Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how HowToFixMe (howtofixme.com) uses cookies and similar technologies such as browser local storage, the categories we use, and how you — particularly visitors in the EU/EEA and the UK — can control them. It supplements our Privacy Policy.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files a website stores on your device. "Local storage" is a similar in-browser technology we use for preferences. Both let the site remember things between visits. Some are essential for the site to work; others measure traffic or, once we enable advertising, help show relevant ads.
Categories we use
1. Strictly necessary / functional (no consent required)
These make the site work and remember your choices. They do not track you across other sites and are exempt from consent under EU ePrivacy rules.
- Theme preference — stores your light/dark/system choice (local storage key htfm_theme).
- Recently viewed — remembers pages you opened on this device to show "Continue reading" (kept in local storage on your device only — never sent to us).
- Notice dismissals — remembers banners or notices you have closed so we do not show them again.
2. Advertising (Google AdSense) — consent-gated in the EU/EEA & UK
We intend to fund this free site with advertising provided by Google AdSense. When advertising is enabled, Google and its partners may set cookies to show ads and measure their performance, to personalize ads based on your prior visits (the Google DoubleClick/DART cookie) where you consent, and to cap ad frequency and detect fraud.
For visitors in the EU, EEA, and UK: these advertising cookies are not set until you give consent via our cookie-consent banner — a Google-certified Consent Management Platform (IAB TCF v2.2, with Google Consent Mode). You can accept, reject, or customise your choice and change it at any time. If you reject, you can still use the whole site and may see non-personalized ads where permitted.
3. Analytics
We may use privacy-respecting, aggregate analytics (for example Cloudflare Web Analytics or Google Analytics) to understand traffic patterns. Where these set non-essential cookies for EU/EEA/UK visitors, they are also consent-gated through the banner above; aggregate, non-identifying measurement may be used without cookies where permitted.
Third-party cookies
Advertising and analytics cookies are set by third parties under their own privacy policies, not ours:
- Google (AdSense / Analytics): policies.google.com/technologies/ads
- Cloudflare (CDN / security): cloudflare.com/privacypolicy
Your choices & how to control cookies
- Consent banner (EU/EEA/UK): use the cookie banner to accept, reject, or customise non-essential cookies, and to change your decision later.
- Personalized-ads opt-out: Google Ads Settings, aboutads.info (US), youronlinechoices.eu (EU).
- Browser controls: every major browser can block or delete cookies and clear local storage in its settings. Blocking strictly-necessary items may break features such as your saved theme.
"Do Not Track"
Our site does not currently respond differently to browser "Do Not Track" signals; we rely on the consent banner and the controls above.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as the site evolves (for example, when advertising goes live). Material changes will be noted with a new "Last updated" date.
Contact
Questions about cookies or your data: [email protected] · Operator: Sai Kiran Pandrala · See our full Privacy Policy.