This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which cookies theblowouttaper.com uses, why we use them, and how you can control them. Reading this policy alongside our Privacy Policy gives you a complete picture of how we handle data on this Site.
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device — computer, phone, or tablet — when you visit it. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide information to site owners about how their content is being used.
Cookies are not programs and cannot carry viruses or install malicious software. They contain only text — typically a unique identifier that links your browser to a record on the website's server. Some cookies are deleted when you close your browser (session cookies); others remain on your device until they expire or you delete them manually (persistent cookies).
Not all tracking technologies are cookies in the strict sense. Pixels, web beacons, and local storage are similar technologies that serve related purposes. Where this policy refers to "cookies," it covers these related technologies as well unless stated otherwise.
The Blowout Taper uses a minimal set of cookies. We do not use advertising cookies, social media tracking cookies, or cookies that build profiles of individual users for commercial purposes. The cookies on this Site fall into two categories:
These cookies are necessary for the Site to function. Without them, certain features — such as form submissions and page security checks — would not work correctly. Essential cookies do not collect personal information and are not used for tracking or analytics purposes.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress_sec | WordPress security token — verifies authenticated sessions | Session |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Checks whether the browser accepts cookies before login | Session |
| wp-settings-* | Stores user interface preferences for WordPress admin users | 1 year |
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with the Site in aggregate — which pages are read most, where traffic comes from, and what devices are used. This helps us improve the content and structure of the Site. Google Analytics does not receive personally identifiable information from this Site.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Stores and counts page views for a specific Google Analytics property | 2 years |
| _gid | Distinguishes users — stores and updates a unique value for each page visited | 24 hours |
| _gat | Used to throttle request rate — limits data collection on high-traffic sites | 1 minute |
Google Analytics data is processed by Google LLC in accordance with their own privacy and data policies. You can review Google's Privacy Policy and opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
To be explicit about what this Site does not do:
You have several options for controlling cookies on this Site and across the web:
All major browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through their settings. You can typically find these options under Privacy, Security, or History settings. The steps vary by browser — use the links below for instructions specific to yours:
Note that disabling all cookies may affect the functionality of some features on this Site, including contact form submissions.
To prevent your data from being used by Google Analytics across all websites you visit, install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. This is the most reliable method for opting out of analytics tracking site-wide rather than on a per-site basis.
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal to websites you visit. This Site does not currently respond to DNT signals because there is no consistent industry standard for how they should be interpreted. If a standard is established, we will review this position and update this policy accordingly.
We may update this Cookie Policy if we add new features, change analytics providers, or if applicable law requires us to do so. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have questions about how cookies are used on this Site, contact us via the Contact page. We aim to respond within two to three business days.