01What cookies are
Cookies are small text files a website stores in your browser. Similar technologies include local storage, which lets a site remember settings on your device, and the equivalent storage used by mobile apps. In this policy we call them all “cookies”. The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) require us to tell you about them and to ask for your consent before using any that are not strictly necessary.
02Our approach
We keep cookies to a minimum. We only use cookies that are strictly necessary to sign you in, keep your account secure and remember the settings you choose. We do not use advertising cookies, social media tracking pixels, or cookies that track you across other websites. Because strictly necessary cookies do not need consent, we do not show a cookie banner.
If we ever want to use cookies that are not strictly necessary, we will ask for your consent first and update this policy.
03Cookies in the web app (beta.inspectorwho.com)
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
__Secure-better-auth.session_token | Strictly necessary | Keeps you signed in and protects your account. Secure and HttpOnly, so it cannot be read by scripts | 30 days, renewed while you use the app; removed when you sign out |
| Sign-in state cookies | Strictly necessary | Set only while you sign in with Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook or X, to protect the sign-in from forgery | A few minutes; removed once sign-in completes |
iw-theme | Strictly necessary (local storage) | Remembers whether you chose the light or dark theme | Until you clear your browser storage |
iw-app-banner-dismissed | Strictly necessary (local storage) | On Android, remembers that you closed the banner suggesting the app, so it isn't shown again | Until you clear your browser storage |
04The marketing website (inspectorwho.com)
The marketing website does not set its own cookies. To understand which pages are useful, it loads a self-hosted analytics script, operated for us by Porter Phillips on servers we control, which records page views, the referring website, and broad browser, device and country information. It is not used for advertising, is not shared with advertising networks, and does not track you across other websites.
05Content from other providers
Some features load content from other providers. These requests share your IP address with that provider but do not set cookies through us:
- Maps: map images are loaded from OpenFreeMap (openfreemap.org).
- Profile pictures: if you signed in with Google, Facebook or X, your profile picture is loaded from that provider's servers.
If you sign in with a third-party provider, that provider may set its own cookies on its own website during sign-in, under its own cookie policy.
06Mobile apps
Our mobile apps store your sign-in session securely on your device and remember your settings, which is strictly necessary for them to work. The apps do not use advertising identifiers (IDFA or GAID), do not include advertising or cross-app tracking SDKs, and do not track you across other companies' apps or websites. If you allow notifications, a notification token is stored so we can send you alerts.
07Controlling cookies
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you block the session cookie, you will not be able to sign in. Guidance for common browsers:
On mobile devices, you can manage notifications and app data in your device settings, or remove all app data by uninstalling the app.
08More information
Our privacy policy explains how we use personal data more generally. If you have any questions about cookies, contact support@inspectorwho.com.