1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
🍪 Quick Overview
- What: Small text files stored on your device
- Why: Remember preferences, analyze usage, display relevant ads
- Who: SeoUstaad, Google (Analytics & AdSense), and other partners
- Control: You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings
1.1 How Cookies Work
When you visit our website:
- Your browser sends a request to our server
- Our server (or third-party servers like Google) sends back a cookie
- Your browser stores the cookie on your device
- On future visits, your browser sends the cookie back to the server
- The server uses the cookie to recognize you and customize your experience
2. Types of Cookies We Use
2.1 First-Party Cookies
These are cookies set by SeoUstaad directly:
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|
selected_country | Remembers your selected country (Australia or New Zealand) | 1 year | Essential |
calculation_mode | Remembers your preferred calculation mode (Add/Remove/Reverse GST) | Session | Functional |
cookie_consent | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year | Essential |
2.2 Third-Party Cookies
These are cookies set by external services we use:
Purpose: Understand how visitors use our site to improve user experience
Cookies:
_ga - Distinguishes unique users (2 years)_ga_<container-id> - Persists session state (2 years)_gid - Distinguishes users (24 hours)_gat - Throttles request rate (1 minute)
Data Collected: Page views, session duration, bounce rate, geographic location, device type, browser, referring sites
Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy
Opt-Out: Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on
Purpose: Display personalized advertisements based on your interests
Cookies:
__gads - Registers ad views and clicks (13 months)__gpi - Collects information about visitor behavior (13 months)IDE - Used by DoubleClick for ad targeting (13 months)test_cookie - Checks if browser accepts cookies (15 minutes)DSID - Identifies logged-in Google users for ad personalization (14 days)
Data Collected: Browsing history, ad interactions, demographic data, interests, location
Privacy Policy: Google Advertising Privacy
Opt-Out: Google Ad Settings
3. Cookie Categories
3.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)
Required: These cookies are essential for the website to function. They cannot be disabled.
Purpose:
- Enable core functionality (navigation, security)
- Remember your country selection (Australia vs New Zealand)
- Store cookie consent preferences
- Maintain session state during your visit
Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (necessary for service delivery)
3.2 Functional Cookies (Preferences)
Optional: These cookies enhance your experience but are not essential.
Purpose:
- Remember your calculation mode preference
- Save language and region settings
- Store interface customizations
Legal Basis: Consent (you can opt-out via browser settings)
3.3 Analytics Cookies (Performance)
Optional: Help us understand how you use the site.
Purpose:
- Track page views and popular content
- Measure site performance (load times, errors)
- Understand user behavior and navigation patterns
- Identify areas for improvement
Legal Basis: Consent (GDPR/CCPA) - You can opt-out using Google Analytics opt-out tool
3.4 Advertising Cookies (Targeting/Marketing)
Optional: Used to show personalized ads based on your interests.
Purpose:
- Display relevant ads based on your browsing history
- Limit the number of times you see an ad (frequency capping)
- Measure ad effectiveness (click-through rates, conversions)
- Build advertising profiles (demographics, interests)
Legal Basis: Consent (required under GDPR/CCPA for personalized ads)
4. How to Control and Delete Cookies
4.1 Browser Settings
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View which cookies are stored
- Delete cookies individually or all at once
- Block cookies from specific sites
- Block all third-party cookies
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
- Open Chrome Settings (Menu → Settings)
- Click "Privacy and security" → "Cookies and other site data"
- Choose "Block third-party cookies" or "See all cookies and site data"
- To delete: Click "Remove all" or select individual cookies
Chrome Help: Clear, enable, and manage cookies
- Open Firefox Options (Menu → Settings)
- Click "Privacy & Security"
- Under "Cookies and Site Data," click "Manage Data" or "Clear Data"
- Select enhanced tracking protection level
Firefox Help: Clear cookies and site data
- Open Safari Preferences (Safari → Preferences)
- Click "Privacy" tab
- Click "Manage Website Data" → "Remove All"
- Enable "Block all cookies" or "Prevent cross-site tracking"
Safari Help: Manage cookies
- Open Edge Settings (Menu → Settings)
- Click "Cookies and site permissions" → "Manage and delete cookies and site data"
- Click "See all cookies and site data" → "Remove all"
- Toggle "Block third-party cookies" on
Edge Help: Delete cookies
4.2 Mobile Devices
iOS (Safari)
- Settings → Safari
- Scroll to "Privacy & Security"
- Enable "Block All Cookies" or "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking"
- Clear History and Website Data
Android (Chrome)
- Chrome → Settings → Site settings
- Cookies → Block third-party cookies
- Storage → Clear site storage
- Delete browsing data
4.3 Opt-Out Tools
Use these industry opt-out tools to control advertising cookies:
Note: Blocking or deleting cookies may affect your experience on our site. Essential features may not work properly if you block all cookies.
5. Impact of Blocking Cookies
5.1 If You Block Essential Cookies
The site may not function correctly:
- Country selection may reset on every visit
- Calculation mode preferences won't be saved
- Security features may be impaired
5.2 If You Block Functional Cookies
- You'll need to re-select preferences each visit
- User interface customizations won't be remembered
5.3 If You Block Analytics Cookies
- We can't track how you use the site
- We can't identify areas for improvement
- Site performance monitoring is limited
5.4 If You Block Advertising Cookies
- You'll still see ads, but they'll be generic (non-personalized)
- Ads may be less relevant to your interests
- You may see the same ad repeatedly (no frequency capping)
6. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) option that sends a signal to websites requesting not to be tracked.
Current Status: There is no universal standard for recognizing DNT signals. We currently do not respond to DNT browser signals.
Alternative: Use the opt-out tools listed in Section 4.3 above to control tracking.
7. How Long Cookies Are Stored
| Cookie Type | Duration | Explanation |
|---|
| Session Cookies | Until browser closes | Temporary cookies deleted when you exit your browser |
| Persistent Cookies | 1 day to 2 years | Remain on your device until expiry date or manual deletion |
| Google Analytics | Up to 2 years | _ga cookie expires after 2 years of inactivity |
| Google AdSense | Up to 13 months | Ad-related cookies expire after 13 months |
8. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:
- Changes in our cookie usage
- New technologies or tracking methods
- Legal or regulatory requirements
- User feedback and best practices
Changes will be effective when posted with a new "Last Updated" date. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.
9. Contact Us About Cookies
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
Contact Information
Email: support@seoustaad.com
Website: https://seoustaad.com
Subject Line: "Cookie Policy Inquiry"
🔗 External Resources
Learn More About Cookies: