Cookie Policy
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device when you visit. They serve various purposes including security, functionality, and analytics. Under UK law, websites must tell you about the cookies they use and obtain consent before setting any non-essential cookies.
2. Cookies We Use
CriticalIQ uses only strictly necessary cookies, set by our hosting provider Cloudflare for security purposes. These cookies do not require your consent under PECR because the website cannot function securely without them.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
__cf_bm | Cloudflare | Bot management — distinguishes humans from automated traffic | Strictly necessary | 30 minutes |
cf_clearance | Cloudflare | Security challenge clearance — records that you passed a security check | Strictly necessary | Up to 24 hours |
ciq_cookie_notice | CriticalIQ | Remembers that you dismissed the cookie notice banner | Strictly necessary | 90 days |
Cloudflare cookies may not always be set — they are only deployed when Cloudflare's security systems determine they are needed.
3. Cookies We Do Not Use
- Analytics cookies (e.g. Google Analytics, Hotjar, Plausible)
- Advertising or tracking cookies (e.g. Facebook Pixel, Google Ads)
- Social media cookies
- Third-party profiling or retargeting cookies
- Performance or A/B testing cookies
4. Local Storage & Session Storage
We do not store data in your browser's localStorage or sessionStorage. All data entered into comparison forms and PDF generators is processed in-memory within your browser session and is discarded when you close or navigate away from the page.
5. Third-Party Requests
When you visit CriticalIQ, your browser may make requests to the following third-party domains. These are not cookies, but they do involve your IP address being sent to an external server:
| Domain | Purpose | Data Sent |
|---|---|---|
fonts.googleapis.com | Font stylesheet (Outfit typeface) | IP address, user agent |
fonts.gstatic.com | Font file delivery | IP address |
cdnjs.cloudflare.com | JavaScript libraries (jsPDF for PDF generation) | IP address |
We plan to self-host fonts in a future update to reduce third-party requests. See our Privacy Policy for more information on international data transfers.
6. How to Manage Cookies
You can delete or block cookies through your browser settings:
Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect the security and functionality of the website.
7. Contact
Questions about our use of cookies? Email hello@criticaliq.co.uk