What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file a website asks your browser to store. Similar technologies — local storage, pixels, device identifiers — do comparable jobs, and everything said here applies to them too.
This site keeps its own use minimal. It stores no personal profile, no account and no tracking identifier of its own. The cookies that could identify you across sites come from third parties, and only if you allow them.
The categories
Strictly necessary
Needed for the site to work and to remember the choice you made about the other categories. These are set without consent because the site cannot function correctly without them, and they do not track you across sites.
Analytics (optional)
Counts of page views and referrers, so I know which guides get read and which need updating. Off until you allow them.
Advertising (optional)
Set by third-party ad networks to deliver ads, cap how often you see the same one, measure performance and, where allowed, personalize what you are shown. Off until you allow them.
What is stored
| Name | Type | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| ic-consent | Local storage | Records which cookie categories you allowed | 12 months |
| ic-consent-date | Local storage | When you made that choice, so consent can be refreshed | 12 months |
| ic-theme | Local storage | Remembers light or dark appearance | Until cleared |
| _ga / _ga_* | Third-party cookie | Analytics: distinguishes visitors, aggregate reporting | Up to 24 months |
| IDE / DSID | Third-party cookie | Advertising: ad delivery, measurement, personalization | Up to 13 months |
The last two rows describe categories rather than promises: exact names depend on the vendor in use, and this table is updated when a vendor changes.
Changing your choice
Use the cookie settings link, also in the footer of every page, to reopen the panel and change categories at any time.
You can also control cookies in your browser. Every major browser lets you block or delete them, and blocking third-party cookies entirely is a reasonable default that will not break this site:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection
- Safari: Settings → Privacy → Prevent cross-site tracking
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
If you clear your browser storage, your consent record disappears with it and the banner will ask again. That is the system working, not a bug.
Related documents
How the data behind these cookies is used, who receives it and what rights you have is set out in the privacy policy. Advertising opt-out links for third-party vendors are listed there too.