1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help the site function, remember your preferences, keep you signed in, and understand how the site is used. We also use similar technologies such as local storage, pixels, and tags; in this Policy, "cookies" refers to all of them.
2. Who Sets Cookies
- First-party cookies are set by WhaleClues to operate and improve the Service.
- Third-party cookies are set by providers we use, such as our payment processor (e.g., Stripe), analytics provider, and any embedded content. These are governed by those providers' own policies.
3. Categories of Cookies We Use
a) Strictly Necessary (always on). Required for the site to function — e.g., authentication/session, security, load balancing, and remembering your cookie choices. These do not require consent.
b) Functional / Preferences. Remember choices such as language, theme, and layout to improve your experience.
c) Analytics / Performance. Help us understand how visitors use the site (pages viewed, features used, errors) so we can improve it. Used with consent where required.
d) Marketing / Attribution. Measure the performance of our campaigns and referrals (e.g., which channel or affiliate brought you to us). Used with consent where required. (We do not display third-party advertising inside the Service.)
4. Cookies We Use
The cookies and local storage used across the WhaleClues website (whaleclues.com) and the WhaleClues app. Third parties (Google, Stripe) may set additional cookies under their own policies.
| Cookie / Technology | Provider | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics | Analytics | Measures site usage on whaleclues.com | Up to 2 years |
| __stripe_mid | Stripe | Strictly necessary | Payment fraud prevention at checkout | 1 year |
| __stripe_sid | Stripe | Strictly necessary | Payment session security at checkout | ~30 minutes |
| Firebase Auth (local storage / IndexedDB) | Google Firebase | Strictly necessary | Keeps you signed in to the app | Until sign-out |
| theme (local storage) | WhaleClues (first-party) | Functional | Remembers your light/dark theme | Persistent |
| ref (local storage) | WhaleClues (first-party) | Marketing / Attribution | Remembers a referral code from a referral link | Persistent |
| flowline_product_category (local storage) | WhaleClues (first-party) | Functional | Remembers which product area you are viewing | Persistent |
| flowline.pricingCatalog.v1 (local storage) | WhaleClues (first-party) | Functional | Caches pricing for faster loads | 24 hours |
| flowline:auth-sync-error (session storage) | WhaleClues (first-party) | Strictly necessary | Shows a sign-in status message | Session |
5. Your Choices & How to Manage Cookies
- Consent banner (EU/UK and other applicable regions): when you first visit, you can accept or reject non-essential cookies. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be switched off. You can change your choices at any time via Cookie Settings.
- Browser controls: most browsers let you block or delete cookies in their settings. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may break parts of the site.
- Analytics opt-out: where applicable, you can opt out of analytics via its browser add-on or our consent banner.
- Global Privacy Control (GPC) / Do Not Track: We honor recognized GPC browser signals as a valid request to opt out of any "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under the CCPA/CPRA and similar laws. Note that we do not sell or share your personal information in the first place, so no data sale or sharing occurs regardless of the signal.
6. Legal Basis for Cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are used on the basis of our legitimate interest in operating the Service. For all non-essential cookies (functional, analytics, marketing), in the EU/UK and other regions that require it, we rely on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time through the cookie settings.
7. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as our site or the cookies we use change. We will post the updated version with a new "Last Updated" date and, where required, request renewed consent.
8. Contact
Questions about cookies: [email protected]
WhaleClues