1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They contain information about your browsing activity and preferences. Cookies help websites recognize you when you return and can improve your user experience.
Most cookies are "session cookies" that expire when you close your browser, or "persistent cookies" that remain until you delete them or they expire.
2. How Cloud Scout Uses Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Maintain your login session and authentication
- Remember your preferences and settings
- Understand how you use our Service
- Improve and optimize the user experience
- Track and analyze service performance
- Detect and prevent fraudulent activities
- Deliver targeted notifications and messages
- Support analytics and research
3. Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Essential/Necessary Cookies
Purpose: These cookies are absolutely required for the Service to function properly.
Examples:
- Authentication cookies (login sessions)
- Session tokens
- CSRF protection tokens
- Security cookies
Expiration: Until you log out or session ends
3.2 Analytics Cookies
Purpose: Help us understand how users interact with our Service to improve functionality and user experience.
Tools Used:
- Google Analytics
- Custom analytics dashboards
- Performance monitoring tools
Expiration: Up to 24 months
3.3 Preference Cookies
Purpose: Remember your choices and settings to personalize your experience.
Examples:
- Language preferences
- Theme settings (dark/light mode)
- Notification preferences
- Display preferences
Expiration: Until deleted or 1-2 years
3.4 Marketing Cookies
Purpose: Track your activity across the web to deliver relevant advertisements and marketing content.
Note: These are only used with your explicit consent.
Expiration: Up to 2 years
4. Third-Party Cookies
We may allow third-party services to place cookies on your device to:
- Provide analytics services (Google Analytics)
- Enable payment processing
- Deliver customer support functionality
- Display social media integrations
These third parties have their own cookie policies and privacy practices. Please review their policies for more information.
5. How to Control Cookies
5.1 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through your browser settings. You can typically:
- Block all cookies
- Allow only certain types of cookies
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
- Block cookies from specific websites
Note: Disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of Cloud Scout.
5.2 Your Preferences
You can manage your cookie preferences in your Cloud Scout account settings at any time. You can:
- Opt out of analytics cookies
- Opt out of marketing cookies
- Control notification preferences
- Update privacy settings
5.3 Do Not Track
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature. We honor Do Not Track signals for analytics cookies when applicable.
6. Cookie Consent
When you first visit Cloud Scout, we display a cookie consent banner allowing you to:
- Accept all cookies
- Accept only essential cookies
- Customize your cookie preferences
- Reject non-essential cookies
You can change your cookie preferences at any time through your account settings.
7. Persistent Identifiers
In addition to cookies, we may use other persistent identifiers such as:
- Web beacons or pixels
- Local storage
- Session storage
- Device fingerprints (for security)
These serve similar purposes to cookies and can be managed similarly through your browser settings.
8. International Considerations
Depending on your location, you may have additional rights:
- EU/GDPR: You have the right to refuse or withdraw cookie consent at any time
- California/CCPA: You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information via cookies
- Other Jurisdictions: Additional rights may apply
9. Cookie Table
| Cookie Name | Type | Expiration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| session_id | Essential | Session | User authentication |
| _ga | Analytics | 24 months | Google Analytics tracking |
| preferences | Preference | 1 year | User settings |
| csrf_token | Essential | Session | CSRF protection |
10. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date above. Your continued use of Cloud Scout constitutes your acceptance of any updated Cookie Policy.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies:
Email: privacy@cloudscout.site
Support: support@cloudscout.site