Cookie Policy

Effective Date: January 14, 2025

Last Updated: January 14, 2025

🔒 Your Privacy Matters

We respect your privacy and your right to control cookies. This website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. We will NOT place any non-essential cookies on your device until you provide your explicit consent through our cookie banner.

Essential cookies required for website functionality are exempt from consent requirements and are placed automatically to enable core features like security and accessibility.

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They help websites recognize your device on future visits and remember your preferences. Cookies can be "first-party" (set by the website you're visiting) or "third-party" (set by external services embedded on the website).

2. Cookie Consent Mechanism

When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner with the following options:

  • "Accept All" - Consent to all cookie categories
  • "Reject All" - Decline all non-essential cookies (equally prominent)
  • "Customize Settings" - Choose which cookie categories to accept

Important: Non-essential cookies are blocked and will NOT be placed on your device until you click "Accept All" or customize your preferences and save your choices. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer.

No Dark Patterns: Our cookie banner uses equal button sizing, neutral colors, and clear language. Accepting and rejecting cookies are equally easy - we will never manipulate you into accepting cookies through deceptive design.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

A. Essential Cookies (No Consent Required)

These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function and cannot be disabled. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. Without these cookies, services you have requested (like secure login or form submission) cannot be provided.

Cookie NamePurposeDurationProvider
session_idMaintains user session stateSessionStacktown
csrf_tokenSecurity protection against CSRF attacksSessionStacktown
cookie_consentStores your cookie preferences12 monthsStacktown

B. Analytics Cookies (Consent Required)

These cookies collect anonymous information about how visitors use our website, including which pages are visited most often and if visitors receive error messages. This helps us improve website performance and user experience. These cookies do NOT collect information that identifies individual visitors.

Cookie NamePurposeDurationProvider
_gaGoogle Analytics - distinguishes users2 yearsGoogle
_ga_*Google Analytics - persists session state2 yearsGoogle

C. Functionality Cookies (Consent Required)

These cookies remember your preferences and choices (such as language, region, or text size) to provide enhanced, personalized features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers.

Currently, we do not use functionality cookies.

D. Marketing/Advertising Cookies (Consent Required)

These cookies track your browsing activity to deliver targeted advertisements relevant to your interests. They may be shared with advertisers and other third parties.

Currently, we do not use marketing or advertising cookies.

4. Third-Party Cookies

We use limited third-party services that may set cookies on your device:

  • Google Analytics: Analyzes website usage to help us improve our services (requires your consent)

These third-party cookies are governed by the respective privacy policies of these external services. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies for more information:

5. Consent Records and Management

We maintain detailed records of your consent choices for legal compliance purposes.This includes:

  • Which cookie categories you accepted or rejected
  • The date and time you provided consent
  • Your IP address (for verification purposes)
  • The version of our cookie policy you consented to

Under GDPR Article 7, we retain these consent records for at least 5 years as proof of compliance. You can request a copy of your consent records by contacting us.

Granular Consent: You have the right to accept some cookie categories while rejecting others. Use the "Customize Settings" option in our cookie banner to make category-specific choices. Your preferences are saved and will be respected on future visits.

6. How to Manage and Withdraw Consent

A. Through Our Website

You can change or withdraw your cookie consent at any time by:

  • Clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer
  • Modifying your preferences and clicking "Save Choices"
  • Clicking "Reject All" to withdraw all non-essential cookie consent

When you withdraw consent, we will immediately stop setting new cookies of that type and delete existing cookies where possible (some may require browser deletion).

B. Through Your Browser

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. You can:

  • Block all cookies
  • Accept only first-party cookies
  • Delete cookies when you close your browser
  • Receive notification when cookies are set

C. Browser-Specific Instructions

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
  • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
  • Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

Impact of Blocking Cookies: Please note that blocking or deleting certain cookies may prevent parts of our website from functioning properly. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for the website to work.

7. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites you visit that you do not want your online activity tracked. Currently, there is no universal standard for how DNT signals should be interpreted. We respect your privacy choices made through our cookie banner, which provides clear, granular control over tracking technologies.

8. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes:

  • We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
  • You may be asked to re-consent to our updated cookie practices
  • A notice may appear on our website informing you of significant changes

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.

9. Your Privacy Rights Under GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have specific rights regarding cookies and tracking technologies:

  • Right to Consent: Freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent for non-essential cookies
  • Right to Withdraw: Withdraw consent at any time, as easily as it was given
  • Right to Object: Object to processing of personal data collected through cookies
  • Right to Access: Request access to data collected about you through cookies
  • Right to Deletion: Request deletion of data collected through cookies

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 11 below.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through cookies. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information through cookies, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such information.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, our use of cookies, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

  • Through our website contact form
  • Via the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer for immediate cookie preference changes

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days (or as required by applicable law).

✓ Our Commitment to Your Privacy

We are committed to transparency and respecting your privacy choices. You have complete control over non-essential cookies, and we will never use deceptive practices to manipulate your consent. Your trust is important to us.