Cookie Preferences

Last Updated: October 21, 2025

1. Introduction to Cookies and Tracking Technologies

This Cookie Preferences page explains how HexaHacks, Inc. ("HexaHacks," "we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website (hexahacks.com) and Services. This page is part of our broader Privacy Policy and should be read in conjunction with it.

By using our Services, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy. You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings and the preferences outlined below.

2. What Are Cookies?

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

2.1 How Cookies Work

When you visit our website, our server sends a cookie to your device. Your browser stores the cookie and sends it back to our server on subsequent visits. This allows the website to recognize your device and remember information about your visit, such as your preferred language, login status, and other settings.

2.2 Similar Tracking Technologies

In addition to cookies, we use other tracking technologies that function similarly:

  • Web Beacons (Pixels): Small graphic images embedded in web pages or emails that track user behavior and measure campaign effectiveness
  • Local Storage: Technology that allows websites to store data locally on your browser, similar to cookies but with larger storage capacity
  • Session Storage: Temporary storage that is cleared when you close your browser
  • Scripts and Tags: JavaScript code that collects information about your interactions with our Services
  • Device Fingerprinting: Techniques that collect information about your device configuration to create a unique identifier

Throughout this document, we refer to all these technologies collectively as "cookies" for simplicity.

3. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies to enhance your experience, improve our Services, and understand how our Services are used. Specific purposes include:

  • Essential Functionality: Enable core features like authentication, security, and navigation
  • User Experience: Remember your preferences, settings, and previous interactions
  • Performance Monitoring: Understand how visitors use our Services and identify technical issues
  • Analytics and Insights: Analyze user behavior, traffic patterns, and demographic information
  • Personalization: Deliver customized content, recommendations, and features
  • Marketing and Advertising: Measure campaign effectiveness and deliver relevant advertisements
  • Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats

4. Types of Cookies We Use

We use four main categories of cookies, each serving different purposes. Under GDPR and ePrivacy regulations, we distinguish between essential cookies (which do not require consent) and non-essential cookies (which require your consent before being set).

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies (Essential)

Consent Required: No – These cookies are essential for the operation of our Services.

These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and cannot be disabled in our systems. They enable core functionality such as:

  • Authentication and Security: Verify your identity, maintain your login session, and protect against unauthorized access
  • Load Balancing: Distribute server load to ensure optimal performance
  • Form Functionality: Enable form submissions, input validation, and CSRF protection
  • Cookie Consent: Remember your cookie preferences and consent choices
  • Shopping Cart: Maintain items in your cart during checkout (for Delight platform)
  • Navigation: Enable basic navigation and access to secure areas

Examples of Strictly Necessary Cookies:

  • session_id – Maintains your authenticated session
  • csrf_token – Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks
  • cookie_consent – Stores your cookie consent preferences
  • load_balancer – Routes traffic to appropriate servers

Retention Period: Session cookies (deleted when browser closes) to 1 year for authentication tokens

4.2 Performance Cookies (Analytics)

Consent Required: Yes (under GDPR)

These cookies collect information about how visitors use our Services, helping us improve functionality and user experience. All information collected is aggregated and anonymized.

  • Page Analytics: Track which pages are visited, time spent on pages, bounce rates, and navigation paths
  • Error Tracking: Identify technical errors, broken links, and performance issues
  • Speed Monitoring: Measure page load times and identify performance bottlenecks
  • Traffic Sources: Understand where visitors come from (search engines, referral sites, direct traffic)
  • Device Analytics: Collect anonymous information about devices, browsers, and operating systems
  • A/B Testing: Test different versions of features to optimize user experience

Third-Party Services We Use:

Retention Period: 24 hours to 2 years, depending on the specific cookie

4.3 Functional Cookies (Preferences)

Consent Required: Yes (recommended, though some jurisdictions may not require it)

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, making your experience more convenient and tailored to your preferences.

  • Language Preferences: Remember your preferred language and regional settings
  • UI Customization: Save your layout preferences, theme choices (dark/light mode), and interface settings
  • Video Playback: Remember video player settings, volume, and playback preferences
  • Chat Features: Enable live chat functionality and remember chat history
  • Social Media Integration: Connect social media accounts and enable sharing features
  • Form Autofill: Remember previously entered form information (non-sensitive)
  • Accessibility: Store accessibility settings like font size, contrast, and screen reader preferences

Third-Party Services We Use:

Retention Period: 30 days to 2 years, depending on the feature

4.4 Marketing and Targeting Cookies (Advertising)

Consent Required: Yes (required under GDPR and ePrivacy Directive)

These cookies track your browsing activity across websites to build a profile of your interests and deliver relevant advertisements. They also measure advertising campaign effectiveness.

  • Behavioral Advertising: Display ads based on your browsing history and interests
  • Remarketing: Show ads to users who previously visited our Services
  • Conversion Tracking: Measure whether ads lead to desired actions (signups, purchases)
  • Campaign Attribution: Identify which marketing campaigns drive traffic and conversions
  • Frequency Capping: Limit the number of times you see the same advertisement
  • Cross-Device Tracking: Recognize users across multiple devices (with consent)

Third-Party Advertising Services:

  • Google Ads: Display advertising and remarketing
  • Facebook Pixel: Social media advertising and analytics
  • LinkedIn Insight Tag: Professional network advertising

Industry Opt-Out Programs:

Retention Period: 30 days to 2 years, depending on the advertising platform

5. Cookie Lifespan

Cookies have different durations depending on their purpose:

5.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary and are deleted automatically when you close your browser. They are primarily used for essential functionality like maintaining your login session during a single visit.

