Cookie Policy

At PIIRATE, we use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, improve our services, and provide personalized privacy protection. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and how you can manage your preferences with our advanced pirate-themed cookie management tools.

1WHAT ARE COOKIES

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit our website. They help us recognize your device and remember information about your visit, such as your preferred language and other settings. Think of them as digital breadcrumbs that help us provide a better pirate experience.

1.1 How Cookies Work

• Cookies are created when your browser loads our website
• They contain a unique identifier and other information
• Your browser sends cookies back to our server on subsequent visits
• This allows us to recognize you and personalize your privacy protection journey

1.2 Similar Technologies

We also use similar technologies such as:

• Local Storage: HTML5 local storage for maintaining preferences
• Session Storage: Temporary storage for current session data
• Web Beacons: Small images that track email opens and website usage
• Pixel Tags: Invisible pixels for analytics and conversion tracking

2TYPES OF COOKIES

2.1 By Duration

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted

2.2 By Origin

• First-Party Cookies: Set directly by PIIRATE on our domain
• Third-Party Cookies: Set by external services we use (analytics, payments, etc.)

2.3 By Purpose

3COOKIES WE USE

3.1 Essential Cookies (Always Active)

3.2 Functional Cookies

• user_preferences: Language, theme, and display settings
• privacy_score_progress: Saves calculator progress
• dashboard_layout: Customized dashboard preferences
• notification_settings: Email and alert preferences

3.3 Performance Cookies

• load_balancer: Optimizes server performance
• error_tracking: Helps identify and fix issues
• feature_flags: Enables gradual feature rollouts
• performance_metrics: Monitors page load times

4THIRD-PARTY COOKIES

4.1 Analytics Services

• Google Analytics: Website traffic and user behavior analysis
  • Cookies: _ga, _gid, _gat
  • Duration: 1-2 years
  • Purpose: Traffic analysis, user journey tracking

4.2 Payment Processing

• PayPal: Secure payment processing
  • Cookies: paypal_session, security_token
  • Duration: Session to 30 days
  • Purpose: Payment security and fraud prevention
• Stripe: Credit card processing
  • Cookies: stripe_session, payment_token
  • Duration: Session
  • Purpose: Secure payment handling

4.3 Communication Services

• SendGrid: Email delivery tracking
• Zendesk: Customer support chat functionality
• Intercom: In-app messaging and support

5ADVANCED COOKIE MANAGEMENT HUB

6BROWSER COOKIE CONTROLS

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

6.1 Popular Browser Instructions

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

6.2 Browser Cookie Settings

• Allow all cookies: Default setting, accepts all cookies
• Block third-party cookies: Only allows first-party cookies
• Block all cookies: Prevents all cookies (may break functionality)
• Automatic deletion: Delete cookies when browser closes

6.3 Do Not Track

We respect the "Do Not Track" (DNT) browser setting. When enabled, we:

• Limit data collection to essential functions only
• Disable non-essential analytics and tracking
• Respect your tracking preferences across our services

7MOBILE APP TRACKING

Our mobile applications use similar tracking technologies to cookies for analytics and functionality.

7.1 Mobile Identifiers

• Device ID: Unique identifier for your device
• Advertising ID: For advertising and analytics (iOS: IDFA, Android: AAID)
• App Instance ID: Unique identifier for app installation

7.2 Opt-Out Options

• iOS: Settings → Privacy → Apple Advertising → Limit Ad Tracking
• Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization
• In-App: Privacy settings within the PIIRATE app

8ANALYTICS AND PERFORMANCE TRACKING

8.1 What We Track

• Page Views: Which pages you visit and how often
• User Journey: How you navigate through our site
• Performance Metrics: Page load times and errors
• Device Information: Browser, OS, screen resolution
• Geographic Data: General location (country/city level)

8.2 Data Anonymization

• IP addresses are anonymized (last octet removed)
• Personal identifiers are excluded from analytics
• Data is aggregated to protect individual privacy
• Retention periods are limited to necessary timeframes

8.3 Google Analytics Configuration

• IP anonymization enabled
• Data sharing with Google disabled
• Advertising features disabled
• Demographics and interests reports disabled

9MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

9.1 Limited Marketing Use

As a privacy-focused company, we limit marketing cookies to essential conversion tracking and avoid intrusive advertising practices.

9.2 Conversion Tracking

• Service Signups: Track successful service purchases
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Monitor subscription sources
• Feature Usage: Understand which features are most valuable

9.3 No Behavioral Targeting

We do not use cookies for:

• Creating detailed behavioral profiles
• Sharing data with advertising networks
• Cross-site tracking for advertising purposes
• Selling or monetizing user data

10COOKIE CONSENT MANAGEMENT

10.1 Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject optional cookies
• Customize your preferences
• Learn more about our cookie usage

10.2 Consent Requirements

• Explicit Consent: Required for all non-essential cookies
• Informed Consent: Clear information about cookie purposes
• Granular Control: Ability to accept/reject by category
• Withdraw Consent: Easy to change preferences anytime

10.3 Consent Records

We maintain records of your consent including:

• Date and time of consent
• Consent preferences selected
• Method of consent (banner, settings page, etc.)
• Browser and device information

11DATA PROTECTION AND SECURITY

11.1 Cookie Data Security

• Encryption: Sensitive cookie data is encrypted
• Secure Transmission: Cookies sent only over HTTPS
• HttpOnly Flags: Security cookies protected from JavaScript access
• SameSite Attributes: Protection against CSRF attacks

11.2 Data Minimization

• Only collect necessary cookie data
• Regular review and cleanup of unnecessary cookies
• Shortest possible retention periods
• Automatic expiration of session cookies

11.3 Cross-Border Transfers

Some cookie data may be transferred internationally. We ensure adequate protection through:

• EU-US Data Privacy Framework compliance
• Standard Contractual Clauses with processors
• Privacy-first hosting and CDN providers

12UPDATES TO THIS COOKIE POLICY

12.1 Policy Changes

• Regular Updates: We may update this policy to reflect changes in technology or regulations
• Communication: Material changes will be communicated through website banner and email
• Minor Updates: Non-material updates will be posted with updated effective date
• Continued Use: Continued use implies acceptance of updated policy

12.2 New Cookie Categories

If we introduce new types of cookies, we will:

• Update this policy with clear descriptions
• Request renewed consent for new optional cookies
• Provide clear opt-out mechanisms
• Maintain granular control options

13CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about our cookie practices or to exercise your rights, contact our crew:

13.1 Cookie-Related Rights

• Information: Request details about cookies we use
• Consent Management: Change your cookie preferences
• Data Access: Request copy of cookie-related data
• Deletion: Request deletion of cookie data (where possible)