Cookie Policy

Last Updated: December 2024

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to the website owners.

2. How We Use Cookies

The STL Trenches uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. We use the following types of cookies:

2.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

  • Session Management: Cookies that maintain your login session and user preferences
  • Security: Cookies that help protect against security threats

Legal Basis: These cookies are essential for the website to function and do not require consent under EU law.

2.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to analyze website usage.

  • Google Analytics: Tracks page views, user interactions, and website performance metrics
  • Purpose: To improve website functionality and user experience

Legal Basis: These cookies require your consent. You can accept or reject them using our cookie banner.

Data Processing: Google Analytics processes data in accordance with Google's privacy policy. Data may be processed in the United States. We use Google Analytics with IP anonymization enabled.

2.3 Marketing Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver advertisements that are relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

  • Advertising Cookies: Used to show you relevant ads based on your browsing behavior
  • Remarketing: Cookies that enable us to show you ads on other websites

Legal Basis: These cookies require your consent. Currently, we do not use marketing cookies, but this category is available for future use.

3. Google Analytics and Consent Mode

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) with Consent Mode v2, which is compliant with EU privacy regulations including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive.

  • Consent Mode: Google Analytics only processes data after you have given consent for analytics cookies
  • IP Anonymization: We have enabled IP anonymization in Google Analytics
  • Data Retention: Google Analytics data is retained according to Google's default settings (14 months for standard data)
  • Data Sharing: We do not share your personal data with third parties except as required by Google Analytics service

4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by:

  • Clicking on the "Cookie Settings" link in our cookie banner or footer
  • Adjusting your browser settings to block or delete cookies

Note: Blocking essential cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

5. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. We currently use:

  • Google Analytics: For website analytics (requires consent)

These third parties may use cookies to collect information about your online activities across different websites. We do not control these third-party cookies.

6. Your Rights

Under the GDPR and other applicable privacy laws, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Rectify inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Object to processing of your data
  • Data portability
  • Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us through the website or update your cookie preferences using the cookie banner.

7. Cookie Duration

Cookies can be either "session" or "persistent" cookies:

  • Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser
  • Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them

8. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Cookie Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us through the website.

10. Browser-Specific Cookie Management

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Here are links to instructions for popular browsers: