Cookie Policy
Last updated: April 2026 | This policy is required under the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, improve user experience, and provide information to site owners. Some cookies are set by the website you visit ("first-party"), while others are set by third-party services embedded in the page ("third-party").
Your cookie choices are stored in localStorage and mirrored in a small first-party cookie (cc_prefs) so your preferences persist reliably when you return. Values stay on your device; we do not send this consent record to our servers.
2. How We Use Cookies
We classify cookies into four categories. Only necessary cookies are used without your consent. All other categories require your explicit opt-in.
3. Cookie Details
3.1 Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They do not track you for marketing purposes.
| Cookie / Storage Key | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
cc_prefs |
TheCloudChef.io | Stores your consent choices and timestamp (localStorage + first-party cookie mirror, SameSite=Lax, Secure). Not sent to our servers. |
6 months |
CONSENT |
Google / Blogger | Google's platform-level consent state used by Blogger infrastructure. | 2 years |
liked_* |
TheCloudChef.io | Stores whether you liked a specific article. localStorage only, never sent to server. | Persistent (until cleared) |
3.2 Analytics Cookies (Consent Required)
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the blog so we can improve content and performance. Analytics data is aggregated and anonymised. IP addresses are anonymised. These cookies are only set after you grant analytics consent.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga |
Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users. Stores a randomly generated client ID. Used to calculate session and user counts in reports. | 2 years |
_ga_XXXXXXXX |
Google Analytics 4 | Maintains session state and measurement ID for GA4. | 2 years |
Google Analytics data processing: Google Analytics Data Privacy and Security
3.3 Advertising Cookies (Consent Required)
These cookies are used by Google AdSense to serve relevant advertisements. If you decline advertising consent, only non-personalised (contextual) ads will be shown — these do not use cross-site tracking cookies. These cookies are only set after you grant advertising consent.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
IDE |
Google DoubleClick | Used to show Google ads that are relevant to you based on your browsing activity across websites. | 13 months |
NID |
Contains a unique ID used to remember your preferences and other information, including preferred language and number of search results. | 6 months | |
DSID |
Used to identify a signed-in Google user when they visit a non-Google website and enable ad targeting. | 2 weeks | |
__gads / __gpi |
Google AdSense | Registers ad data for frequency capping, click-fraud protection and ad reporting for the publisher. | 13 months |
Google AdSense cookie information: How Google uses cookies in advertising
3.4 Third-Party Embedded Content
Some articles may contain embedded content such as YouTube videos or GitHub Gists. If you interact with this content, those providers may set their own cookies. We have no control over these cookies. Please refer to the relevant third-party privacy policies:
4. How to Control Cookies
4.1 Via our Cookie Settings
You can update your consent at any time by clicking the Cookie Settings button (visible at the bottom-right of every page). Changes take effect immediately. Note that withdrawing consent does not retroactively delete cookies already set — to remove existing cookies, use your browser's cookie management tools.
4.2 Via your browser
All modern browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies:
4.3 Opt out of Google Analytics
You can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits across any site.
4.4 Opt out of personalised Google Ads
Visit Google Ad Settings or the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page to control interest-based advertising across the web.
5. Do Not Track
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. We respect this signal: when DNT is enabled in your browser, we do not load Google Analytics or AdSense scripts, regardless of your stored consent preferences.
6. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in the cookies we use or changes in applicable law. We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. The Cookie Settings banner will re-appear after 6 months to re-obtain consent.
7. Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, contact us at: contact@thecloudchef.io