Cookie Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2024 | Last Updated: January 1, 2024
This Cookie Policy explains exactly what cookies and browser storage HoodServe uses on hoodserve.com. Read it alongside our Privacy Policy.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember things about your visit — such as whether you are logged in — so you don't have to repeat actions on every page. Third-party cookies are set by services other than HoodServe itself (such as Google).
Cookies We Use
| Category | What It Does | Cookies / Keys | Can You Opt Out? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Keeps you logged in, protects forms from CSRF attacks, maintains your session. Cannot be disabled — the Platform will not work without these. | Session ID, auth token, CSRF token | No |
| Functional / Preference | Remembers your cookie consent choice so the banner doesn't appear on every visit. | hs_cookie_consent (localStorage) |
Yes — clear browser localStorage to reset |
| Analytics | Google Analytics (GA4) shows us which pages are visited and where traffic comes from so we can improve the Platform. IP anonymization is enabled. No personally identifiable data is sent to Google. | _ga, _gid, _ga_* |
Yes — via cookie banner or GA opt-out tool |
| Advertising & Affiliate Tracking | Google AdSense may display ads on our blog pages. Affiliate networks (Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate, Impact, Admitad) set tracking cookies when you click affiliate links in blog posts. These cookies track whether a purchase was made so we can receive a referral commission. Ads and affiliate links appear on blog pages only, never inside the app dashboard. | AdSense: __gads, __gpi, NID, IDEAmazon: session-id, ubid-mainCJ/Impact/Admitad: click-tracking cookies |
Yes — via cookie banner. Choosing "Necessary Only" blocks AdSense cookies. |
| Security | Cloudflare Turnstile is used on all public-facing forms to verify submissions come from real humans, not bots. This is a security measure, not advertising tracking. | Cloudflare Turnstile cookies | No — required to submit any form |
Browser Storage (localStorage)
We use localStorage for one purpose: storing your cookie consent choice under the key hs_cookie_consent. This never leaves your device and is never sent to our servers. Clear it anytime via your browser developer tools or by clearing browsing data.
Cloudflare
HoodServe is delivered through Cloudflare's network. Cloudflare sets cookies such as __cf_bm and cf_clearance for bot protection, DDoS mitigation, and rate limiting. These are security cookies, not advertising or tracking cookies. See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics GA4 with IP anonymization enabled to understand aggregate traffic patterns. We do not use this data for advertising and do not share it with third parties.
Opt out across all websites: Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.
Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our public blog pages. AdSense is operated by Google LLC. When AdSense is active, Google may use cookies to:
- Show ads relevant to your interests based on your browsing history (interest-based advertising).
- Limit how many times you see the same ad.
- Measure the effectiveness of ad campaigns.
- Detect and prevent invalid (fraudulent) ad activity.
Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to HoodServe and other websites. You can opt out of interest-based advertising from Google at any time:
- Google Ad Settings
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Opt-Out
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Opt-Out
AdSense is governed by Google's Privacy Policy and Google's Advertising Policies.
Google Consent Mode v2: HoodServe implements Google Consent Mode v2. If you decline advertising cookies via our cookie banner, AdSense will not set advertising cookies and will only show non-personalized ads (or no ads, depending on Google's determination).
Affiliate Network Cookies
When you click an affiliate link in a HoodServe blog post, the affiliate network (Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate, Impact, Admitad, or others) places a tracking cookie on your browser. This cookie tells the merchant that you arrived from our site so we can receive a commission if you make a purchase. These cookies are:
- Set by the affiliate network, not by HoodServe directly.
- Only triggered when you actively click an affiliate link.
- Governed by the respective network's own privacy policy.
- Typically valid for 24 hours (Amazon) to 90 days (other networks).
You can avoid these cookies entirely by not clicking affiliate links, or by opting out of advertising/affiliate cookies in our cookie banner. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure.
Stripe (Payment Processing)
Stripe may set cookies on billing and checkout pages to process payments securely. These are governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy.
Your Cookie Choices
Cookie Banner
On your first visit a consent banner appears. Your options:
- Accept All — enables all cookie categories including AdSense advertising cookies on blog pages.
- Necessary Only — disables analytics and advertising cookies. The Platform works fully. Blog pages show non-personalized ads only (or no ads).
- Customize — toggle Analytics and Advertising independently.
Revisit your choices anytime via the 🍪 icon at the bottom-left of any page.
Global Privacy Control (GPC)
HoodServe honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal. If your browser has GPC enabled, analytics and advertising cookies are automatically disabled without any interaction needed.
Browser Settings
Changes to This Policy
We will update this page and its "Last Updated" date before adding any new cookies or tracking technologies. We will not silently add new tracking.
Contact Us
HoodServeEmail: privacy@hoodserve.com