Last updated: June 12, 2025
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files, often containing a unique identifier, that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”).
Other Local Storage Technologies: In addition to traditional cookies, websites may use similar technologies to store and access information on your device, such as:
- Local Storage: Storage space within your web browser that can hold more data than a cookie and is not sent to the server with every HTTP request.
- Session Storage: Similar to local storage, but the data is cleared when the browser tab is closed.
- IndexedDB: A low-level API for storing significant amounts of structured data.
For the purpose of this policy, all such technologies are referred to as “cookies.”
2. How and Why We Use Cookies
Consistent with the non-commercial, educational mission of awjunaid.com, our use of cookies is minimal and strictly focused on enhancing the core functionality and user experience of the site. We do not use cookies for commercial advertising, affiliate marketing, or cross-site tracking.
The specific purposes for which we use cookies are:
- Essential Operation (Strictly Necessary): To enable basic functions of the website, such as page navigation, access to secure areas (if any), and remembering your cookie consent preferences. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.
- Performance and Analytics (Performance): To understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve the quality and structure of our educational content. We analyze data such as:
- Number of visitors and their geographic region (at a country/city level, not precise location).
- Traffic sources (e.g., search engines, social media, direct links).
- Most and least popular pages and blog posts.
- Average time spent on the site and bounce rates.
- Preferences and Functionality (Functionality): To remember choices you make to improve your experience, such as your preferred language or font size. Currently, our site may not have extensive preferences, but this category allows for future usability enhancements.
3. Detailed Breakdown of The Cookies We Use
Given our non-commercial stance, the following is a typical list. You should audit your actual site to populate this table accurately.
| Cookie Category | Cookie Name | Purpose & Description | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | cookie_consent | Remembers your acceptance of the cookie policy to prevent the banner from reappearing. | 1 Year | First-Party |
| Strictly Necessary | PHPSESSID (or similar) | Preserves your session state across page requests (e.g., maintaining login for a admin area, if applicable). | Session | First-Party |
| Performance | _ga | Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish unique users. | 2 Years | First-Party |
| Performance | _gid | Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish users for a 24-hour period. | 24 Hours | First-Party |
| Performance | _gat | Google Analytics cookie used to throttle the request rate. | 1 Minute | First-Party |
Crucial Note on Third-Party Cookies:
In strict alignment with our non-commercial policy, awjunaid.com does not serve any third-party advertising, social media plug-in, or affiliate marketing cookies. We do not allow other companies to place cookies on our site for tracking or profiling purposes.
4. International Cookie Compliance Frameworks
While awjunaid.com is based in Pakistan, we acknowledge and respect the privacy laws of our international visitors.
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – European Union/EEA: The GDPR requires explicit, informed consent for the use of non-essential cookies. Our cookie banner is designed to meet this standard by providing clear information and requiring a positive action (e.g., clicking “Accept”) before any performance cookies are set. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
- ePrivacy Directive (EU Cookie Law): This specific EU law requires prior consent for the storage of cookies, except for those that are “strictly necessary.”
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)/CPRA – USA: While primarily focused on the sale of personal information, these laws grant Californians the right to know about and opt-out of certain types of tracking. As we do not sell data or use targeted advertising cookies, our practices are inherently compliant, but we still provide transparency through this policy.
- Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB) – Pakistan (Prospective): We are committed to complying with the evolving data protection landscape in Pakistan and will update our practices accordingly once the law is enacted.
5. How to Manage, Control, and Delete Cookies
You have the ultimate control over the use of cookies on your device. You can manage them through your browser settings or use third-party tools.
A. Browser-Based Controls:
You can set your browser to refuse all or some cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of this and many other websites you visit. The steps to manage cookies are different for each browser. Below are links to the help pages for the most common browsers:
To delete existing cookies:
You can clear all cookies already stored on your computer through your browser’s “Clear Browsing Data” or “Privacy & Security” settings. This will often log you out of websites and remove saved site preferences.
B. Opt-Out Tools for Analytics and Advertising (For General User Knowledge):
While we do not use these services, it is helpful to inform users about industry-standard opt-outs.
- Google Analytics: You can opt-out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): For websites that do use advertising, users can opt-out of interest-based advertising from participating companies by visiting YourAdChoices.
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): Similarly, you can opt-out via the NAI consumer opt-out page.
C. Managing Cookies on Your Mobile Device:
You can also manage the use of cookies on your mobile device through its operating system settings. Refer to your device’s “Help” or “Settings” menu for more information.
6. Your Rights
Under laws like the GDPR, you have rights concerning your personal data. Since some cookies can identify you, you have the right to:
- Access information held about you.
- Rectify inaccurate data we may hold.
- Erase your personal data (the “right to be forgotten”).
- Restrict or object to our processing of your data.
- Data portability.
- Withdraw your consent for non-essential cookies at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, particularly concerning data collected via cookies, please contact us using the information below. You can also manage your cookie preferences directly through our cookie banner or your browser settings.
7. Changes to This Cookies Policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in technology, law, or our data practices. We will post any changes on this page and, if the changes are significant, we may provide a more prominent notice, such as an announcement on our homepage. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
8. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookies Policy or your data, please contact us via the methods provided in our main Terms and Conditions.
Email: awjunaid@proton.me
Website: https://awjunaid.com