Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how eAssessment Vault ("we," "us," or "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our website. This policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy.

By using our website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with this Cookie Policy. If you do not agree to our use of cookies, you should disable them by following the instructions in this policy or by changing your browser settings.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and provide information to website owners.

Cookies contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive or browser memory. They typically contain:

• The name of the domain from which the cookie has come
• The "lifetime" of the cookie (how long it remains on your device)
• A randomly generated unique identifier

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions you take, such as logging in or filling in forms.

Examples:

• Session management cookies
• Authentication cookies (to keep you logged in)
• Security cookies (to prevent fraud and ensure secure connections)
• Load balancing cookies (to distribute traffic efficiently)

Legal Basis: These cookies are necessary for the performance of our contract with you and to provide our services.

3.2 Functional/Preference Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences and settings.

Examples:

• Theme preference (dark mode/light mode)
• Language preferences
• User interface customization settings
• Volume or video player settings

Storage: These preferences are typically stored in your browser's localStorage rather than cookies for better performance.

3.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use this data to improve our website and services.

Service Used: PostHog

Information Collected:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Navigation paths and click patterns
• Device and browser information
• General geographic location (country/city level)
• Referral sources (how you found our website)
• Feature usage and interaction patterns

Purpose: To analyze website traffic, understand user behavior, identify issues, and improve our services.

Data Retention: Analytics data is typically retained for PLACEHOLDER: [e.g., 90 days] in identifiable form, after which it is aggregated and anonymized.

3.4 Authentication Cookies (Clerk)

We use Clerk for secure user authentication. Clerk sets cookies to manage your login session and maintain account security.

Purpose:

• Keep you logged in across sessions
• Secure your account from unauthorized access
• Enable single sign-on functionality
• Manage session timeouts and security

For more information about Clerk's cookie usage, please see Clerk's privacy documentation.

4. Session vs. Persistent Cookies

4.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser. They are used to maintain your session state as you navigate through our website.

4.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them. They are used to remember your preferences and provide a personalized experience on return visits.

Typical Duration:

• Authentication cookies: Up to 30 days
• Preference cookies: Up to 1 year
• Analytics cookies: Up to 1 year

5. First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies

5.1 First-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set directly by our website. These include essential functionality cookies and preference cookies.

Domain: PLACEHOLDER: [yourdomain.com]

5.2 Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are set by external services we use, such as:

• Clerk: Authentication and session management
• PostHog: Analytics and user behavior tracking
• Razorpay: Payment processing (when applicable)

These services have their own privacy policies governing their use of cookies.

6. Local Storage and Similar Technologies

In addition to cookies, we use browser local storage and session storage to store certain data on your device. These technologies work similarly to cookies but offer better performance for certain types of data.

6.1 Local Storage

We use local storage to store:

• Theme preferences (dark/light mode)
• UI customization settings
• Cookie consent preferences
• Cached data for improved performance

6.2 Session Storage

We use session storage for temporary data that only needs to persist during your browsing session:

• Navigation state
• Form data (to prevent loss during navigation)
• Temporary UI state

6.3 IndexedDB

For certain features, we may use IndexedDB to store larger amounts of structured data locally for offline access or improved performance.

7. Cookie Consent and Your Choices

7.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, we display a cookie consent banner allowing you to accept or decline non-essential cookies. Your choice is stored so we don't ask again on subsequent visits.

7.2 Managing Cookie Preferences

You can manage your cookie preferences in several ways:

• Cookie Banner: Accept or decline cookies when first visiting our site
• Browser Settings: Configure your browser to block or delete cookies
• Opt-Out: Use browser extensions or privacy tools to control tracking

7.3 Essential Cookies Notice

Please note that if you block essential cookies, certain features of our website may not function properly, and you may not be able to access all areas of the site or use certain services (such as logging in).

8. Browser Controls

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Here are links to cookie management instructions for popular browsers:

• Google Chrome: Cookie settings in Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox: Cookie settings in Firefox
• Safari: Cookie settings in Safari
• Microsoft Edge: Cookie settings in Edge

For information about managing cookies on mobile devices, please refer to your device's manual or help documentation.

9. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that lets you tell websites you do not want your online activities tracked. Our website does not currently respond to DNT signals because there is no standard for how such signals should be interpreted.

However, you can control analytics tracking through our cookie consent banner or by blocking analytics cookies in your browser settings.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the cookies or privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the cookie policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Third-party services integrated into our platform (Clerk, PostHog, Razorpay, etc.) may set their own cookies. Please refer to their respective privacy and cookie policies for more information.

11. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons.

When we make material changes to this Cookie Policy, we will notify you by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Displaying a notice on our website
• Sending an email notification to registered users (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:

PLACEHOLDER: Company Name: [Your Legal Entity Name]
PLACEHOLDER: Email: [privacy@yourcompany.com]
PLACEHOLDER: Address: [Your Physical Address]

13. Detailed Cookie List

Below is a list of the primary cookies used on our website. Please note that this list may not be exhaustive and is subject to change.

Note: Cookie names may vary or be dynamically generated. The prefix or pattern is provided for identification purposes.