Cookie Policy
Effective July 2026 · Version 3.0
1. What are cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device on future visits, remember your preferences, and collect information about how you use the site.
Similar technologies include web beacons (invisible image pixels that track page visits and email opens), local storage (browser-side key-value storage), and session storage (temporary in-memory storage cleared when you close your browser tab). This policy covers all such technologies collectively referred to as "cookies".
Cookies cannot access other files on your device, run executable programs, or carry viruses.
2. Legal framework
Our use of cookies is governed by:
- GDPR (EU) - Regulation (EU) 2016/679: Requires freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent for non-essential cookies from EU/EEA visitors.
- UK GDPR and PECR: UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations require prior consent for non-essential cookies from UK visitors.
- CCPA/CPRA (California): Requires disclosure of cookies used for analytics and advertising and the right to opt out.
- ePrivacy Directive: EU law requiring informed consent before placing cookies that are not strictly necessary.
We implement a cookie consent banner on your first visit that allows you to accept, decline, or customise non-essential cookie categories. You can update your preferences at any time.
3. Cookie categories we use
Category 1 - Strictly necessary (always active)
These cookies are essential for the website and client portal to function. They cannot be disabled because the site cannot operate without them. They do not collect any information that could be used for marketing or tracking outside this website.
Legal basis: Legitimate interests / technically necessary (consent not required under GDPR Recital 47 and ePrivacy Directive Art. 5(3) exemption).
Category 2 - Functional / preference (always active)
These cookies remember choices you make to improve your experience. They do not track your browsing activity across other websites. They are enabled by default as they are reasonably necessary to deliver the service you expect.
Category 3 - Analytics (requires consent)
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website. They collect information in aggregate and anonymised form, including the number of visitors, their origin, and the pages they visit. This data helps us improve the site and our services.
Legal basis: Consent (opt-in via cookie banner).
Category 4 - Marketing / advertising (requires consent)
Marketing cookies track your browsing behaviour to allow us and our advertising partners to show you relevant advertisements on this and other websites. They build a profile of your interests based on your activity.
Legal basis: Consent (opt-in via cookie banner).
4. Full cookie list
The table below lists all cookies and similar technologies currently in use on this website:
| Cookie name | Set by | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | ACKINGLOBAL | Strictly necessary | Maintains your login session in the client portal. Prevents you from having to log in on every page. | Session (cleared on browser close or logout) |
| ack_cookie_consent | ACKINGLOBAL | Strictly necessary | Stores your cookie preference choices so we do not display the consent banner on every visit. | 365 days |
| ack_csrf_token | ACKINGLOBAL | Strictly necessary | Security token that protects all forms on this site from cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks. | Session |
| ack_theme | ACKINGLOBAL | Functional | Remembers your light or dark mode display preference so you see your chosen theme on return visits. | 365 days |
| ack_utm (session storage) | ACKINGLOBAL | Functional | Stores UTM campaign parameters and referral source for the current session so we can understand which marketing efforts brought you to the site. Not shared externally. | Session (browser tab) |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Analytics (consent) | Assigns a unique, anonymised ID to each visitor to distinguish users and track sessions. Used to generate aggregate website usage reports. | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics (GA4) | Analytics (consent) | Maintains session state for Google Analytics 4. Stores a unique ID for each session to calculate engagement metrics. | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Analytics (consent) | Assigns a unique ID used to distinguish users for a 24-hour period. Used to count visits and traffic sources. | 24 hours |
| _gat / _gat_UA-* | Google Analytics | Analytics (consent) | Throttles the rate of requests to Google Analytics to prevent overloading the service. | 1 minute |
| _fbp | Meta (Facebook) | Marketing (consent) | Used by Facebook/Meta to deliver and measure advertising products. Identifies browsers to track across websites that embed Facebook Pixel. | 90 days |
| _fbc | Meta (Facebook) | Marketing (consent) | Stores the click identifier from Facebook ads to attribute conversions back to specific ad campaigns. | 90 days |
| cf_clearance / __cf_bm | Cloudflare Turnstile | Strictly necessary | Security cookies set by Cloudflare to distinguish legitimate visitors from bots and protect forms from automated abuse. | 30 minutes to 24 hours |
This list is updated when we add or remove cookies. Last reviewed: July 2026.
5. Third-party cookies
Some features of this website involve third-party services that may set their own cookies independent of our control. These include:
- Google (Analytics, Ads, Tag Manager) - see Google Privacy Policy and Google Analytics Opt-out.
- Meta / Facebook - see Meta Privacy Policy. Manage ad preferences at Facebook Ad Preferences.
- Cloudflare Turnstile - see Cloudflare Privacy Policy.
- Stripe / Paystack (payment pages only) - may set security and fraud-prevention cookies on checkout pages. See Stripe Privacy Policy and Paystack Privacy Policy.
We do not control third-party cookies. Please refer to each provider's privacy and cookie policy for information on how to opt out.
6. How to manage your preferences
You have several ways to control cookies:
6.1 Our cookie banner
On your first visit, a cookie preferences banner allows you to accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customise your choices by category. You can re-open this banner and change your preferences at any time.
6.2 Browser settings
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Common options include blocking all cookies, blocking third-party cookies only, or being notified before a cookie is placed. Note that disabling strictly necessary cookies will prevent the client portal from functioning.
6.3 Industry opt-out tools
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out - US
- Your Online Choices - EU/UK
- AdChoices Canada
- Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
7. Do Not Track
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Currently there is no universally accepted standard for responding to DNT signals. We do not alter our data collection practices in response to DNT signals, but you may use the opt-out methods in Section 6 to achieve the same result.
8. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as our use of cookies changes or to reflect updates in applicable law. We will post the revised policy on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the website after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. Where changes are material, we will reset the consent banner so you can review and resubmit your preferences.
9. Contact
Questions about our use of cookies or this policy:
Email: hello@ackinglobal.com
Website: https://ackinglobal.com
For complaints about our use of cookies, EU/EEA residents may contact their national data protection authority and UK residents may contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).