Cookie Policy
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the site function properly, remember your preferences, and understand how you use the site. Some cookies are essential for the site to work; others help us improve your experience.
How We Use Cookies
wheretostudyaway.io uses a minimal set of cookies. We do not use cookies for advertising or to track you across other websites. Here is exactly what we use:
Essential Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Site to function. They cannot be disabled.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| __cf_bm | Cloudflare bot protection — prevents abuse and ensures the Site loads correctly | 30 minutes |
| cookie_consent | Stores your cookie consent preference so we don't ask you again on every page | 12 months |
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable features like saving your assessment progress so you don't lose your answers if you navigate away.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| assess_session | Stores your assessment progress so you can resume if you leave mid-assessment | 7 days |
| report_token | Authenticates your access to purchased reports | 30 days |
Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve it. We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) configured in a privacy-conscious way — with IP anonymisation enabled and no advertising features active.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics — distinguishes unique visitors using a randomly generated ID. No personally identifiable information is stored. | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics — maintains session state (page views, session duration) | 2 years |
Analytics cookies are only set after you click "Accept" on our cookie consent banner. If you decline, no analytics cookies are set.
Marketing Cookies
We may use marketing cookies for retargeting purposes, but only with your explicit opt-in consent. These are never set by default. If we introduce marketing cookies in the future, they will only activate after you explicitly accept them via our cookie consent banner.
Payment Cookies
When you make a purchase, our payment processor (Stripe) may set cookies necessary for secure payment processing.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| __stripe_* | Fraud prevention and secure payment processing — set by Stripe on their domain | Session / up to 2 years |
Third-Party Cookies
We do not allow any third parties to set advertising or tracking cookies on our Site. The only third-party cookies that may be present are from Cloudflare (hosting), Google Analytics (usage analytics), and Stripe (payments), as described above.
How to Manage Cookies
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Here's how for the most common browsers:
- 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 → Manage and delete cookies
Please note that disabling essential cookies may prevent parts of the Site from functioning correctly, including the assessment tool and report access.
Cookie Consent Mechanism
When you first visit our Site, you will see a cookie consent banner at the bottom of the page. You can choose to:
- Accept — enables all cookies including analytics
- Decline — only essential cookies remain active; analytics and marketing cookies are not set
Your choice is stored in the cookie_consent cookie for 12 months. You can change your preference at any time by clearing your cookies and revisiting the Site.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected by the "last updated" date at the top of this page.
Contact
For questions about our use of cookies, email hello@wheretostudyaway.io.