Plain-language summary: We use a small number of cookies — essential ones to keep the service running and anonymous analytics to understand how it's used. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Cookies can be "session cookies" (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (stored on your device for a set period or until you delete them). They can be set by the site you're visiting ("first-party cookies") or by third-party services embedded in the page.
Your browser can be configured to refuse or delete cookies — see Section 6 for guidance.
2. How We Use Cookies
CheckTown uses cookies sparingly and only where they serve a genuine purpose. We use cookies to:
- Apply rate limiting to prevent abuse of our free validation service.
- Collect anonymised, aggregated usage statistics to understand how the tools are being used.
- Maintain session state where necessary for tool functionality.
We do not use cookies to:
- Track you across other websites.
- Serve you targeted advertising.
- Build a personal profile about you.
- Share your browsing behaviour with advertising networks.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for the Service to function. Without them, features such as rate limiting and request processing cannot operate correctly. They are set by CheckTown directly and are session cookies that expire when you close your browser.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| ct_rl | Rate-limiting token to prevent automated abuse | Session |
| ct_session | Maintains anonymous session state during validation | Session |
Because these cookies are strictly necessary, they are placed without requiring your consent under the ePrivacy Directive's essential cookie exemption.
3.2 Analytics Cookies
We use anonymised analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with CheckTown — which tools are most used, where users come from (country/region level only), and how the interface performs. This data is aggregated and cannot be used to identify you personally.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _analytics_id | Anonymous visitor identifier for aggregate statistics | 12 months |
| _analytics_session | Session grouping for analytics events | Session |
Analytics cookies are placed only with your consent (where required by applicable law). You may opt out at any time — see Section 6.
3.3 Preference Cookies (Local Storage)
CheckTown stores your language preference and theme (light/dark mode) preference in your browser's local storage rather than cookies. Local storage data is never transmitted to our servers and exists solely on your device to improve your experience on return visits.
| Key | Purpose | Location |
|---|---|---|
| checktown_language | Saves your selected display language | Local storage |
| checktown_theme | Saves your light/dark mode preference | Local storage |
4. Third-Party Cookies
If we use third-party analytics services, those services may set their own cookies subject to their respective privacy policies. We configure all third-party tools we use to anonymise IP addresses and disable advertising features.
We do not embed social media widgets, advertising networks, or retargeting pixels on CheckTown, so no tracking cookies from those services are set.
5. Your Consent
Strictly necessary cookies do not require your consent as they are essential for the Service to function.
For analytics cookies, we rely on your consent where required by applicable law (e.g., the ePrivacy Directive in the EU). You can withdraw consent at any time by clearing cookies in your browser settings or using browser extensions to block analytics cookies.
6. Managing and Controlling Cookies
You have several options to control or limit how cookies are used:
Browser Settings
All modern browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies. Here are links to instructions for popular browsers:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
Please note that blocking all cookies — including strictly necessary ones — may prevent parts of CheckTown from functioning correctly.
Browser Extensions
Privacy-focused browser extensions (such as uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger) can block analytics cookies while still allowing essential ones. These tools give you granular control over which cookies are permitted.
Local Storage
To clear CheckTown's local storage preferences, open your browser's developer tools (usually F12), navigate to "Application" → "Local Storage", and delete the keys listed in Section 3.3.
7. Do Not Track
CheckTown respects the Do Not Track (DNT) browser signal. If your browser is configured to send a DNT signal, we will not set any analytics cookies for your session.
8. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as we change the cookies we use or as legal requirements evolve. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to revisit this page periodically.
9. Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email:hello@check.town
- Website:https://check.town
For broader privacy concerns, please see our Privacy Policy.