Cookie Policy

Overview

This page explains how ztools.co.uk uses cookies and similar technologies (local storage, pixels, web beacons) when you visit the site. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.

We do not set any tracking cookies ourselves. The cookies described below are set by third-party services we embed to provide analytics, advertising and web fonts.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small text file stored on your device by your browser. Cookies are used to remember preferences, measure traffic, and deliver advertising. Similar technologies include:

• Local storage — key/value data stored in your browser, larger capacity than cookies, not sent with every request.
• Pixels / web beacons — tiny invisible images that notify a server when they load, typically used with cookies for analytics.
• IndexedDB / Cache Storage — used for offline assets. We currently do not use these.

In the rest of this policy we use "cookies" as shorthand for all of the above.

Cookies set by this site

We set no HTTP cookies directly. The only data we store on your device comes from your browser's localStorage, which stays on your device and is never sent to our servers:

All localStorage data can be removed at any time by clearing your browser's site data for ztools.co.uk.

Cookies set by third parties

The following third-party services set cookies when you visit this site. Each service's own cookie and privacy policy is linked.

Google AdSense (advertising)

Displays advertisements. Google and its ad partners may set cookies to personalise ads based on your browsing history across sites, to measure ad performance, and to prevent fraud.

Policies: How Google uses ad cookies · Google Privacy Policy. Opt-out: Google Ads Settings.

Google Analytics 4 (analytics)

We use Google Analytics to understand which pages are visited and how users navigate the site, so we can improve it. GA4 does not use third-party cookies and IP addresses are anonymised before storage.

Policies: Google Privacy Policy. Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Microsoft Clarity (user-experience analytics)

We use Microsoft Clarity to record anonymised session replays and heatmaps so we can see which parts of the interface are confusing or broken. Clarity masks form inputs by default and obeys the Do Not Track setting.

Policies: Clarity Terms · Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Google Fonts (styling)

Google Fonts delivers the Orbitron and Rajdhani fonts we use. It does not set cookies, but loading the font files causes your IP address to be briefly logged by Google.

Policy: Google Fonts Privacy FAQ.

Legal basis

Under UK GDPR and PECR, our legal basis for the items above is:

• Strictly necessary / legitimate interests for localStorage items that are required for basic functionality (accessibility preferences, saved progress, language).
• Consent for advertising and non-essential analytics cookies set by Google AdSense, Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity. You provide consent by clicking Accept All on the cookie notice. If you click Decline, we record your decision and will not prompt you again; however, scripts that were already loaded in your current page view may still set cookies — closing the tab and returning prevents this.

We are working on a stricter consent gate that blocks third-party scripts until consent is given. If you have concerns in the meantime, please email us and we will honour your request.

How to manage cookies

• Browser settings — every major browser lets you block or delete cookies on a per-site basis. See aboutcookies.org for step-by-step guidance.
• Personalised ads — opt out at Google Ads Settings, the Network Advertising Initiative, or Your Online Choices (EU/UK).
• Google Analytics — install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Microsoft Clarity — enable Do Not Track in your browser; Clarity respects this signal.
• Site-set localStorage — clear your browser's site data for ztools.co.uk, or use your browser's private/incognito mode.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the services we use or the law. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will always show when the last change was made.

Contact

Questions about how we use cookies? Email hello@bddc.co.uk or see the Contact page.