1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They let a site remember your actions and preferences across pages and visits. Related technologies include local storage and session storage in the browser, and, on mobile, resettable device identifiers such as Apple’s Identifier for Vendors (IDFV) or the Android App Set ID.
This policy explains which of these AppsBrains uses and why. It supplements our Privacy Policy.
2. How We Use Them
We keep this deliberately minimal. We use these technologies to:
- Keep the site secure and prevent abuse;
- Remember your basic preferences, such as whether you dismissed a notice;
- Understand, in aggregate, which pages and features are used, so we can improve them;
- Diagnose errors and measure performance.
We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. We do not build advertising profiles, and we do not share cookie data with ad networks or data brokers.
3. Categories We Use
Strictly necessary
Required for the site to work. These cannot be switched off through a consent banner because without them the site cannot function. They include security tokens, load balancing, and remembering your cookie choices.
Functional
Remember preferences such as language or a dismissed banner. If you block these, the site still works but forgets your choices between visits.
Analytics
Aggregated, privacy-respecting measurement of page views and feature usage. IP addresses are truncated where the provider supports it. In regions that require consent, analytics only run after you opt in.
Advertising
Not used. We set no advertising or retargeting cookies.
4. Cookies and Storage We Set
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
ab_consent | Strictly necessary | Stores your cookie preferences so we do not ask again | 12 months |
ab_session | Strictly necessary | Maintains your session state while browsing | Session |
ab_prefs | Functional | Remembers UI preferences such as dismissed notices | 6 months |
_ga, _ga_* | Analytics | Google Analytics — distinguishes anonymous visitors and sessions | Up to 24 months |
| Firebase installation ID | Analytics / diagnostics | Groups events and crash reports from one app install | Until the app is uninstalled or the ID is reset |
Exact cookie names may vary as we change providers. This table is reviewed whenever our stack changes.
5. Third-Party Cookies
Loading assets from third-party networks can result in those parties receiving your IP address and browser details:
- Google Fonts — serves the typeface used on this site.
- Cloudflare CDN — serves the icon library.
- Google Analytics / Firebase — aggregated analytics and crash reporting.
Each is governed by its own privacy policy. We do not permit these providers to use the data for their own advertising purposes.
6. In Our Mobile Apps
Mobile apps do not use browser cookies. Instead they may use local device storage to keep you signed in and to cache content offline, plus a resettable installation identifier for analytics and crash reporting. You can reset or limit these:
- iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking, and Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising.
- Android: Settings → Privacy → Ads → Delete advertising ID.
- Uninstalling an app clears its local storage and installation identifier.
7. How to Control Cookies
You are in control at all times:
- Consent banner — where shown, choose which optional categories to allow, and change your mind at any time.
- Browser settings — block or delete cookies in Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge under Privacy or Site Settings.
- Private browsing — clears cookies automatically when you close the window.
- Google Analytics opt-out — install the official browser add-on.
- Do Not Track / Global Privacy Control — we honour GPC signals where we receive them.
Blocking strictly necessary cookies may break parts of the site — forms may fail to submit and preferences will not persist.
8. Changes to This Policy
We update this policy when our use of cookies changes. The “Effective” date at the top reflects the current version, and material changes are announced on the site.