Cookie Policy

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1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide information to website owners about how visitors use their sites.

Cookies typically contain two pieces of information: a unique identifier and some site-specific data. They are stored locally on your device and are sent back to the website on each subsequent visit, allowing the site to recognize you and remember your preferences.

Types of Technologies We Use

• Cookies: Small text files stored on your device
• Local Storage: Browser storage for larger amounts of data that persists across sessions
• Session Storage: Temporary storage that is cleared when you close your browser
• Web Beacons: Tiny graphics used to track page views and user actions

2. How We Use Cookies

Clear Window uses cookies and similar technologies for several important purposes:

Essential Functionality

• Authentication: Keeping you logged in securely as you navigate the platform
• Security: Protecting against fraudulent activity and maintaining platform integrity
• Session Management: Maintaining your session state and form data
• Anti-Brigading: Detecting and preventing coordinated manipulation attempts

User Preferences

• Theme Selection: Remembering if you prefer dark mode or light mode
• Language Settings: Storing your language preference
• Accessibility Options: Maintaining your accessibility settings
• Cookie Consent: Remembering your cookie preferences

Performance and Analytics

• Usage Patterns: Understanding how users interact with Clear Window
• Feature Optimization: Identifying which features are most valuable
• Error Tracking: Detecting and diagnosing technical issues
• Performance Monitoring: Measuring page load times and responsiveness

3. Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the platform to function properly. Without these cookies, services you have requested (like submitting reviews or logging in) cannot be provided. These cookies cannot be disabled through our cookie management system, but you can block them in your browser settings (though this may break site functionality).

Examples:

• Session authentication cookies
• Security tokens for CSRF protection
• Load balancing cookies

Functional Functional Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

Examples:

• Theme preference (dark/light mode)
• Language settings
• Regional preferences
• Accessibility settings

Analytics Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our platform by collecting and reporting information anonymously. They help us improve our service by identifying popular features, diagnosing technical issues, and understanding usage patterns.

Examples:

• Google Analytics cookies
• Page view tracking
• Feature usage statistics
• Performance metrics

4. Detailed Cookie Information

First-Party Cookies (Set by Clear Window)

Cookie Name	Type	Purpose	Duration
cw_session	Essential	Maintains your logged-in session and authenticates requests	Session (deleted when browser closes)
cw_theme	Functional	Remembers your dark/light mode preference	1 year
cw_csrf	Essential	Security token to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks	Session
cw_language	Functional	Stores your preferred language setting	6 months
cw_consent	Essential	Records your cookie consent preferences	1 year
cw_verification	Essential	Temporary cookie during verification process	24 hours

Local Storage Items

In addition to cookies, we use browser Local Storage to store:

• theme: Your dark/light mode preference
• draft_reviews: Temporary storage of review drafts (cleared after submission)
• accessibility_settings: Your accessibility preferences

5. Third-Party Cookies

We use carefully selected third-party services that may set their own cookies. These services help us provide a better experience and understand how our platform is used.

Analytics Services

Service	Purpose	Cookies Used	Privacy Policy
Google Analytics	Website analytics and usage statistics	_ga, _gid, _gat	Google Privacy Policy

Content Delivery

Service	Purpose	Privacy Policy
Google Fonts	Provides font files for consistent typography	Google Privacy Policy

6. How to Control Cookies

Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit Clear Window, you'll see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept All: Allow all cookies for the best experience
• Reject Optional: Only allow essential cookies required for core functionality
• Customize: Choose which types of cookies you want to allow

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer or by clearing your cookies and revisiting the site.

Browser Cookie Controls

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:

• View cookies stored by websites you visit
• Delete individual cookies or all cookies
• Block all cookies from being set
• Block only third-party cookies
• Set cookies to be deleted when you close your browser
• Create exceptions for specific websites

7. Browser-Specific Settings

Google Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu icon → Settings
2. Navigate to Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
3. Choose your cookie settings or click "See all cookies and site data" to manage individual cookies
4. Optional: Enable "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome"

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the menu button → Settings
2. Select Privacy & Security
3. Under "Cookies and Site Data," choose your preferences
4. Click "Manage Data" to view and delete specific cookies

Safari (macOS)

1. Click Safari → Preferences
2. Select the Privacy tab
3. Choose your cookie blocking preferences
4. Click "Manage Website Data" to view and remove specific cookies

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three-dot menu → Settings
2. Navigate to Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data
3. Choose your cookie preferences or manage specific sites

Safari (iOS)

1. Open Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap Safari
3. Under Privacy & Security, adjust cookie settings
4. Tap "Advanced" → "Website Data" to manage stored data

Chrome (Android)

1. Open Chrome app
2. Tap the three-dot menu → Settings
3. Tap Site settings → Cookies
4. Toggle cookies on or off, or manage exceptions

8. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling Essential Cookies

Blocking essential cookies will significantly impact your experience on Clear Window:

• Cannot log in: Authentication requires session cookies
• Cannot submit reviews: Security tokens are needed to prevent fraud
• Lost preferences: Your settings won't be saved between visits
• Reduced security: Protection against certain attacks may not function

Disabling Functional Cookies

If you disable functional cookies:

• Your theme preference (dark/light mode) won't be remembered
• Language settings will reset to default
• You'll need to reconfigure accessibility settings on each visit
• Some enhanced features may not work properly

Disabling Analytics Cookies

Disabling analytics cookies has minimal impact on functionality:

• All core features continue to work normally
• Your usage won't contribute to our improvement efforts
• We won't be able to understand how users interact with new features

9. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• The cookies we use
• How we use cookies and similar technologies
• Applicable laws and regulations
• Third-party services we integrate

When we make significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify you via email (if you have an account)
• Display a prominent notice on the platform
• Request renewed consent where required by law

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.

10. Contact Us