Legal
Cookie Policy
Last updated August 13, 2026.
The Internet Compass uses two categories of cookie: analytics and advertising. We don't run our own retargeting or cross-site tracking beyond what Google Analytics and Google AdSense set on our behalf, both gated by the same consent choice described below.
How consent actually works here
On your first visit you'll see a banner with two options: "Accept" or "Necessary only." Analytics and ad-personalization cookies are set to denied by default before any tracking or ad script loads — not just hidden or unused, actually blocked at the script level via Google's Consent Mode. Nothing is written until you click Accept. Choosing "Necessary only" keeps that denial in place (you may still see ads, just not personalized ones); we still record that you made a choice (see the local storage row below) so we don't ask again on your next visit.
What's set
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Analytics (only after Accept) | Distinguishes visitors, Google Analytics | 2 years |
| _ga_<container-id> | Analytics (only after Accept) | Persists session state, Google Analytics 4 | 2 years |
| __gads / __gpi | Advertising (only after Accept) | Ad delivery and frequency, Google AdSense | Up to 13 months |
| IDE | Advertising (only after Accept) | Ad personalization, Google (doubleclick.net) | Up to 13 months |
| ic-cookie-consent | Local storage, not a cookie — strictly necessary | Remembers your Accept / Necessary-only choice | Until cleared |
What's not set
No session cookies for accounts (the site doesn't have accounts), and nothing set by the free tools under /tools — they process everything in your browser and don't communicate with our servers at all.
Managing your choice
- Change your choice
- Clear this site's local storage in your browser settings and reload — the banner reappears.
- Block at the browser level
- Any browser's cookie/site-data settings can block third-party or all cookies for this domain.
- Opt out of Google Analytics specifically
- Google publishes a browser add-on for this at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Changes to this policy
If what we set changes, this page and its "last updated" date will change with it — we won't add a new tracking category without updating this policy first.
Contact
Questions: editorial@theinternetcompass.com. See also our Privacy Policy.