Cookie Policy
Last updated: 20 December 2025
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how Serzi.com (“we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies, and how you can control them.
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used for things like remembering preferences, enabling security features, and measuring how a site is used.
The UK cookie rules are set out in PECR, and the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) explains that websites must provide clear information about cookies and obtain consent for any cookies that are not strictly necessary.
1) What are cookies and similar technologies?
Cookies
A cookie is a small file stored on your browser/device. Some last only while your browser is open (“session cookies”), and others remain for longer (“persistent cookies”).
Similar technologies
We may also use similar technologies that store or access information on your device, such as:
- pixels/tags (small code snippets used for measurement),
- local storage (browser storage),
- identifiers used for ad measurement and fraud prevention.
PECR covers cookies and similar technologies used to store or access information on your device.
2) Why we use cookies
We use cookies for these main reasons:
- Strictly necessary functions (security, fraud prevention, load balancing, remembering cookie preferences)
- Analytics (understanding which articles are read and how people navigate)
- Advertising (funding the website using Google AdSense, including reporting and ad frequency control)
- Embedded content (e.g., YouTube and social embeds that may set third-party cookies)
The ICO makes clear that you cannot set non-essential cookies before a user consents, and consent must involve a clear positive action (not just “continuing to browse”).
3) Cookie categories we use
Most cookie banners group cookies into categories. We use (or may use) the following:
A) Strictly Necessary Cookies (always on)
These cookies are needed to:
- keep Serzi.com secure,
- prevent abuse/fraud,
- manage traffic and reliability,
- remember your cookie preferences.
Because they are essential, they do not normally require consent.
Cloudflare (security/performance)
Serzi.com uses Cloudflare to improve performance and protect the site. Cloudflare may set cookies that are necessary for security features such as bot protection, rate limiting, and challenge verification.
B) Analytics Cookies (optional)
These cookies help us understand how visitors use the site (e.g., which pages are popular). We use Google Analytics (GA4), which allows site owners to control cookie behaviour and expiry.
We only activate analytics cookies where required and where you have given consent via our cookie settings.
C) Advertising Cookies (optional)
We use Google AdSense to display ads. Google explains AdSense uses cookies for purposes like ad relevance, reporting, and avoiding showing the same ad too often.
Google also describes advertising cookies such as IDE/id and others used to show ads on non-Google sites and store ad preferences, including typical lifespans in the UK.
If you do not accept advertising cookies, you may still see ads, but they may be less personalised (depending on configuration and availability).
Important AdSense consent note (UK): Google requires publishers serving personalised ads in the UK to use a Google-certified Consent Management Platform (CMP) integrated with the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF).
D) Embedded Content & Social Media Cookies (optional)
Some pages may contain embedded content (for example YouTube videos or embedded social posts). These third parties may set cookies or access device identifiers when the embed loads.
YouTube provides a “privacy-enhanced mode” for embeds using the youtube-nocookie.com domain and explains that views from privacy-enhanced embeds are not used to personalise the viewer’s YouTube browsing experience, and ads shown in that mode are non-personalised.
4) Cookies used on Serzi.com
Cookies can change over time based on:
- your cookie choices,
- browser settings,
- updates by Google/Cloudflare/social platforms,
- whether you interact with embedded content.
So the list below is representative (common cookies you may see), not guaranteed.
A) Strictly Necessary (Cloudflare/security)
Cloudflare documents several cookies that may appear depending on which Cloudflare features are enabled:
| Cookie name | Provider | Typical purpose | Category |
| __cf_bm | Cloudflare | Helps Cloudflare bot protection work; used to distinguish humans/bots; expires after inactivity | Strictly Necessary |
| __cfruid | Cloudflare | Required to support Cloudflare rate limiting | Strictly Necessary |
| _cfuvid | Cloudflare | Helps Cloudflare distinguish users who share the same IP (rate limiting option) | Strictly Necessary |
| cf_clearance | Cloudflare | Proof a visitor passed a security challenge | Strictly Necessary |
B) Analytics (Google Analytics / GA4)
Google Analytics cookie names and lifetimes can vary by setup, but commonly include cookies used to recognise browsers and measure sessions. Google also allows site owners to configure cookie expiration within GA4 settings.
Examples you may see:
- _ga and related GA cookies (used to distinguish users and measure interactions)
If you want, you can keep this policy conservative by listing GA cookies as “may include _ga and related identifiers” rather than promising exact names.
C) Advertising (Google AdSense / Google ad cookies)
Google explains that:
- AdSense uses cookies to improve advertising and reporting.
- Google advertising cookies like IDE/id may be used to show ads on non-Google sites and store personalisation preferences, with typical lifespans described for the UK.
Examples you may see:
- IDE / id (Google advertising cookies on non-Google sites)
- _gads and _gac_… (cookies used for ad delivery and campaign measurement in some setups)
D) Embedded content (YouTube/social platforms)
If you load embedded videos or social widgets, those platforms may set their own cookies/identifiers. YouTube also supports “privacy-enhanced mode” embeds via youtube-nocookie.com.
5) How you can control cookies
A) Use our cookie settings tool
Manage Cookies / Privacy Settings:
The ICO explains consent must be informed and given through a clear positive action, and it must be easy for users to refuse/withdraw non-essential cookies.
B) Browser controls
You can also control cookies in your browser, including blocking third-party cookies, deleting cookies, or using private browsing modes.
6) What happens if you reject cookies?
- Strictly necessary cookies still run (security and basic site function).
- If you reject analytics, we won’t use analytics cookies for measuring.
- If you reject advertising cookies, you may still see ads, but they may be less personalised and measurement may be limited (depending on configuration).
- If you reject embedded content cookies, some embedded features may not load unless you choose to enable them.
7) Updates to this Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as we add, remove, or change services and features. The updated version will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date.
8) Contact
If you have questions about cookies on Serzi.com, contact:
Email: [email protected]