Our Privacy Policy explains our principles when it comes to the collection, processing, and storage of your information. This policy specifically explains how we, our partners, and users of our services deploy cookies, as well as the options you have to control them.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in. Cookies may be set by the site that you are visiting (known as “first party cookies”), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide advertising or analytics services on the website (“third party cookies”).

Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as “web beacons” or “pixels.” These are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. They are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted.

How we use cookies

We use cookies for a number of different purposes. Some cookies are necessary for technical reasons; some enable a personalized experience for both visitors and registered users; and some allow the display of advertising from selected third party networks. Some of these cookies may be set when a page is loaded, or when a visitor takes a particular action (clicking the “like” or “follow” button on a post, for example).

For more information on the choices you have about the cookies we use, please see the Controlling Cookies section below.

Where we place cookies

We set cookies in a number of different locations across our services. These include:

·         On our websites

·         In the administrative dashboards of our websites.

·         On sites we host for our users.

·         In the emails we send.

Types of Cookie

The table below explains the types of cookies we use on our websites and why we use them.

Category of cookies
Why we use these cookies
Strictly Necessary
These cookies are essential for websites on our services to perform their basic functions. These include those required to allow registered users to authenticate and perform account related functions, as well as to save the contents of virtual “carts” on sites that have an ecommerce functionality.
Functionality
These cookies are used to store preferences set by users such as account name, language, and location.
Security
We use these cookies to help identify and prevent potential security risks.
Analytics and Performance
Performance cookies collect information on how users interact with our websites, including what pages are visited most, as well as other analytical data. We use these details to improve how our websites function and to understand how users interact with them.
Advertising
These cookies are used to display relevant advertising to visitors who use our services or visit websites we host or provide, as well as to understand and report on the efficacy of ads served on our websites. They track details such as the number of unique visitors, the number of times particular ads have been displayed, and the number of clicks the ads have received. They are also used to build user profiles, including showing you ads based on products you’ve viewed or acts you have taken on our (and other) websites. These are set by Automattic and trusted third party networks, and are generally persistent in nature.
Third Party / Embedded Content
Sites hosted on WordPress.com make use of different third party applications and services to enhance the experience of website visitors. These include social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter (through the use of sharing buttons), or embedded content from Youtube and Vimeo. As a result, cookies may be set by these third parties, and used by them to track your online activity. We have no direct control over the information that is collected by these cookies.
User Sites

We utilize cookies for our Site Stats feature. This tallies the unique numbers of visitors to a site, as well as the number from specific geographic locations. A visitor is counted when we see a user or browser for the first time in a given period.

Examples

Below are examples of the cookies set by us, with explanations of their purpose. Some of these cookies are set across our whole network, whereas some are specific to individual services. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but rather aims to be representative.

Analytics and Performance

Cookie
Purpose
tk_*r
Referral cookies used to analyse referrer behavior
wp-affiliate-tracker
Remembers the ID of the affiliate that referred the current user
utma / utmb / utmc / utmt / utmz / ga / gat / gid
Google Analytics. Gathers information that helps us understand how visitors interact with our websites, which allow us to create a better experience for our visitors. Our users may also implement Google Analytics on their own websites.
Functionality

Cookie
Purpose
akm_mobile
Stores whether a user has chosen to view the mobile version of a website.
botdlang
Used to track the language a user has selected to view popular blogs in.
landingpage_currency
Defines the currency displayed  landing pages.
wordpress_logged_in*
Checks whether or not the current visitor is a logged in user
wp-settings-{user_id}
Persists a user’s configuration.
wp_sharing_{id}
Tracks whether or not a user has already performed an action.
Strictly Necessary

Cookie
Purpose
country_code
Used in order to determine whether or not the cookie banner should be shown. Set immediately on page load and retained for 6 hours to remember the visitor’s country.
sensitive_pixel_option
Remembers the state of visitor acceptance to the cookie banner. Only set when the visitor clicks Accept.
twostep_auth
Set when the user is logged in using two factor authentication.
wordpress_test_cookie
Checks if cookies are enabled to provide appropriate user experience.
Visitors to Site

Below are examples of the cookies set for visitors to our website.

Mobile Theme

Cookie Name
Purpose
akm_mobile
Remembers whether or not a user wishes to view the mobile version of a site.
Subscriptions

Cookie Name
Purpose
jetpack_comments_subscribe_{HASH}
Remembers the state of the post and comment subscription checkboxes.
jetpack_blog_subscribe_{HASH}
Remembers the state of the post and comment subscription checkboxes.
EU Cookie Law Banner

Cookie Name
Purpose
eucookielaw
Remembers the state of visitor acceptance to the EU Cookie Law banner.
Please note that this section is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather aims to be representative, and that our users may set additional cookies (such as Google Analytics), depending on the features they have chosen to enable or the plugins they have installed.

Controlling Cookies

Visitors may wish to restrict the use of cookies or completely prevent them from being set. Most browsers provide for ways to control cookie behavior such as the length of time they are stored – either through built-in functionality or by utilizing third party plugins. If you disable cookies, please be aware that some of the features of our service may not function correctly.

To find out more on how to manage and delete cookies, visit aboutcookies.org. For more details on your choices regarding use of your web browsing activity for interest-based advertising you may visit the following sites:

·         networkadvertising.org

·         optout.aboutads.info 

·         youradchoices.com

·         youronlinechoices.eu

On a mobile device, you may also be to adjust your settings to limit ad tracking.  

You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing Google’s opt-out browser add-on.

* Please note this consent feature was implemented on May 22, 2018.