Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners about how users interact with their sites.

Cookies can be "persistent" (remaining on your device until deleted or expired) or "session" (deleted when you close your browser). They can also be "first-party" (set by the website you're visiting) or "third-party" (set by a different website).

2. How We Use Cookies

Whisper Vista uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve your user experience
• Provide personalised content
• Analyse website performance
• Deliver relevant advertisements
• Protect against fraud and security threats

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation, access to secure areas, and remember your cookie preferences. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

Examples:

• cookie-preferences: Remembers your cookie consent choices
• session-id: Maintains your session during your visit
• security-token: Protects against cross-site request forgery

Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (essential for website functionality)

Retention: Session or up to 1 year

3.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve our website and services.

Examples:

• _ga: Google Analytics - distinguishes unique users
• _gid: Google Analytics - distinguishes unique users
• _gat: Google Analytics - throttles request rate
• analytics-session: Internal analytics tracking

Legal Basis: Consent

Retention: Up to 38 months

Third Parties: Google Analytics

3.3 Marketing Cookies

These cookies are used to track visitors across websites and deliver advertisements that are relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement.

Examples:

• _fbp: Facebook Pixel - tracks conversions and retargeting
• marketing-id: Internal marketing tracking
• ad-preferences: Stores advertising preferences

Legal Basis: Consent

Retention: Up to 2 years

Third Parties: Facebook, Google Ads

3.4 Functional Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

Examples:

• newsletter-preferences: Remembers your newsletter subscription preferences
• content-preferences: Personalises content based on your interests
• layout-preferences: Remembers your preferred website layout

Legal Basis: Consent

Retention: Up to 1 year

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services:

4.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about your visit, including pages viewed, time spent on the site, and how you arrived at our site.

Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy

Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out

4.2 Social Media Platforms

If you interact with social media content on our site, cookies may be set by:

• Facebook: Facebook Privacy Policy
• Twitter: Twitter Privacy Policy
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn Privacy Policy

5. How to Manage Cookies

5.1 Cookie Consent Manager

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie banner allowing you to choose your preferences:

• Accept All: Allows all cookies
• Necessary Only: Only allows essential cookies
• Customise: Choose specific cookie categories

You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer.

5.2 Browser Settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

Chrome

1. Click the three dots menu → Settings
2. Go to Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
3. Choose your preferred settings

Firefox

1. Click the menu button → Options
2. Select Privacy & Security
3. Go to Cookies and Site Data

Safari

1. Go to Safari → Preferences
2. Click Privacy
3. Choose your cookie settings

Edge

1. Click the three dots menu → Settings
2. Go to Cookies and site permissions
3. Click Cookies and site data

5.3 Mobile Devices

For mobile browsers, cookie settings are typically found in the privacy or security section of your browser settings.

6. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling certain cookies may affect your experience on our website:

6.1 Necessary Cookies

If you disable necessary cookies, some parts of our website may not work properly, including:

• Newsletter subscription forms
• Contact forms
• Cookie preference settings
• Security features

6.2 Analytics Cookies

Disabling analytics cookies won't affect your browsing experience, but it means we can't:

• Understand how you use our website
• Measure website performance
• Improve our content and services

6.3 Marketing Cookies

Disabling marketing cookies means:

• You may see less relevant advertisements
• You may see the same advertisements repeatedly
• We can't measure advertising effectiveness

7. Similar Technologies

In addition to cookies, we may use other similar technologies:

7.1 Web Beacons

Small image files used to track email opens and website visits.

7.2 Local Storage

Browser storage used to remember preferences and improve performance.

7.3 Session Storage

Temporary storage that's deleted when you close your browser.

8. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:

• Changes in technology
• Changes in legislation
• Changes to our website or services
• Changes to our cookie practices

When we make significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date
• Notify you through our cookie banner
• Request renewed consent where required

9. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have rights regarding cookies and personal data:

• Consent: You can withdraw consent for non-essential cookies
• Access: You can request information about cookies that store your data
• Deletion: You can request deletion of data stored in cookies
• Objection: You can object to processing based on legitimate interests

10. International Transfers

Some of our third-party cookie providers are based outside the UK. When personal data is transferred internationally through cookies, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK data protection law.