Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device to help websites function, remember preferences, and analyze performance. Similar technologies include pixels, local storage, and device identifiers—this policy refers to all of them as “cookies.”

2. How We Use Cookies

• Essential: security, load balancing, and basic site functionality.
• Preferences: remember settings (e.g., dismissed banners).
• Analytics: understand traffic and engagement (e.g., Google Analytics 4, Microsoft Clarity).
• Advertising: serve and measure ads (e.g., Google AdSense) and attribute affiliate clicks.

3. Cookies We Use (Examples)

• GA4: analytics measurement (aggregate usage).
• Microsoft Clarity: heatmaps and session replay for UX improvement.
• Google AdSense: ad delivery and measurement; may use cookies for ad personalization.
• Affiliate tracking: outbound click attribution to retailers.

4. Your Choices

• Adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies.
• Manage Google ad personalization at Google Ad Settings.
• Use private browsing modes to limit cookie persistence.

5. Retention

Cookie durations vary by provider and purpose (e.g., session vs. persistent). Analytics data is retained in aggregate; we periodically review retention settings to minimize data kept longer than necessary.

6. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Changes are effective when posted with an updated “Effective date.”