Cookie Policy

01 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device when you visit them. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to site owners about how their website is being used.

Some of the storage mechanisms we use (such as localStorage) are not technically cookies, but they serve a similar purpose. We cover all of these in this policy for complete transparency.

02 Cookies We Use

The following table lists all cookies and browser storage items used on the Vern website (askvern.ai):

Note: The Google Analytics cookies (_ga and _ga_FDSW8ML0MR) are only set after you give consent via our cookie banner. They are never placed without your explicit permission.

03 Essential Storage

The items listed as "Essential (localStorage)" in the table above are not cookies in the traditional sense. They are stored in your browser's localStorage, which means:

• They are never sent to any server with your HTTP requests
• They do not track you across websites or sessions
• They are stored only on your device and are used solely to remember your preferences
• They contain no personal or identifiable information

vern-theme simply remembers whether you prefer light or dark mode, and vern-cookie-consent records whether you have accepted or declined analytics cookies so that we do not ask you again on every visit.

04 Analytics Cookies

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors interact with the Vern website. This helps us improve the user experience and identify which features matter most to our users.

We have implemented the following privacy safeguards:

• Google Consent Mode v2 — analytics cookies are denied by default and are only activated after you explicitly consent via our cookie banner
• IP anonymisation enabled — your IP address is anonymised before any data is stored
• No advertising features — we have disabled all Google Ads-related features including remarketing, demographics, and interest reporting
• Data never used for ad targeting — your analytics data is used solely for understanding website usage and is never shared with advertising networks
• Consent-gated — if you decline cookies via our banner, no GA4 cookies are set and no analytics data is collected

05 How to Manage Cookies

Cookie Banner

When you first visit the Vern website, you will see a cookie consent banner. You can choose to accept or decline analytics cookies. Your choice is saved so you will not be asked again.

Changing Your Mind

If you previously accepted or declined cookies and wish to change your preference, you can clear the relevant localStorage items in your browser:

• Chrome: Open DevTools (F12) → Application tab → Local Storage → select the Vern site → delete vern-cookie-consent
• Firefox: Open DevTools (F12) → Storage tab → Local Storage → select the Vern site → delete vern-cookie-consent
• Safari: Develop menu → Show Web Inspector → Storage tab → Local Storage → delete vern-cookie-consent

After clearing this item, the cookie banner will appear again on your next visit and you can make a new choice.

Browser-Level Controls

Most browsers allow you to manage cookies through their settings. You can block all cookies, delete existing cookies, or set preferences for specific websites. Refer to your browser's help documentation for detailed instructions.

Note: Blocking or clearing the essential localStorage items (vern-theme) will not affect site functionality, but your theme preference will not persist between visits.

06 Third-Party Cookies

We do not use any advertising, social media, or tracking cookies beyond Google Analytics.

Specifically, the Vern website does not use:

• Advertising or remarketing cookies
• Social media tracking pixels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.)
• Third-party tracking scripts for cross-site profiling
• Any form of fingerprinting technology

07 Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make material changes, we will update the "last updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.

08 Contact

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@assurepath.co.uk

AssurePath Ltd · Manchester, United Kingdom