Cookie Policy
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar tracking technologies are, how and why we use them on alanwareham.com ("the Website"), and what choices you have regarding their use.
By continuing to use the Website after being presented with our cookie consent banner, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Cookie Policy. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the Website, at which point the consent banner will reappear.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and supply information to the site owners. Cookies can be "first-party" (set by the website you are visiting) or "third-party" (set by a service other than the website you are visiting). Cookies can also be "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent" cookies (which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually).
3. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies on the Website for the following purposes:
To ensure the Website functions correctly — some cookies are essential for the basic operation of the Website, such as remembering your cookie consent preferences and maintaining security.
To understand how visitors use our site — analytics cookies help us measure traffic, see which pages are popular, and understand how visitors navigate the Website so we can improve it.
To deliver relevant content and advertising — if enabled, marketing cookies may be used to track your activity across websites and deliver advertisements that are more relevant to you and your interests.
To remember your preferences — functional cookies allow the Website to remember choices you make, such as your preferred language or region, to provide a more personalised experience.
4. Types of Cookies We Use
4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually set only in response to actions you take, such as setting your privacy preferences or filling in forms. Without these cookies, certain services you have requested cannot be provided.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| cb_consent | alanwareham.com | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
| wordpress_sec_* | alanwareham.com | WordPress authentication and security | Session |
| wp_lang | alanwareham.com | Stores your language preference | Session |
4.2 Analytics & Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us understand which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and anonymous.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number | 2 years |
| ga* | Google Analytics | Used to persist session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Used to throttle the request rate | 1 minute |
Note: If you do not consent to analytics cookies, these will not be set.
4.3 Marketing & Advertising Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not directly store personal information but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Facebook/Meta | Used to deliver targeted advertisements | 3 months |
| fr | Facebook/Meta | Enables ad delivery and measurement | 3 months |
| IDE | Google/DoubleClick | Used for targeted advertising | 1 year |
| NID | Stores preferences and ad personalisation | 6 months |
Note: If you do not consent to marketing cookies, these will not be set. The specific cookies listed here depend on which advertising services are implemented on the Website and may change over time.
4.4 Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the Website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| wp-settings-* | alanwareham.com | Stores user interface customisation settings | 1 year |
| wp-settings-time-* | alanwareham.com | Records the time settings were set | 1 year |
Note: If you do not consent to functional cookies, some features of the Website may not work as intended.
5. Your Choices and How to Manage Cookies
5.1 Our Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit the Website, a cookie consent banner is displayed giving you the option to accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customise your preferences by toggling individual categories on or off. Your choice is stored in the cb_consent cookie for one year.
5.2 Changing Your Consent
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by deleting the cb_consent cookie from your browser. The next time you visit the Website, the consent banner will appear again and you can make a new selection. To delete cookies, follow the instructions for your browser:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies
5.3 Browser-Level Controls
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to block or alert you about cookies; however, please be aware that blocking all cookies may cause some parts of the Website to stop functioning correctly.
5.4 Opt-Out of Analytics
If you wish to opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
6. Other Tracking Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use other similar technologies such as web beacons (also known as pixel tags or clear GIFs) and local storage. Web beacons are tiny graphics with a unique identifier that are used to understand browsing activity. Unlike cookies, which are stored on your device, web beacons are embedded invisibly on web pages. We may use these in connection with the Website to track the activities of visitors, help us manage content, and compile usage statistics. We may also use these in our HTML-based emails to let us know which emails have been opened by recipients, which helps us gauge the effectiveness of our communications.
7. Third-Party Websites
The Website may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the cookie policy and privacy policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
8. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, regulation, our business operations, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date at the top. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us:
Alan Wareham
Email: alan @ alanwareham.com
Website: https://alanwareham.com
Last updated: March 2026