Cookie Policy
Introduction
At New Site (“we”, “us”, “our”), we use cookies and similar technologies on byvirens.co.uk (“Website”). This policy explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and how you can control them.
Our cookie banner does not load non-essential cookies until you give permission. If you consent, we may use Google Analytics, Google Ads and the Meta Pixel to help us measure website performance and advertising effectiveness. These services may use cookies, IP addresses, device information and other online identifiers for measurement, attribution and, where enabled, advertising personalisation.
We may also use a WhatsApp chat plugin (JoinChat). In some setups, it stores small amounts of information in your browser’s local storage to manage when the chat window appears.
1) What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They help websites work, remember preferences and provide information to site owners.
- Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies remain until they expire or you delete them.
We also use similar technologies, such as local storage and pixels. For simplicity, we refer to these collectively as “cookies” in this policy where appropriate.
2) How We Use Cookies
- Make the site work, for example, by remembering your cookie choices and supporting security or forms.
- Measure and improve website performance and content, with your consent.
- Measure advertising effectiveness, conversions and attribution and, where enabled, support advertising personalisation, with your consent.
Where these technologies involve personal data, we process it in line with our Privacy Policy.
3) Your Choices & Our Legal Basis
- Strictly necessary cookies and similar technologies are used where needed to provide the service you request, such as security, form functionality and remembering your cookie choice. These do not normally require consent.
- Analytics and advertising technologies are only enabled for consent-based purposes after you give consent. Depending on the services used, this may involve cookies, IP addresses, device information and other online identifiers.
4) What We Load (By Category)
A. Strictly Necessary (Always On)
Purpose: Enables essential functionality such as security, accessibility and storing your cookie preferences.
Examples: Consent status cookie; WordPress session cookies for logged-in administrators.
Control: These cannot normally be switched off without affecting site functionality, although you can block them using your browser settings.
| Cookie Name | Domain | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| seopress-user-consent-accept | .byvirens.co.uk | Remembers your cookie consent choice. | 30 days |
B. Performance & Analytics (Consent-Based)
Tool: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) via Consent Mode.
Purpose: Understand how visitors use our site, for example, pages viewed and interactions, so we can improve its content and usability. Google may process information including device details, online identifiers and an IP address. Where Google Analytics is linked to Google Ads and you have given the relevant consent, information may also be used for advertising measurement or personalisation.
If Google Consent Mode is used, Google’s tags may adjust how they behave based on your consent choices. No analytics or advertising cookies are set unless you consent. Depending on how Consent Mode is configured, limited technical signals may still be sent to Google without using analytics or advertising cookies.
Control: Consent-based analytics and advertising features are off by default and enabled only if you consent.
| Cookie Name | Domain | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | .byvirens.co.uk | Helps Google Analytics distinguish users and measure website usage. | ~2 years |
| _ga_[PROPERTY_ID] | .byvirens.co.uk | Helps Google Analytics maintain session information. [PROPERTY_ID] varies by site. | ~2 years |
C. Advertising & Conversion (Consent-Based)
Tools: Google Ads (conversion and advertising services), Meta Pixel.
Purpose: Measure the effectiveness of our advertising and understand which ads or content lead to enquiries or other actions. Where enabled and you have given consent, advertising providers may use information such as cookies, IP addresses, device information and other online identifiers for advertising measurement, attribution and personalisation.
In many cases, we use GA4 events for conversion tracking and import those conversions into Google Ads rather than using separate Google Ads conversion tags.
Control: Off by default; enabled only if you consent.
Note: These technologies may not be active on every site. They are only used where the relevant services are configured and, where consent is required, after you have given it.
| Cookie Name | Domain | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| _gcl_au | .byvirens.co.uk | Used by Google Ads to help measure advertising efficiency and conversions. | 90 days |
| _gcl_aw | .byvirens.co.uk | Stores ad click information to help attribute conversions to Google Ads. | 90 days |
| _gcl_dc | .byvirens.co.uk | Stores ad click information for Google advertising products when enabled. | 90 days |
| _gcl_gb | .byvirens.co.uk | Helps store campaign information for Google Ads when enabled. | 90 days |
| _gac_gb_<wpid> | .byvirens.co.uk | Stores campaign information for Google Ads. The identifier varies by site and configuration. | 90 days |
| _gcl_gs | .byvirens.co.uk | Helps measure advertising and support conversion attribution when enabled. | 90 days |
| IDE | .doubleclick.net | Used by Google advertising services to help serve and measure advertising where enabled. | 13 months (UK/EEA) |
| test_cookie | .doubleclick.net | Checks whether the browser supports cookies. | 15 minutes |
D. Functional (If Forms Or Plugins Are Used)
Purpose: Supports website features and user experience. These technologies are not used by us for advertising.
Tool: WPForms.
Purpose: Supports form functionality, including features that may help recognise repeat submissions or maintain form-related settings.
Control: Some functionality may be necessary for forms to work correctly.
| Cookie Name | Domain | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| _wpfuuid | .byvirens.co.uk | Supports form functionality and may help recognise repeat submissions. | ~11 months |
Tool: JoinChat (WhatsApp floating button).
Purpose: Controls when the WhatsApp chat window should be displayed and helps prevent the same prompt appearing repeatedly.
Control: You can clear site data or local storage in your browser to remove these entries.
| Storage Name | Domain | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| joinchat_views | .byvirens.co.uk | LocalStorage key used to manage when the chat window auto-displays. | No fixed expiry (LocalStorage) |
| joinchat_hashes | .byvirens.co.uk | LocalStorage key used to track which prompts have been shown. | No fixed expiry (LocalStorage) |
5) Managing Cookies
- Cookie Settings: Use the cookie banner or settings link to accept, reject or change your choices at any time.
- Browser Controls: Most browsers let you block or delete cookies. Doing so may affect site functionality, especially where strictly necessary cookies are involved. You can also clear site data or local storage to remove information stored by website features.
6) Third Parties & International Transfers
If you consent to analytics or advertising, information such as website activity, device information, online identifiers and IP addresses may be shared with or processed by Google and/or Meta, depending on the services used on this Website.
These providers may process personal data outside the UK. Where this happens, appropriate safeguards are used where required by data protection law. For more information about how we handle personal data, see our Privacy Policy.
7) Changes To This Policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in the cookies or technologies we use, changes to our services, or legal requirements. We will update the “Last Updated” date and, where appropriate, ask you to review your preferences again.
8) Contact Us
If you have any questions about this policy or our use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact us.
Last Updated: September 30, 2026
New Site (byvirens.co.uk)