5.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device after you close your browser and are deleted after a specified period or when you manually delete them. Retention periods vary:

  • Short-term (24 hours to 30 days): Analytics, session persistence, temporary preferences
  • Medium-term (1 to 6 months): User preferences, authentication tokens, analytics
  • Long-term (1 to 2 years): Marketing cookies, persistent preferences, device recognition

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have the right to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie preferences through multiple methods:

6.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, a cookie consent banner will appear, allowing you to:

  • Accept All Cookies: Consent to all cookie categories
  • Reject Non-Essential Cookies: Only allow strictly necessary cookies
  • Customize Preferences: Choose specific cookie categories (performance, functional, marketing)

You can update your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer.

6.2 Browser Settings

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

  • Block all cookies from all websites
  • Block third-party cookies only
  • Accept cookies but delete them when you close your browser
  • Receive notifications when websites set cookies
  • Delete existing cookies from your device

6.3 Browser-Specific Instructions

Below are links to cookie management instructions for popular browsers:

6.4 Mobile Device Settings

For mobile devices, you can manage cookies through your device settings:

  • iOS (iPhone/iPad): Settings → Safari → Block All Cookies
  • Android: Chrome app → Settings → Site Settings → Cookies

6.5 Third-Party Opt-Out Tools

You can opt out of certain third-party cookies using these industry-standard tools:

7. Impact of Disabling Cookies

While you have the right to block or delete cookies, doing so may impact your experience on our Services:

7.1 Blocking Strictly Necessary Cookies

If you block strictly necessary cookies, you may experience:

  • Inability to log in or maintain authentication
  • Loss of items in shopping cart
  • Inability to submit forms or complete transactions
  • Reduced security protections
  • Website features may not function correctly

7.2 Blocking Performance Cookies

Blocking performance cookies will:

  • Prevent us from understanding how you use our Services
  • Limit our ability to identify and fix technical issues
  • Reduce our ability to optimize user experience

7.3 Blocking Functional Cookies

Disabling functional cookies means:

  • You'll need to re-enter preferences on each visit
  • Personalization features won't work
  • Video and chat features may not function properly
  • Some pages may not display correctly

7.4 Blocking Marketing Cookies

Blocking marketing cookies will:

  • Result in less relevant advertising
  • Prevent remarketing campaigns from reaching you
  • You may see the same advertisements repeatedly
  • Not reduce the number of ads you see, only their relevance

8. Legal Compliance and Your Rights

8.1 GDPR and ePrivacy Directive (EU)

Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy Directive, we:

  • Obtain your prior and explicit consent before setting non-essential cookies
  • Provide clear information about what cookies we use and why
  • Allow you to withdraw consent as easily as you provided it
  • Honor Do Not Track signals where technically feasible
  • Provide granular control over different cookie categories
  • Maintain records of your consent choices

8.2 Cookie Consent Requirements

In accordance with GDPR and ePrivacy regulations:

  • Strictly necessary cookies do not require consent
  • Performance, functional, and marketing cookies require affirmative consent before being set
  • Pre-checked boxes or implied consent (continued browsing) are not sufficient
  • You must take affirmative action (clicking "Accept" or selecting preferences)
  • Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous
  • Withdrawing consent must be as easy as providing it

8.3 International Users

If you are located outside the EU, different cookie laws may apply. We strive to comply with all applicable laws in jurisdictions where we operate. Please contact us if you have questions about compliance in your region.

9. Detailed Cookie List

Below is a comprehensive list of cookies currently in use on our Services. This list is updated regularly.

9.1 First-Party Cookies (Set by HexaHacks)

Cookie Name Purpose Category Duration
session_id Maintains user session Strictly Necessary Session
csrf_token Security protection Strictly Necessary Session
cookie_consent Stores cookie preferences Strictly Necessary 1 year
user_preferences Saves UI preferences Functional 6 months
language Remembers language preference Functional 1 year

9.2 Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are set by external services we use. For complete information about these cookies, please refer to the privacy policies of the respective services linked above.

10. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Preferences page from time to time to reflect changes in:

  • The cookies we use
  • Our cookie practices and technologies
  • Applicable laws and regulations
  • Third-party services and integrations

When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.

If we make significant changes that require new consent under applicable law, we will re-prompt you through our cookie consent banner.

11. Contact Us About Cookies

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding our use of cookies, please contact us:

HexaHacks, Inc.
Privacy Team
415 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

General Email: ask@hexahacks.com
Privacy Email: privacy@hexahacks.com
Data Protection Officer: dpo@hexahacks.com
Website: hexahacks.com

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days.

Additional Resources

Last Reviewed: October 21, 2025
Next Review: April 2026 (or sooner if significant changes occur)

Got any questions?

Please feel free to email us at ask@hexahacks.com

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