Cookies and Similar Technologies
What are Cookies?
Cookies are files stored in your device's web browser when you visit some websites and apps.
What are Cookies used for?
Cookies are used to allow websites to operate, to make them more functional, personalised and also for security reasons.
Yet, as with any technology, cookies can also be used for nefarious means. One example would be tracking individuals, then using this personal identifying or behavioural data for commercial gain.
Cookies have bad PR at the moment, but they can be the best solution. It's often safer to store preferences on each users device, rather than in a centralised place, like in a database for example. To do this everyone would have to create accounts and they become an attack vector for bad actors. If users are the curators of their own data, it makes much harder for hackers to acquire large amounts of personal data.
What are similar technologies?
Since the introduction of HTML5 in 2008, there's also the ability to use browser storage. The most common are Local Storage and Session Storage. These are very similar to cookies, in that software can store data on users devices.
Our promise
We will never use cookies or browser storage for anything other than their harmless implementations. We only use these technologies when required and when we do, we will only use the bare minimum of data required to fulfil its function. If personal identifying data is absolutely necessary, we will anonymise that data and inform you of its use.
We aim to be as transparent as possible, yet without bombarding you with technical and legal jargon. Where it makes sense we'll give you control over how we use your data in cookies and similar technologies.
We believe that data protection laws and legislation require the user to opt-in to their consent, rather than assuming consent, before you (the user) has the chance to revoke.
Google ReCAPTCHA
What is Google ReCAPTCHA?
Google ReCAPTCHA is third-party software by Google. We use this service to protect our forms from spam and abuse.
What is its purpose?
Protection from spam and abuse
Category: Security
What data is stored?
User behaviour patterns
Remember me admin
What is Remember me admin?
Cookie name(s): remember_me
Cookie max duration: 6 months
Category: Preferences Data: Personal
What is its purpose?
Remembers you so you don't have to keep logging in
Category: Preferences
What data is stored?
Encypted username/email and password
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
These cookies don't store personal data, if this changes, they will appear in the section above and will require your consent.
hCaptcha
What is hCaptcha?
Cookie name(s):
Cookie max duration: ~6 months
Category: Security Third-party Data: Personal
What is its purpose?
Category: Security
What data is stored?
Preference, session, load balancing and statistical (first party) cookies
User cookie preference
What is User cookie preference?
Cookie name(s): user_cookie_preference
Cookie max duration: You decide. Default is 1 year. The max is 10 years
Category: Preferences Data: Not personal
What is its purpose?
Category: Preferences
What data is stored?
Encrypted cookie names and consent state (true/timestamp or false)
PHP Session
What is PHP Session?
Cookie name(s): PHPSESSID
Cookie max duration: Will be deleted after you close the browser
Category: Functionality Data: Not personal
What is its purpose?
Used to ensure site operates properly
Category: Functionality
What data is stored?
Random string of alphanumeric characters
XSRF Token
What is XSRF Token?
Cookie name(s): XSRF-TOKEN
Cookie max duration: Will be deleted after you close the browser Category: Security Data: Not personal
What is its purpose?
Category: Security
What data is stored?
Random string of alphanumeric characters
Lavarel Session
What is Laravel Session?
Cookie name(s): *_session
Cookie max duration: Will be deleted after you close the browser Category: Security Data: Not personal
What is its purpose?
Laravel (PHP Framework) uses this cookie to identify a session. Category: Security
What data is stored?
Randomly generated string of alphanumeric characters
Admin Area
What is Admin area?
Cookie name(s): step_dashboard, step_client_index Other technology: Our framework also uses local storage to store preferences throughout the admin area. Category: Preferences Data: Not personal
What is its purpose?
Category: Preferences
What data is stored?
A mixture of booleans (true/false or 0/1), timestamps (date and time in seconds), integers (numbers) and strings. No personal data
Third-party providers
We work with third-party providers like Google, who also set cookies for analytics and marketing purposes. This list may not be exhaustive, but we commit to keeping it updated based on information from these providers. Please see the following resources for more detailed information about the cookies set by Google: