider's site, and their cookies (and privacy policy) apply. We don't control their tracking practices.

No Third-Party Advertising Cookies (Currently)

We don't currently use:

• Third-party ad networks
• Behavioral advertising cookies
• Cross-site tracking for ad targeting
• Data broker pixels

If we add advertising in the future, we'll update this policy and notify visitors.

How We Use Cookie Data

Analytics Data

We use Google Analytics data to:

• See which content is most helpful
• Understand how people find the site
• Identify technical issues
• Improve site structure and navigation
• Measure overall traffic trends

We don't use analytics data to:

• Identify individuals personally
• Build detailed personal profiles
• Sell to data brokers
• Target you with creepy ads

Affiliate Data

Affiliate cookies help us:

• Earn commissions when you use our links
• Understand which providers readers prefer
• Measure the effectiveness of our reviews

We don't use affiliate data to:

• Track you across the web after you leave
• Share your information with multiple parties
• Build advertising profiles

How to Control Cookies

Browser Settings

All modern browsers let you control cookies:

Google Chrome:
Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data

Firefox:
Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data

Safari:
Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data

Microsoft Edge:
Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site data

You can:

• Block all cookies (may break site functionality)
• Block third-party cookies only
• Delete cookies after each session
• Delete all existing cookies

Google Analytics Opt-Out

Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

This prevents Google Analytics from tracking you across all sites, not just ours.

Do Not Track

We respect Do Not Track (DNT) signals where technically feasible. Most analytics platforms, including Google Analytics, don't natively honor DNT, but we've configured our implementation to anonymize IP addresses as a privacy measure.

Privacy-Focused Browsers

Browsers like Brave, DuckDuckGo, and Firefox Focus block many trackers by default.

Mobile Devices

iOS: Settings > Safari > Prevent Cross-Site Tracking

Android: Chrome > Settings > Privacy > "Do Not Track"

Cookie Details (Technical)

Our First-Party Cookies

Third-Party Cookies

Affiliate Network Cookies

Vary by provider and network. Set by destination sites after you click our affiliate links, not by our site directly.

Impact of Blocking Cookies

If You Block All Cookies:

• ✅ Enhanced privacy
• ❌ Site functionality may break
• ❌ We won't know you've visited before
• ❌ Preferences won't be saved
• ❌ Affiliate tracking won't work (we won't earn commissions)

If You Block Third-Party Cookies Only:

• ✅ Reduced cross-site tracking
• ✅ Most site functionality preserved
• ⚠️ Analytics still works (Google Analytics uses first-party cookies in some configurations)
• ⚠️ Affiliate tracking may be reduced

If You Block Analytics Cookies:

• ✅ We won't track your site usage
• ✅ Full site functionality preserved
• ❌ We can't improve content based on usage data

Contact Us

Questions about our cookie use?

Email: privacy@[domain].com

Response time: Within 5 business days

For general inquiries: support@[domain].com