Cookie Policy
Last updated: 5 October 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Cerge Media uses cookies and similar technologies on cergemedia.com, what each type of cookie does, and how you can control them. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains more generally how we use personal data.
We use cookies in line with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the UK GDPR. In short, we set cookies that are strictly necessary for the website and shop to work, and we ask for your consent before setting any others.
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your computer, phone or tablet when you visit. They let the site remember information about your visit, such as what’s in your shopping basket, whether you’re logged in, or which cookie preferences you’ve chosen. Without cookies, a website would treat every page you load as if you’d just arrived.
Cookies set by the website you’re visiting are called first-party cookies. Cookies set by another organisation, such as an analytics provider, are called third-party cookies. Some cookies last only until you close your browser (session cookies), while others remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them (persistent cookies).
Similar technologies include local storage in your browser, pixels and scripts. When we say “cookies” in this policy, we include these technologies where they’re used for similar purposes.
The law on cookies
Under PECR, a website must tell you clearly about the cookies it uses and must get your consent before storing cookies on your device, unless the cookie is strictly necessary to provide a service you have asked for, such as keeping items in your basket as you move through the checkout. Consent must be a clear, positive action. We don’t treat simply continuing to browse as consent, and we don’t use pre-ticked boxes.
Categories of cookies we use
Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are needed for the website and shop to function, and they can’t be switched off in our systems. They let you add items to your basket and check out, log in to your account, and keep the site secure. They also store the choices you make in our cookie banner so we don’t keep asking. You can block them in your browser, but parts of the site, including the shop, won’t work properly if you do.
Functional cookies
These cookies remember choices you make to give you a more convenient experience, for example remembering your name and email when you leave a comment so you don’t have to type them in again. We set these only with your consent, or where you have actively asked for something to be remembered, for example by ticking “Save my name, email and website in this browser” on the comment form.
Analytics cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how readers use the site: which articles are read, how people arrive at them and where pages are slow or broken. This helps us improve the magazine. We may use analytics cookies, such as those set by Google Analytics, only with your consent. If you don’t consent, these cookies are not set.
Advertising cookies
Advertising cookies may be used by us or our advertising partners to show adverts that are more relevant to you, limit how often you see the same advert and measure how well campaigns perform. These cookies may track your browsing across different websites. We will set advertising cookies only if you consent to them through our cookie banner. If we are not currently running personalised advertising, no advertising cookies will be set even if you accept them.
Cookies used on this site
The table below lists the main cookies that may be set on cergemedia.com. Cookie names and durations can change when the software we use is updated, and the CookieYes banner shows the up-to-date list of cookies detected on the site, grouped by category.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Category | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cookieyes-consent | CookieYes | Stores your cookie preferences so the banner remembers your choices | Strictly necessary | 1 year |
| woocommerce_cart_hash | WooCommerce | Helps WooCommerce detect when the contents of your basket change | Strictly necessary | Session |
| woocommerce_items_in_cart | WooCommerce | Records whether there are items in your basket | Strictly necessary | Session |
| wp_woocommerce_session_* | WooCommerce | Holds a unique code for your visit so the shop can find your basket data | Strictly necessary | 2 days |
| wordpress_logged_in_* | WordPress | Keeps you logged in to your account | Strictly necessary | Session, or 14 days if you choose “Remember me” |
| wordpress_sec_* | WordPress | Stores authentication details securely when you are logged in | Strictly necessary | Session, or 14 days if you choose “Remember me” |
| wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress | Checks whether your browser accepts cookies when you log in | Strictly necessary | Session |
| wp-settings-*, wp-settings-time-* | WordPress | Remembers interface settings for logged-in users | Strictly necessary | 1 year |
| wfwaf-authcookie-* | Wordfence | Lets the Wordfence firewall recognise logged-in users so it doesn’t block legitimate activity | Strictly necessary | 12 hours |
| wf_loginalerted_* | Wordfence | Security feature used to detect new logins to administrator accounts | Strictly necessary | Up to 1 year |
| comment_author_*, comment_author_email_*, comment_author_url_* | WordPress | Remembers the details you entered on the comment form, if you ask it to | Functional | Up to 1 year |
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics (if used) | Distinguishes visitors and sessions to produce aggregate statistics | Analytics (consent only) | Up to 2 years |
Wordfence may also process your IP address on the server, without setting a cookie, in order to block malicious traffic. This is explained in our Privacy Policy.
How to manage cookies using our banner
When you first visit cergemedia.com, our cookie banner, provided by CookieYes, asks whether you accept non-essential cookies. You can:
- Accept all categories;
- Reject all non-essential cookies, leaving only those that are strictly necessary;
- Customise your choices by category, so you can, for example, allow analytics but refuse advertising cookies.
Rejecting is as easy as accepting. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the cookie settings icon or link that appears on every page of the site, which reopens the preference centre. If you withdraw consent, we will stop setting the relevant cookies from that point, although cookies already set may stay on your device until they expire or you delete them through your browser.
How to manage cookies in your browser
Most browsers let you see which cookies are stored, delete them individually or all at once, and block cookies from particular sites or from all sites. The relevant settings are usually found under “Privacy”, “Security” or “Site settings”. Each browser’s help pages explain how:
If you block all cookies, including strictly necessary ones, you won’t be able to use the shop or log in to an account. Clearing your cookies will also clear your cookie banner preferences, so you’ll be asked again on your next visit.
To opt out of Google Analytics across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. For more general information about cookies and how to control them, the Information Commissioner’s Office has guidance on its website at ico.org.uk.
Third-party content
Some articles may include embedded content from other sites, such as videos or social media posts. These services may set their own cookies when you view the embedded content. Where possible, we block such content until you have given consent for the relevant category, or show a placeholder that lets you choose to load it. These third parties’ use of cookies is governed by their own policies.
Changes to this policy
We review this Cookie Policy when we add or remove services that use cookies, and at least once a year. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last updated. If we make a change that requires your consent, our banner will ask you again.
Contact
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please email Cerge Media, London, United Kingdom, at [email protected].
