Last updated: 6 May 2026
Cookies Policy
Short version: HerStack sets one small record to remember your cookie-banner choice. If you accept in the banner, Google Analytics also sets a few cookies so we can see which articles are useful. If you decline, no analytics cookies are set. We do not run advertising, retargeting, or third-party tracking.
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website asks your browser to store. They let a site remember things between page loads — for example, that you have logged in, or that you have set a preference.
Cookies fall into two broad groups:
- Essential cookies — needed for the site to work at all. These do not require your consent under UK rules (PECR / UK GDPR), but we are still telling you about them.
- Non-essential cookies — analytics, advertising, personalisation. These do require consent before they are set.
What HerStack uses today
One essential entry to remember your cookie-banner choice, plus three Google Analytics cookies that only fire after you accept in that banner. If you decline, no analytics cookies are set and Google Analytics receives only anonymous, cookieless pings (Consent Mode v2).
| Name | Purpose | Type | Expiry | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
herstack-consent-v1 | Stores your cookie-banner choice (accept or decline) so the banner does not appear on every page load. | Essential / first-party (localStorage) | Until you clear it | HerStack |
_ga | Google Analytics 4. Identifies a returning visitor for aggregate reporting. Only set after you accept. | Analytics / first-party | 2 years | Google LLC |
_ga_XP3J4FH70J | Google Analytics 4 session-state cookie tied to our property ID. Only set after you accept. | Analytics / first-party | 2 years | Google LLC |
_gid | Google Analytics 4 (legacy) cookie used in some configurations to distinguish users. Only set after you accept; not always present. | Analytics / first-party | 24 hours | Google LLC |
Technical notes:
- The consent record is stored in your browser's localStorage, not as a network cookie. It is not sent to our servers.
- All network cookies set by HerStack or Google Analytics are flagged Secure, so they are only sent over HTTPS.
- Google Analytics is configured for Consent Mode v2: all storage flags default to denied and update to granted only when you accept in the cookie banner. Google Analytics data retention is set to 14 months in our property configuration.
We do not currently set:
- advertising or retargeting cookies,
- social-media tracking pixels,
- third-party cookies beyond Google Analytics.
You can change your cookie choice at any time using the "Cookie settings" link in the footer of every page.
We will not introduce advertising trackers, profiling cookies, or third-party marketing pixels without flagging them here in advance.
How to control cookies
You can manage cookies directly in your browser. The standard options let you:
- block all cookies,
- block third-party cookies,
- delete cookies on close,
- delete cookies for a specific site.
The major browsers all publish guides:
- Chrome:support.google.com/chrome → search "cookies"
- Safari:support.apple.com → search "manage cookies"
- Firefox:support.mozilla.org → search "cookies"
- Edge:support.microsoft.com → search "cookies"
If you block the herstack-consent-v1 entry, the cookie banner will reappear on every page load. If you block the Google Analytics cookies, the site still works normally; we just receive less aggregate information about which articles are read.
Privacy
Cookies are part of how we handle data, so this policy sits alongside our Privacy Policy. Please read both.
Contact
Questions about this page? privacy@herstack.co.uk