1.     What are cookies

1.1   A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and is stored by the browser. The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.


2.2   Cookies may be either "persistent" cookies or "session" cookies: a persistent cookie will be stored by a web browser and will remain valid until its set expiry date, unless deleted by the user before the expiry date; a session cookie, on the other hand, will expire at the end of the user session, when the web browser is closed.


1.3   Cookies do not typically contain any information that personally identifies a user, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.


1.4   To find out more on cookies please visit www.allaboutcookies.org or www.aboutcookies.org which are both great resources of information.




2.     Cookies that we use

2.1   We use cookies on HotDrops.com to make your browsing experience more enjoyable as well as understanding how people use the site. Below is an overview of how cookies are used across the site:


(a)   authentication - we use cookies to identify you when you visit our website and as you navigate our website (cookies used for this purpose are: authentication cookies);


(b)   status - we use cookies to help us to determine if you are logged into our website (cookies used for this purpose are: authentication cookies);


(c)    personalisation - we use cookies to store information about your preferences and to personalise the website for you (cookies used for this purpose are: personalisation cookies);


(d)   analytics – we use cookies to store information about your session visits and interaction with email content (cookies used for this purpose are: analytics cookies);


 (g)  cookie consent - we use cookies to store your preferences in relation to the use of cookies more generally (cookies used for this purpose are: consent cookies)




3.     Cookies used by our service providers

3.1   Our service providers use cookies and those cookies may be stored on your computer when you visit our website.


3.2   We use Google Analytics to analyse the use of our website. Google Analytics gathers information about website use by means of cookies. The information gathered relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of our website. Google's privacy policy is available at:https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/. The relevant cookies are: analytics cookies.


3.3   We use affiliate networks and Skimlinks to track transactions completed after you’ve clicked on a link to an external store. This service uses cookies for attributing the transaction back to our website.




4.     Managing cookies

4.1   Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies and to delete cookies. The methods for doing so vary from browser to browser, and from version to version. You can however obtain up-to-date information about blocking and deleting cookies via these links:

(a)  https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en (Chrome);


(b)  https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences (Firefox);


(c)    http://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/cookies/ (Opera);


(d)  https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies (Internet Explorer);


(e)  https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411 (Safari); and


(f)    https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy (Edge).


4.2   Blocking all cookies will have a negative impact upon the usability of many websites.


4.3   If you block cookies, you will not be able to use all the features on our website.