Cookie Policy

1.What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device when you visit. They are widely used to make websites work, to remember choices you have made, and to provide information to site operators about how their service is used.

We also use technologies that work in a similar way to cookies, such as browser local storage. These let a site store small amounts of information directly in your browser. For example, your cookie consent choice is saved in your browser's local storage rather than in a traditional cookie, under the key "appfora-cookie-consent" (with the value "accepted" or "declined"). In this policy, references to cookies include these similar technologies unless we say otherwise.

2.How Appfora uses cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies for a limited set of purposes: to authenticate you and keep your session active, to protect the service against fraud and abuse, to remember your preferences (including your cookie consent choice), and to understand how the website is used so we can improve it.

We do not use cookies for advertising or marketing, and we do not build advertising profiles. As stated on our consent banner, we use cookies to analyse traffic and improve your experience, and no personal data is sold.

3.Categories of cookies we use

Strictly necessary

These cookies and storage items are essential for the website and the Appfora application to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They include authentication and session cookies that keep you signed in, security measures that help protect your account and our infrastructure, and the storage item that records your cookie consent preference (the "appfora-cookie-consent" key in your browser's local storage). Because these are required to deliver a service you have requested, they do not rely on your consent.

Analytics and performance

These help us understand how visitors use the website, for example which pages are visited and how the service performs, so we can improve it. We use [analytics provider] for this purpose. These technologies are only used where you have accepted them via the consent banner.

Functional and preferences

These allow the website to remember choices you make and to provide a more personalised experience, such as remembering settings you have configured. Some functional storage, such as your consent choice itself, is necessary; other functional cookies are used only where applicable to support features you have chosen to use.

4.Representative list of cookie purposes

The following describes the purposes for which we set cookies and similar technologies. This list is representative rather than exhaustive, and the specific items in use may change over time as the service evolves.

• Authentication and session: keep you signed in and maintain your session as you move between pages.
• Security: help protect your account and our infrastructure against fraud, abuse, and unauthorised access.
• Consent preference: remember whether you accepted or declined non-essential cookies (stored in browser local storage under "appfora-cookie-consent").
• Preferences: remember settings and choices you have made so you do not have to set them again.
• Analytics and performance: measure website traffic and performance via [analytics provider] so we can improve the experience.
• Payments: support secure checkout when you subscribe or update billing, handled through Stripe.

5.Third-party cookies

Some cookies are set by third parties that provide services on our behalf. These providers may set their own cookies when you interact with the relevant features, and their use of cookies is governed by their own policies.

• Stripe: our payment processor. Stripe may set cookies during checkout and billing to process payments securely and to help prevent fraud.
• [analytics provider]: our website analytics provider, used to measure traffic and performance where you have accepted analytics cookies.

We maintain Data Processing Agreements with our providers. This list of third parties is non-exhaustive and may change as the service evolves.

6.International data transfers

Some of our providers, including Stripe and our analytics provider, may process data outside the United Kingdom. Where cookie-related data is transferred outside the UK, we rely on appropriate safeguards recognised under UK GDPR, such as UK adequacy regulations or, where required, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or the International Data Transfer Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs). For more detail on how we handle international transfers, please see our Privacy Policy and GDPR page.

7.No advertising cookies and no sale of personal data

We do not use advertising or marketing cookies, and we do not use cookies to track you across other websites for advertising purposes. We do not sell personal data, and we do not share cookie data with advertising networks. Our use of cookies is limited to operating the service securely, remembering your preferences, and understanding and improving how the website is used.

8.How to manage and withdraw your consent

When you first visit appfora.io, our consent banner lets you accept or decline non-essential cookies. Strictly necessary cookies are always active because they are required for the service to work, but analytics and other non-essential technologies are only used where you accept them.

• Banner choice: use the Accept or Decline option on the consent banner to set your preference. Your choice is saved in your browser under the "appfora-cookie-consent" key.
• Change or withdraw consent: clear your browser's cookies and local storage for appfora.io to reset your choice; the banner will then appear again so you can make a new selection.
• Browser settings: most browsers let you block or delete cookies and manage site storage through their settings or privacy controls. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent parts of the service from working.
• Do Not Track: where your browser sends a Do Not Track signal, we will continue to honour the consent choice you make through our banner.

Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdrew it.

9.How long cookies last

Cookies and similar technologies last for different periods depending on their purpose.

• Session: temporary items that are deleted automatically when you close your browser; typically used for authentication and session management.
• Persistent: items that remain on your device until they expire or you delete them; typically used to remember preferences, such as your consent choice.

The exact duration of each cookie depends on its purpose and, for third-party cookies, on the relevant provider. You can remove persistent cookies and stored items at any time through your browser settings.

10.Related policies

This Cookie Policy forms part of our wider approach to privacy and data protection. For details on how we handle personal data, the legal bases we rely on, and the categories of data we process, please see our Privacy Policy. For information about your rights under UK GDPR and how to exercise them, including your right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as our supervisory authority, please see our GDPR page.

11.Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use, in our service, or in legal and regulatory requirements. When we make changes, we will update the date shown on this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12.Contact us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies, you can contact us using the details below.

• General and privacy enquiries: [email protected]
• Data protection enquiries: [email protected]
• Postal: Conso4s Ltd, [Conso4s Ltd registered office address]

Conso4s Ltd is registered in England and Wales (company number [company number]). Our ICO registration number is [ICO registration number].