Cookie Policy

This policy explains how cookies and similar technologies are used on SiteExpert, for account security, service operation, payments, and optional analytics.

1. What are cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you browse a website. They may be first-party cookies (set by SiteExpert) or third-party cookies (set by integrated providers, such as payment or analytics services).

2. Cookie categories used on this website

• Strictly necessary cookies – required for core features such as secure login sessions, CSRF/session continuity, and account actions.
• Preference/consent cookies – used to remember your cookie consent decision, your language choice for the site and related UI behavior.
• Payment/security provider cookies – may be placed by Stripe during secure checkout and anti-fraud controls.
• Analytics cookies – loaded only after explicit consent (for example, Google Analytics), to understand aggregate usage and improve service quality.

3. Examples of cookies/signals in use

• Authentication/session: secure account token and PHP session-related cookies used to keep users logged in and protect account flows.
• Consent: cookie/local storage entry that stores your choice (accepted/rejected) for non-essential cookies.
• Language: the lang cookie, which remembers whether you view the site in English or Romanian (12 months).
• Checkout context: payment provider technical cookies set in Stripe-hosted pages.

4. Legal basis

Strictly necessary cookies are processed based on legitimate interest and/or necessity for service delivery. Non-essential cookies (such as analytics) are used only after your consent, in accordance with GDPR and Romanian ePrivacy requirements.

5. Consent management

When you first visit the site, you can accept or reject non-essential cookies from the cookie banner. You can revisit your choice at any time from cookie controls and by clearing browser cookies/storage.

6. Third-party technologies

Where enabled, third-party services (such as Stripe or Google Analytics) may set their own cookies according to their respective policies. We encourage you to review those policies for detailed provider-side processing information.

7. Cookie lifetime

Cookie duration varies by category: some are session-only, while others persist for a limited period (for example, consent preference up to 12 months) unless manually removed.

8. How to control cookies in your browser

You can block or delete cookies from browser settings. Please note that disabling strictly necessary cookies may affect login, checkout, and account management functionality.

9. Policy updates

We may update this policy when technologies, legal requirements, or service integrations change. The latest version is always available on this page.

10. Contact

For questions about cookie usage and privacy, contact contact@siteexpert.net.