What Are Cookies Anyway?

Cookies are tiny text files that get stored on your device when you visit websites. They're not programs and can't run code or deliver viruses. Most sites use them because they help websites remember information about your visit.

For example, if you adjust text size or choose a specific currency preference, a cookie remembers that choice. Without cookies, you'd have to reset your preferences every single time you visit a page.

We also use similar technologies like web beacons and pixels. These work differently but serve similar purposes – helping us understand how people use our site and what content proves most helpful.

How We Use These Technologies

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for controlling cookies on our site. The simplest method is clicking the rejection button above, which immediately removes all non-essential cookies and prevents new ones from being set.

Browser-Level Controls

Your browser provides built-in cookie management tools. Here's how different browsers handle this:

• Chrome users can access Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Cookies and site data
• Firefox offers Options, Privacy & Security, then Cookies and Site Data
• Safari provides Preferences, Privacy, then options to manage cookies
• Edge includes Settings, Cookies and site permissions, then Manage and delete cookies

Most browsers let you block all cookies, block third-party cookies only, or delete existing cookies. Just remember that blocking essential cookies will prevent certain site features from working properly.

What Happens When You Reject Cookies

Declining non-essential cookies means we stop collecting analytics data about your visit and won't show personalized content. Your preference settings won't save between sessions. The site still functions, but you'll lose some convenience features.

Essential cookies remain active because they're required for security and basic functionality. Without them, you couldn't access protected content or submit forms securely.

Third-Party Cookies

Sometimes other companies set cookies through our site. This happens when we embed content from external services or use tools provided by partners.

For instance, if we embed a video from a hosting platform, that platform might set its own cookies. Or when we use analytics services to understand site traffic, those services place cookies to track visitor behavior.

We choose partners carefully, but we can't control their cookie policies. If you want to know what third-party services set cookies through our site and how they use that data, check the privacy policies of those services directly.

Data Retention and Storage

Different cookies stick around for different lengths of time. Session cookies disappear when you close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually.

Most of our functional cookies last for about 12 months. Analytics cookies typically expire after 24 months. We review these timeframes regularly to make sure we're not holding onto data longer than necessary.

Your rejection preference gets stored in local storage, which means it persists even after cookies are cleared. This ensures your choice remains active across sessions.

Updates to This Policy

Technology changes and so do the tools we use. When we modify how we handle cookies, we'll update this policy and change the date at the top of the page.

Significant changes will be highlighted through a notice on our homepage. For minor updates – like correcting typos or clarifying existing practices – we'll simply update the policy without additional announcements.