Cookie Policy
Last Updated: January 1, 2026
Francisco Santos ("we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and understand how visitors interact with our services. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.
This Cookie Policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy, which provides detailed information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal data.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, improve user experience, and provide information to website owners.
Cookies can be "session cookies" (which are deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them).
2. Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies on our website:
a) Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)
Purpose: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or filling out forms.
Examples:
- Cookie consent preferences (remembering whether you've accepted cookies)
- Session management cookies
- Security cookies to prevent fraudulent activity
Retention Period: Session cookies (deleted when browser closes) or up to 1 year for preference cookies.
Legal Basis: These cookies are essential for the website to function and do not require consent under GDPR.
b) Analytics & Performance Cookies
Purpose: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This allows us to improve website functionality, content, and user experience.
Service Used: Google Analytics
Data Collected:
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Browser type and device information
- Anonymized IP addresses (IP anonymization is enabled)
- Referring website or source of traffic
- User interactions (clicks, scrolls, form submissions)
Google Analytics Cookies:
_ga: Distinguishes unique users (expires after 2 years)_ga_<container-id>: Persists session state (expires after 2 years)_gid: Distinguishes users (expires after 24 hours)
Retention Period: Up to 26 months (Google Analytics default setting).
Opt-Out: You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Privacy Policy: Google Privacy & Terms
c) Marketing & Functionality Cookies
Purpose: These cookies are used to deliver personalized content, manage email subscriptions, and track the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
Service Used: MailerLite
Data Collected:
- Email subscription preferences
- Newsletter sign-up interactions
- Email campaign performance (open rates, clicks)
Retention Period: Varies by cookie type, typically up to 1 year.
Privacy Policy: MailerLite Privacy Policy
MailerLite is GDPR-compliant and processes data within the EU.
d) Hosting & Infrastructure Cookies
Purpose: Our website is hosted on Netlify, which may set cookies for performance optimization, security, and analytics related to website infrastructure.
Service Used: Netlify
Data Collected:
- Technical data for content delivery and performance optimization
- Security-related information to protect against threats
- Anonymous analytics for infrastructure monitoring
Retention Period: Varies by cookie type, typically session-based or up to 1 year.
Privacy Policy: Netlify Privacy Policy
3. Cookie Summary Table
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
cookie_consent | Francisco Santos | Stores cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
_ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
_gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users | 24 hours |
_ga_<id> | Google Analytics | Persists session state | 2 years |
ml_* | MailerLite | Manages email subscriptions | Varies (up to 1 year) |
nf_* | Netlify | Infrastructure & performance | Session / 1 year |
4. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
- Essential Website Functionality: To enable core features like session management and security.
- Analytics & Performance: To understand how visitors use our website, which pages are most popular, and how we can improve user experience.
- Marketing & Communication: To manage email subscriptions, deliver personalized content, and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
- Preference Management: To remember your cookie consent choices and preferences.
5. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services that we use to enhance functionality and analyze traffic. These third parties may collect information about your online activities across different websites.
Third-party services we use:
- Google Analytics: Web analytics service to track and report website traffic. Privacy Policy
- MailerLite: Email marketing platform for managing subscribers and sending newsletters. Privacy Policy
- Netlify: Website hosting and infrastructure provider. Privacy Policy
We do not control these third-party cookies. Please refer to the respective privacy policies of these services for more information about how they use cookies and how you can opt out.
6. Managing & Controlling Cookies
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences through:
a) Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse all cookies or to alert you when a cookie is being sent. However, please note that if you disable or refuse cookies, some parts of our website may not function properly.
How to manage cookies in popular browsers:
- Google Chrome: Cookie settings in Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox: Cookie settings in Firefox
- Safari: Cookie settings in Safari
- Microsoft Edge: Cookie settings in Edge
b) Opt-Out Tools
You can also opt out of specific types of cookies using the following tools:
- Google Analytics Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Your Online Choices: EU Cookie Opt-out Tool
- Network Advertising Initiative: NAI Opt-out Tool
c) Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting our website.
7. Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you choose to disable or reject cookies, please note that:
- Some features of our website may not function properly or may be unavailable.
- You may need to manually adjust preferences every time you visit our website.
- We will not be able to remember your cookie consent preferences.
- Analytics data will not be collected, which helps us improve the website experience.
8. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies, please contact us:
10. Related Policies
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please read our:
- Privacy Policy - Detailed information about data collection, use, and protection