By default, this site sets no cookies and loads nothing from third parties. We do not stop you with a banner: until you choose, nothing optional loads. The Cookie preferences button, the shield at the bottom right of every page, opens your choices. There is a single thing you may allow: Google Analytics, so we know which pages get read. We do not advertise, and Google's advertising signals stay denied even if you accept. The contact form works with no cookie at all. You may change your mind at any time, with the same shield. If you sign in, the account keeps you signed in with two strictly necessary cookies of its own, listed below.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website can store in your browser to remember information about your visit. They are commonly used for functionality, analytics or advertising. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels and tracking scripts.
2. Cookies used by this site
By default, none. When you first open this site not a single cookie is set and nothing is loaded from third parties. We do not interrupt you with a banner: until you choose, nothing optional loads, and the Cookie preferences shield at the bottom right of every page is where you choose. If you sign in to an account, two cookies keep you signed in; they are strictly necessary for the account you asked for, and listed below.
There is a single thing you can allow:
- Statistics. Google Analytics, provided by Google Ireland Limited, sets the
_gaand_ga_X5MRPKXQMNcookies and sends data to Google. It exists so that we know which pages get read, and which steps of our free tools people reach: opening the Compass, finishing it, opening a chapter of the guide, downloading a chapter as PDF, printing or saving a Compass result, and asking for a technical review. What is recorded is that a step happened. Your answers to the Compass are never sent anywhere: they stay in your browser, with or without this cookie. We do not use the data for advertising, and the Google Consent Mode advertising signals stay denied even if you accept everything.
The Google scripts do not exist in this site's HTML. They are inserted by JavaScript, and only after you accept. Consent is asked before the cookie exists, not after. You can change your mind at any time, under Cookie preferences, in the footer of every page. Your choice expires after 12 months and we ask again.
3. The full list
Everything this site stores on your device, with nothing left out.
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Necessary · no consent required | |||
ph7x-consent |
pH7x Systems® Setúbal, Portugal Privacy Policy |
Remembers your cookie choices, so we do not ask on every page and so we can honour them. | 12 months |
ph7x-consent-id |
pH7x Systems® Setúbal, Portugal |
A random identifier, containing no data about you. It is the only link between you and the record proving what you consented to, so that you can consult it or have it deleted. It contains neither your IP nor any personal data. | Stays until you clear your browser storage. |
ph7x-theme, kt-theme |
pH7x Systems® | Keeps the light or dark display preference consistent across the site and its interface components. These local-storage values contain only the theme name. | Until you change the preference or clear browser storage. |
| Your account · Strictly necessary for the account you asked for, and only once you sign in. Exempt from consent under Article 5 of Portuguese Law 41/2004. | |||
__Host-ph7x_session |
pH7x Systems® Setúbal, Portugal |
Keeps you signed in to your account. It holds a random value; we keep only an irreversible value derived from it. HttpOnly, Secure and SameSite=Lax: no script, other site or plain connection can read or send it. | 30 days, or 24 hours with a work or school Microsoft account; ends after 7 days without use, or when you sign out. |
__Host-ph7x_signin |
pH7x Systems® | Exists only while you sign in with Microsoft, Google or GitHub, so that the provider's answer is taken only by the sign-in you started. HttpOnly and Secure. | 10 minutes, and removed when the sign-in completes. |
| Form security · Strictly necessary for the service you requested (sending the form). Exempt from consent under Article 5 of Portuguese Law 41/2004. | |||
_GRECAPTCHA |
Google Ireland Limited Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland |
Tells people from bots on the site's forms, contact and the comments under articles (Google reCAPTCHA v3). Exists only once you start filling one of them in. | 6 months |
| Statistics · only set if you accept it in the cookie banner | |||
_ga |
Google Ireland Limited Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland |
Distinguishes visitors, so the same person is not counted twice. | 2 years |
_ga_X5MRPKXQMN |
Google Ireland Limited Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland |
Keeps the session state for this Google Analytics property. | 2 years |
That is the whole list. The consent and theme entries are not cookies: they are local storage in your browser, and we list them here because the law treats anything kept on your device the same way. The Site sets cookies of its own only for a signed-in member: the two for your account, above. The statistics ones exist only if you accept them, and the reCAPTCHA one only if you start filling in one of the forms. No advertising, no profiling, no cross-site tracking.
4. Audience measurement
We use Google Analytics 4 to know which pages get read. It sets cookies on your device and sends data to Google.
It only loads if you allow it. Google's script does not exist on our pages until you accept the Statistics category in the cookie banner. If you decline, the site works exactly the same and nothing is measured.
We enabled Google's consent signals (Consent Mode v2). The advertising signals stay denied at all times, even if you accept everything: we do not advertise and we share nothing for that purpose.
You may change your mind at any time, with the Cookie preferences shield at the bottom right of every page. Your choice expires after 12 months; after that, nothing optional loads until you choose again.
5. Link to WhatsApp
The site offers a link to WhatsApp so you can talk to us. It is an ordinary link: nothing from WhatsApp or Meta loads on our pages and no cookie is set here. If you follow it, you leave our site and what happens next is governed by WhatsApp’s privacy policy, not by ours.
6. Hosting logs
Our host, Microsoft Azure Static Web Apps, may keep standard server logs (for example, IP address and timestamps) for security and delivery. These are not cookies and are not used to track you across sites. See our Privacy Policy for details.
7. Managing cookies in your browser
Whatever we set, you remain in full control of cookies through your browser settings, where you can block or delete cookies at any time. Guidance is available at aboutcookies.org.
8. Changes to this Policy
If we ever introduce cookies or analytics in the future, we will update this Policy and, where the law requires it (Lei n.º 41/2004 and the GDPR), request your prior consent through a consent banner before any non-essential cookie is set.
Governing language
This document is published in English only. The English version is the only version, and the one that governs.