1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) when you visit them. They are widely used to make websites work properly, improve user experience, and provide information to website owners.

Cookies can be categorized by:

Duration: "Session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser) vs. "Persistent" cookies (remain until they expire or you delete them)
Origin: "First-party" cookies (set by the website you're visiting) vs. "Third-party" cookies (set by other services like analytics providers)
Purpose: Essential, Analytics, Functional, or Marketing (we only use the first three)

2. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Remember your preferences: Such as your cookie consent choice
Understand usage: Learn how visitors use our site so we can improve it (with your consent)
Ensure security: Help protect our site from abuse

✓ We do NOT use cookies for:

Advertising or marketing
Tracking you across other websites
Building profiles about you
Selling data to third parties

3. Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

Always Active

These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function. They enable core functionality like remembering your privacy preferences. Without these cookies, the website cannot work properly.

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration	Type
cookieConsent	Stores your cookie preferences	12 months	First-party

Analytics Cookies

Requires Consent

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website. They collect information about pages visited, time spent, and how you arrived at our site. All data is anonymized.

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration	Provider
_ga	Distinguishes unique visitors	2 years	Google Analytics
_ga_*	Maintains session state	2 years	Google Analytics 4
_gid	Identifies visitors within 24h	24 hours	Google Analytics
_gat	Rate limits requests	1 minute	Google Analytics

Note: We use Google Analytics 4 with IP anonymization enabled. Your IP address is truncated before being stored. Learn more at Google's Privacy Policy.

Functional Cookies

Requires Consent

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization. They may remember preferences you've set to provide a more personalized experience.

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration	Type
We currently do not use functional cookies, but may add them as we introduce new features.

4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

4.1 Our Cookie Settings

The easiest way to manage cookies on The Fraud Codex is through our cookie consent system:

When you first visit, you'll see a cookie consent popup
Choose "Accept All," "Essential Only," or "Customize" to set your preferences
Change your preferences anytime by clicking "Cookie Settings" in the footer

To reset your preferences: Click "Cookie Settings" in our website footer. This will open the cookie consent dialog where you can update your choices.

4.2 Browser Settings

You can also control cookies through your browser. Most browsers let you:

See what cookies are stored and delete them
Block all cookies or third-party cookies
Clear cookies when you close your browser
Enable "Do Not Track" signals

Here's how to manage cookies in popular browsers:

Chrome Firefox Safari Edge

4.3 Google Analytics Opt-Out

To opt out of Google Analytics across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

5. Third-Party Cookies

The only third-party cookies we use are from Google Analytics (with your consent). We do not allow:

Advertising networks (Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, etc.)
Social media tracking (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn buttons)
Retargeting or remarketing services
Any other third-party tracking

For more information about how Google uses data, see How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites.

6. Local Storage

In addition to cookies, we use browser localStorage to store your preferences. Unlike cookies, localStorage data:

Doesn't expire automatically
Isn't sent to the server with each request
Stays on your device until you clear it

Key	Purpose	Data Stored
cookieConsent	Your cookie preferences	Consent status, timestamp, preference details

To clear localStorage: Open your browser's Developer Tools (F12) → Application tab → Local Storage → Right-click and "Clear."

7. Do Not Track Signals

"Do Not Track" (DNT) is a browser setting that sends a signal to websites requesting that they don't track your browsing activity.

We respect DNT signals. When we detect that you have DNT enabled, we will not load analytics cookies regardless of other consent settings. However, we recommend also using our cookie settings for the most reliable control.

8. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example when we:

Add or remove cookies
Change how we use cookies
Update our third-party providers
Respond to regulatory changes

When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy and may reset your cookie consent so you can review and accept the updated terms.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:

The Fraud Codex

Email: privacy@thefraudcodex.com

Website: www.thefraudcodex.com