Cookie Policy
Last updated: January 2025
At colinthyra, we believe transparency matters when it comes to how we collect information about your visits to our website. This policy explains what tracking technologies we use, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences.
We've written this in plain language because nobody wants to read through dense legal jargon. Think of this as a straightforward conversation about the digital tools that help us understand how people interact with colinthyra.com.
What Are Cookies Anyway?
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device when you visit them. They're not programs and can't carry viruses. Most websites use them – they've been around since the mid-1990s and remain one of the most reliable ways to remember user preferences.
When you return to our site, these files help us recognize your device. They store bits of information like your language preference, whether you've logged in before, or which pages you visited last time.
Some people worry about cookies, but they're actually quite limited in what they can do. They can't access other files on your device or identify you personally unless you've specifically provided that information.
Types of Tracking Technologies We Use
Essential Cookies
These keep the site working properly. Without them, you wouldn't be able to navigate between pages or access secure areas. We need these to provide basic functionality.
Functional Cookies
These remember your choices – like text size preferences or which region you're browsing from. They make your experience more personalized without tracking your behavior across other sites.
Analytical Cookies
We use these to understand how visitors interact with our content. They help us figure out which resources are most helpful and where people get stuck or confused.
Marketing Cookies
These track your journey through our site and remember if you've visited before. We use this information to show relevant content and understand which programs attract the most interest.
Beyond cookies, we also use similar technologies like web beacons (tiny invisible images) and local storage (a way to save data directly in your browser). They serve similar purposes but work slightly differently from traditional cookies.
How We Actually Use This Information
Here's where the rubber meets the road. We're not collecting data just for the sake of it – each piece serves a specific purpose in making our educational programs more effective.
- We track which blog posts get the most engagement so we can create more content on topics that actually interest our audience
- When you start filling out a contact form but don't finish, we save your progress so you don't have to start over
- We monitor page load times across different devices to identify and fix performance issues
- If you've previously looked at information about our learning programs, we might highlight related resources when you return
- We analyze navigation patterns to understand if our site structure makes sense or if people are getting lost
- Session data helps us spot technical problems – like if a particular browser version is causing issues
For example, back in mid-2024, we noticed a significant drop-off on one of our program information pages. The analytics showed people were leaving after about 30 seconds. Turned out the page was loading slowly on mobile devices. We fixed it, and engagement improved considerably.
Taking Control of Your Cookie Settings
You're not stuck with our default settings. Every major browser gives you tools to manage, limit, or block cookies entirely. Keep in mind that blocking all cookies might affect how the site works for you.
Chrome
Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data. You can block third-party cookies while keeping first-party ones active.
Firefox
Options → Privacy & Security. Firefox offers enhanced tracking protection that blocks many trackers by default.
Safari
Preferences → Privacy. Safari blocks most third-party cookies automatically and offers intelligent tracking prevention.
Edge
Settings → Privacy, search, and services. You can choose between basic, balanced, or strict tracking prevention.
Mobile browsers have similar controls, usually found in the settings or preferences menu. The exact location varies depending on your device and operating system version.
How Long We Keep Cookie Data
Different cookies stick around for different lengths of time. Some disappear the moment you close your browser, while others persist for months or even years.
Session Cookies
These vanish when you close your browser. They're temporary by nature and don't collect information over time. We use them primarily for navigation and form functionality.
Persistent Cookies
These remain on your device until they expire or you delete them manually. Our persistent cookies typically last between 30 days and 2 years, depending on their purpose.
We regularly review our data retention practices. If we're not actively using certain information, we delete it. There's no point in holding onto data that doesn't serve a clear purpose.
Third-Party Services and Their Cookies
We work with a few external services that set their own cookies when you use our site. These include analytics platforms and educational tools that enhance our programs.
Each third-party service has its own privacy policy and cookie practices. We've vetted the services we use, but you should know that they operate independently from colinthyra. We don't control their cookies or how they process data.
Some of these services offer their own opt-out mechanisms. If you're concerned about a specific third-party tracker, check their privacy policy for instructions on how to opt out.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
Technology evolves, and so do our practices. We update this policy occasionally to reflect changes in how we use tracking technologies or in response to new regulations.
When we make significant changes, we'll update the "last modified" date at the top of this page. For major updates, we might also send an email notification to registered users or display a notice on the website.
We recommend checking back periodically if you're curious about how we're using cookies. The web changes fast, and we adapt our approach as needed.
Questions About Our Cookie Practices?
If something in this policy doesn't make sense or you have specific questions about how we use tracking technologies, reach out. We're happy to explain our practices in more detail.