Last updated: 1 January 2025
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 efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide basic usage information to site operators.
Cookies set by the website you are visiting are called "first-party cookies." Cookies set by services other than the website you are visiting are called "third-party cookies." Third-party cookies can track you across multiple websites.
Afforvia uses only a minimal set of cookies, as described below. We do not use cookies for advertising, behavioral profiling, or tracking across third-party websites.
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for two purposes:
- Functional / Strictly Necessary: These cookies are essential for the Platform to function. They do not track you or collect personal data for marketing purposes. They cannot be disabled without impairing core Platform functionality.
- Analytical: These cookies help us understand how visitors use the Platform in aggregate, so we can improve its content and structure. They collect information in anonymized or pseudonymized form.
We do not use advertising cookies, social media tracking cookies, or any cookies designed to build profiles of individual users across the web.
Cookies We Set
| Name |
Type |
Purpose |
Duration |
afforvia_cookie_consent |
Necessary |
Stores your cookie consent preference (accepted or declined) so the consent banner is not shown on every page visit. |
Until browser data is cleared (localStorage) |
_ga (if analytics enabled) |
Analytics |
Google Analytics / privacy-friendly analytics — used to distinguish unique visitors in aggregate. IP addresses are anonymized. No personal profiles are built. |
2 years |
_ga_* (if analytics enabled) |
Analytics |
Stores and counts page views in aggregate to help us understand which content is most used. |
2 years |
Note: Analytical cookies are only set if you accept cookies via the consent banner. If you decline, only the strictly necessary consent preference cookie is stored.
Third-Party Cookies
If analytical cookies are enabled (with your consent), a third-party analytics provider may set cookies on your device. Afforvia configures any such provider with IP anonymization enabled and data sharing disabled. The analytics provider processes aggregate, anonymized data only for the purpose of providing Afforvia with site usage statistics.
The Platform does not embed social media share buttons, advertising networks, or other third-party elements that would set cookies without your knowledge.
The Platform does embed images from Unsplash and Pexels. These image providers do not set tracking cookies when images are embedded via direct URL.
The Platform loads web fonts from Google Fonts. Google may log the request (IP address and requested font) for operational purposes. This is subject to Google's own privacy policy. We do not control this behavior, though we preconnect to the Google Fonts domain to minimize information shared.
Managing Cookies
Browser Settings
All modern browsers allow you to control cookie behavior through their settings. You can typically:
- Block all cookies (note: this may impair Platform functionality);
- Block third-party cookies only (recommended as a privacy baseline);
- Delete existing cookies at any time;
- Receive a notification each time a cookie is set.
Instructions 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 → Cookies and site data
Withdrawing Consent
You can withdraw your cookie consent at any time by clearing the afforvia_cookie_consent key from your browser's localStorage (accessible via Developer Tools in most browsers). The consent banner will reappear on your next visit, allowing you to make a new choice.
Your Consent
When you first visit the Platform, a cookie consent banner is displayed. By clicking "Accept Cookies," you consent to the use of analytical cookies in addition to the strictly necessary functional cookie. By clicking "Decline," only the strictly necessary consent preference cookie is stored.
Strictly necessary cookies do not require your consent as they are essential for the Platform to function and do not collect personal data for tracking purposes.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.
