Cookie Policy

Effective Date: November 1, 2025

Last Updated: November 1, 2025

Version: 1.0.0

1. Introduction

PAACS Software Ltd (“PAACS”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), a company registered in England and Wales, uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website located at https://paacs.pro and all subdomains (the “Website”). This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and your rights and choices regarding their use.

This Policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy, which provides additional information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal data.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files consisting of letters and numbers that are placed on your computer, mobile device, or other equipment when you access our Website. The web server sends cookies to your browser, which stores them and sends them back to the server each time you visit our Website.

Cookies enable websites to recognize your device and remember information about your visit, such as your preferred settings, login status, and browsing behavior. They cannot harm your computer, spread viruses, or access personal information stored on your hard drive.

3. Categories of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

• Purpose: Essential for website operation and security
• Function: Enable core functionality including user authentication, session management, security features, and load balancing
• Examples: Session ID cookies, authentication tokens, CSRF protection cookies
• Retention: Session duration or up to 24 hours
• Legal Basis: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR)

3.2 Performance/Analytics Cookies

• Purpose: Collect aggregated information about website usage
• Function: Help us understand visitor behavior, identify technical issues, and improve website performance
• Provider: Google Analytics (GA4)
• Data Collected: Page views, session duration, bounce rates, traffic sources, anonymized IP addresses
• Retention: Up to 26 months
• Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)

3.3 Functionality Cookies

• Purpose: Remember your preferences and choices
• Function: Store settings such as language preference, theme selection (light/dark mode), cookie consent status
• Retention: Up to 12 months
• Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)

3.4 Security Cookies

• Purpose: Protect against automated abuse and spam
• Provider: Google reCAPTCHA v3
• Function: Distinguish between human users and bots
• Data Processing: Subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
• Retention: Up to 6 months
• Legal Basis: Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR)

4. Third-Party Cookies

We use services from trusted third-party providers that may set their own cookies:

• Google Analytics: For website analytics. Google's Cookie Policy
• Google reCAPTCHA: For security and spam prevention. Google Privacy Policy
• OAuth Providers: When you choose to authenticate using GitHub or Google, these providers may set cookies for authentication purposes
• Cloudflare: For content delivery and DDoS protection. Cloudflare Cookie Policy

5. Cookie Management and Your Rights

5.1 Cookie Consent

Upon your first visit to our Website, you will be presented with a cookie banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies
• Customize your cookie preferences by category

Your preferences are stored for 12 months, after which you will be asked to confirm them again.

5.2 Browser Controls

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View what cookies are stored on your device
• Delete cookies individually or entirely
• Block third-party cookies
• Block all cookies from specific websites
• Block all cookies from being set
• Enable "Do Not Track" signals

5.3 Impact of Disabling Cookies

Please note that disabling certain cookies may impact your use of our Website:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Disabling these will prevent you from accessing secure areas, maintaining login sessions, or using core functionality
• Performance Cookies: We will be unable to gather analytics to improve our services
• Functionality Cookies: Your preferences will not be remembered between visits

6. Data Protection and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect cookie data:

• All cookies containing sensitive data are encrypted
• Secure flags are set on all authentication cookies
• HttpOnly flags prevent client-side script access where appropriate
• SameSite attributes protect against CSRF attacks
• Regular security audits and updates

7. International Data Transfers

Some of our third-party cookie providers process data outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• EU-approved Standard Contractual Clauses
• Adequacy decisions by the European Commission
• Privacy Shield certification (where applicable)

8. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through cookies. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

9. Updates to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this Cookie Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be communicated through:

• A prominent notice on our Website
• Email notification to registered users (where applicable)
• A renewed request for cookie consent

10. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us:

11. Regulatory Information

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe our use of cookies infringes applicable data protection laws: