Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are and how they are used on liamblank.com. Please read this policy to understand what types of cookies are deployed, the information collected, and how that information is used.
Last Updated: January 29, 2026
Introduction
This Cookie Policy applies to liamblank.com (the "Website"), operated by Liam Blank. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Data Protection Policy, which provides comprehensive information about how personal data is collected, used, and protected.
This Website uses only essential cookies required for basic functionality and security. We do not use marketing, advertising, or third-party tracking cookies. No consent banner is required because all cookies deployed are strictly necessary for the operation of the Website.
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 to provide information to website owners.
Types of Cookies by Duration
- Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are deleted as soon as you close your web browser. These enable basic website functionality during your visit.
- Persistent Cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them. These remember your preferences across visits.
Types of Cookies by Origin
- First-Party Cookies: Set directly by the website you are visiting (liamblank.com in this case).
- Third-Party Cookies: Set by a domain other than the one you are visiting, typically by embedded services or external providers.
How We Use Cookies
This Website uses cookies exclusively for essential purposes to ensure the site functions correctly and securely. We use cookies to:
- Maintain your session state while navigating between pages
- Authenticate and verify requests to prevent unauthorized access
- Protect against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks
- Remember your accessibility and language preferences
- Enable WordPress and Elementor Pro core functionality
We do not use cookies for:
- Tracking your browsing behavior across websites
- Serving targeted or personalized advertisements
- Building user profiles for marketing purposes
- Sharing your data with advertising networks or third-party marketers
Types of Cookies We Use
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Website to function and cannot be disabled without severely affecting your ability to use the site. They are set in response to actions you take, such as navigating between pages, filling out forms, or adjusting privacy settings.
Legal Basis: Under GDPR and ePrivacy Directive, strictly necessary cookies do not require user consent because they are essential for providing the service you have explicitly requested.
Purposes Include:
- Session Management: Maintaining your session state as you navigate the Website
- Security: Preventing cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks and authenticating requests
- Load Balancing: Distributing traffic across servers to maintain performance
- Content Management: Enabling WordPress and Elementor Pro to deliver page content correctly
- Accessibility: Remembering your font size, contrast, or other accessibility preferences
Preference Cookies
These cookies allow the Website to remember choices you make (such as language or region preferences) and provide enhanced, more personalized features. These are classified as strictly necessary when they enable basic accessibility features.
Cookies We Do NOT Use
To ensure maximum privacy, this Website does not deploy:
- Analytics/Performance Cookies: No Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or similar tracking technologies
- Marketing/Advertising Cookies: No ad retargeting, conversion tracking, or behavioral advertising cookies
- Social Media Cookies: No Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or Instagram tracking cookies
- Third-Party Tracking Cookies: No external advertising networks or data brokers
Cookie Inventory
The following table lists the specific cookies that may be set by this Website. This inventory is reviewed and updated every 6 months to ensure accuracy.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | WordPress (First-Party) | Maintains user session state across page requests | Session | Until browser closes |
| wordpress_* | WordPress (First-Party) | Stores authentication details for logged-in administrators | Persistent | 14 days |
| wp-settings-* | WordPress (First-Party) | Saves admin interface customization preferences | Persistent | 1 year |
| wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress (First-Party) | Checks if browser accepts cookies | Session | Until browser closes |
| elementor | Elementor Pro (First-Party) | Enables page builder functionality and preview modes | Session | Until browser closes |
| __cf_bm | HostGator/Cloudflare (Third-Party) | Bot management and DDoS protection (if enabled by hosting provider) | Session | 30 minutes |
Note: The actual cookies present may vary depending on which pages you visit and whether you are logged in as an administrator. Regular visitors typically encounter only session cookies and security-related cookies.
Third-Party Cookies
While this Website does not intentionally deploy third-party tracking or advertising cookies, certain essential services provided by hosting infrastructure (HostGator) or content delivery networks may set minimal cookies for security and performance purposes.
HostGator / Cloudflare Security Cookies
HostGator may use Cloudflare's security services, which can set cookies to:
- Distinguish between legitimate users and malicious bots
- Prevent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks
- Rate-limit requests to prevent abuse
- Maintain security challenge responses
These cookies are strictly necessary for website security and do not track your browsing behavior across other websites.
WordPress.org and Plugin Updates
WordPress core software may make requests to WordPress.org servers to check for updates. These connections do not set tracking cookies but may temporarily log IP addresses for security purposes.
Embedded Content
If you interact with embedded content from third-party services (e.g., YouTube videos, Twitter/X posts, or LinkedIn embeds), those services may set their own cookies. This Website does not control these third-party cookies. Please refer to those services' cookie policies:
- YouTube Cookie Policy: support.google.com/youtube/answer/171780
- Twitter/X Cookie Policy: twitter.com/privacy
- LinkedIn Cookie Policy: linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have the right to control whether cookies are set on your device. However, because this Website uses only strictly necessary cookies, disabling them may significantly impair functionality.
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to manage cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- View which cookies are stored and delete them individually
- Block all cookies (not recommended for this Website)
- Block third-party cookies while allowing first-party cookies
- Clear all cookies when you close your browser
Browser-Specific Instructions:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Cookies and site permissions
- Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you disable cookies on this Website, you may experience:
- Inability to submit contact forms or newsletter subscriptions
- Loss of session state when navigating between pages
- Repeated security challenges or authentication requests
- Loss of accessibility or language preferences
- Degraded user experience or functionality errors
Do Not Track (DNT) Signals
Because this Website does not use tracking or advertising cookies, Do Not Track browser signals do not affect functionality. The Website respects your privacy by default, regardless of DNT settings.
No Consent Management Platform Required
Under GDPR and ePrivacy Directive guidelines, websites that use only strictly necessary cookies are not required to implement cookie consent banners or consent management platforms. This Website falls into that category.
If analytics, marketing, or non-essential cookies are added in the future, this policy will be updated, and a consent mechanism will be implemented before those cookies are deployed.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in cookie usage, legal requirements, or operational practices. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent revision was made.
Cookie Audit Schedule
This Website undergoes a comprehensive cookie audit every 6 months to ensure:
- The cookie inventory is accurate and complete
- No unauthorized tracking cookies have been introduced by plugins or themes
- All cookie descriptions and retention periods are current
- Compliance with evolving privacy regulations
Notification of Material Changes
If the Website begins using non-essential cookies (analytics, marketing, or advertising), users will be notified through:
- A prominent notice on the homepage for at least 30 days
- Email notification to newsletter subscribers
- Implementation of a cookie consent banner before any such cookies are set
- Updated "Last Updated" date on this policy
You are encouraged to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how cookies are used on this Website.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or how cookies are used on this Website, please contact:
Contact Details
Related Policies
For comprehensive information about how personal data is collected, used, and protected, please see the Data Protection Policy.
Effective Date: January 29, 2026
This Cookie Policy applies to all users of liamblank.com and describes the cookies deployed on the Website.