Last updated: October 17, 2026
The short version: We use a small number of cookies to keep you logged in, take payments, remember your light or dark mode choice, and understand how the Site is used. We don’t use advertising networks or ad-tracking cookies.
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files a website stores in your browser. “Local storage” is a similar browser feature that saves small settings on your device. Session cookies disappear when you close your browser; persistent ones stay until they expire or you delete them.
2. Cookies we use
(a) Essential
Needed for the Site to work. They can’t be switched off without breaking features like logging in or paying.
- wordpress_logged_in_*, wordpress_sec_*: keep you logged in. Expire when you close the browser, or after 14 days if you chose “Remember me.”
- wordpress_test_cookie: checks that your browser accepts cookies at login. Session.
- __stripe_mid, __stripe_sid: set by Stripe on checkout and billing pages for fraud prevention. 1 year and 30 minutes.
(b) Preferences
- gr-theme (local storage): remembers whether you chose light or dark mode. Stays until you clear site data.
- Community sidebar state (local storage): remembers whether you collapsed the sidebar in the members area.
- comment_author_*: if you comment without logging in and tick the box, remembers your name and email for next time. About 1 year.
(c) Analytics and chat
We use HubSpot to understand which pages are useful and to run the chat widget.
- __hstc, hubspotutk: recognize returning visitors and count visits. 6 months.
- __hssc, __hssrc: track the current visit. 30 minutes and session.
- messagesUtk: keeps your chat conversation if you use the chat widget. 6 months.
See HubSpot’s list of the cookies it sets for full details.
(d) Embedded content
Some tutorials embed YouTube videos. When you play one, YouTube (Google) may set its own cookies. Fonts load from Google Fonts, which receives your IP address but doesn’t set cookies.
3. What we don’t use
- No advertising-network or retargeting cookies. Banners marked “Advertisement” are affiliate promotions we choose ourselves. Their views and clicks are counted on our own server without cookies.
- No Google Analytics or Google AdSense.
4. Managing cookies
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies will stop you from logging in or paying. Help for each browser:
To clear your light or dark mode choice, clear this site’s data in your browser.
5. Changes
If we add or change cookies, we’ll update this page and the “Last updated” date.
6. Contact
Questions about cookies: [email protected]. For more on how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.