Cookie Policy - Static Fog

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, what types of cookies StaticFog (\

This Policy is part of our wider privacy framework and should be read alongside our Privacy Policy (https://staticfog.com/privacy-policy/) and our Terms & Conditions (https://staticfog.com/terms-and-conditions/), both of which are incorporated into this Cookie Policy by reference.

By continuing to use the Site after we present our cookie consent notice, and where required by law by actively accepting non-essential cookies, you agree to the use of cookies as described in this Policy. If you do not agree, you should adjust your cookie preferences or discontinue use of the Site.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet, or other internet-enabled device) by a website when you visit it. They are stored in your browser and sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit, or to another website that recognises that cookie. Cookies perform a variety of functions: they help websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, understand how you use the site, and enable advertising personalisation.

Cookies are not programs. They cannot execute code, carry viruses, install malware, or access any other data on your device beyond what the issuing website has permission to access.

2.1 First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set directly by StaticFog and are primarily used to make the Site work correctly and to remember your preferences. Third-party cookies are set by external services integrated into our Site — such as analytics providers, advertising networks, and social media platforms. Third parties set, access, and control their own cookies independently, in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies.

2.2 Session vs. Persistent Cookies

Session cookies are temporary. They are stored in your browser only during your current browsing session and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. They are typically used to maintain your session state as you navigate between pages. Persistent cookies remain on your device after your browser is closed, for a fixed period (defined by their expiry date) or until you delete them manually. They are used to remember your preferences and settings across multiple visits.

2.3 Similar Tracking Technologies

In addition to cookies, we and our partners may use the following similar tracking technologies, all of which are covered by this Cookie Policy:

Web beacons / pixel tags / clear GIFs: tiny, often invisible image files (1×1 pixels) embedded in web pages or emails that signal when a page has been loaded or an email has been opened, and transmit limited information such as the IP address and browser type
Local Storage (HTML5 Web Storage): a browser-side storage mechanism that allows websites to store data locally on your device with greater capacity and no automatic expiry compared to cookies
Session Storage: similar to Local Storage but cleared when the browser session ends
JavaScript tags and tracking pixels: code snippets that load when a page is visited and collect information about user behaviour and interactions
Device fingerprinting: a technique that identifies a device based on its unique combination of attributes (browser version, screen resolution, installed fonts, timezone, etc.) — used in limited contexts for fraud prevention and security
Advertising IDs: unique identifiers assigned by mobile operating systems (Apple’s IDFA, Google’s GAID) that function similarly to cookies for mobile advertising

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Our use of cookies is subject to the following legal frameworks, depending on your location:

EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC, as amended by 2009/136/EC) — the ‘Cookie Law’ applicable to EEA users, requiring prior informed consent for non-essential cookies
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, Regulation (EU) 2016/679) — governing how personal data processed via cookies is handled for EEA users
UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) — applicable to UK users, with equivalent consent requirements to the EU framework
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the CPRA — applicable to California residents, including rights related to data shared via cookies with advertising partners
Other applicable US state privacy laws (Virginia VCDPA, Colorado CPA, Connecticut CTDPA, Texas TDPSA, etc.) — which may impose similar opt-out rights

Under these frameworks, we distinguish between: (a) strictly necessary cookies, which are legally exempt from consent requirements because they are essential to provide the service you have requested; and (b) all other cookies, which require your prior, freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent before being placed on your device.

When you first visit the Site, our cookie consent management tool will ask for your preferences across each cookie category. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time — see Section 9 for how to do this.

4. Categories of Cookies We Use

We classify cookies used on the Site into five categories, described below. Detailed information about specific cookies in each category is provided in the tables in Section 5.

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

Legal basis: No consent required (Article 5(3) ePrivacy Directive exemption; legitimate interests). These cookies are essential for the Site to function. They enable core functionality such as session management, security, and your cookie consent preferences. Without these cookies, the Site cannot be provided. They cannot be disabled through our cookie consent tool, though you can block them through your browser settings (which may break Site functionality).

4.2 Performance & Analytics Cookies

Legal basis: Consent. These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Site by collecting information about which pages are visited most frequently, how long users spend on pages, where visitors come from, and how they navigate through the Site. The information collected is anonymised and aggregated and does not identify individual users. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you visited our Site and will be unable to monitor performance and improve content.

4.3 Functional Cookies

Legal basis: Consent. These cookies enable the Site to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation based on your previous interactions. For example, they may remember your display preferences (such as dark/light mode) or that you have previously dismissed a notification. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we use. If you do not allow these cookies, some features of the Site may not work as intended.

4.4 Targeting & Advertising Cookies

Legal basis: Consent. These cookies are set by advertising networks and our advertising partners. They track your browsing behaviour across multiple websites to build a profile of your interests, which is used to serve you more relevant advertisements both on our Site and on third-party websites. They operate by uniquely identifying your browser or device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will see less targeted, generic advertising. Your browsing experience will not otherwise be affected.

Legal basis: Consent. These cookies are set by social media platforms whose content or functionality we have integrated into the Site — such as share buttons, embedded videos, or follow widgets from YouTube, Twitter/X, or LinkedIn. These platforms may use these cookies to track your browser activity across other sites and to build a profile of your interests for their own advertising purposes, regardless of whether you interact with the social media feature. If you block these cookies, you may be unable to use embedded social content.

The tables below list the specific cookies and tracking technologies used on StaticFog, organised by category. This register is reviewed and updated periodically. Last reviewed: May 6, 2026.

6. Google Analytics — Detailed Disclosure

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect anonymised information about how users interact with the Site, including pages visited, session duration, navigation paths, device type, browser, and approximate geographic location.

IP Anonymisation

We have enabled IP anonymisation in our Google Analytics configuration. This means that Google truncates the last octet of your IP address within the European Union and European Economic Area member states before transmitting it to Google’s servers. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transmitted to Google servers in the USA and truncated there. Your full IP address is never stored by Google Analytics in connection with our Site.

Data Processing Agreement

We have entered into a Google Analytics Data Processing Agreement (DPA) as required by GDPR Article 28. Google processes analytics data on our behalf and is bound by our instructions and by applicable data protection law.

Data Sharing with Google

Google may use analytics data to improve its own products and services. We have reviewed Google’s data sharing settings and configured them in accordance with our data minimisation obligations. We have not enabled the Google Signals feature, which would allow cross-device tracking based on logged-in Google accounts.

How to Opt Out

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by:

Installing the official Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On, available at: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Adjusting your cookie preferences through our cookie consent tool (decline ‘Performance & Analytics’ cookies)
Blocking analytics cookies through your browser settings

For more information about how Google processes data, visit Google’s Privacy Policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy

7. Advertising, Interest-Based Targeting, and Affiliate Tracking

7.1 Interest-Based Advertising

We work with advertising partners — including Google AdSense, Google DoubleClick, and potentially Meta (Facebook) Audience Network — to display advertisements on the Site. These partners use cookies and similar technologies to:

Track your browsing behaviour across multiple websites over time
Build a profile of your inferred interests and demographics
Serve you advertisements that are more relevant to those inferred interests (\
Measure the reach and effectiveness of advertising campaigns
Apply frequency caps to prevent you from seeing the same advertisement excessively
Detect and prevent advertising fraud

We do not share your name, email address, or other directly identifying personal information with our advertising partners. However, these partners may independently identify you through cookie identifiers, device identifiers, hashed email addresses (if you are logged into a Google or Meta account), and other technical signals.

7.2 Opting Out of Interest-Based Advertising

You have several options to limit or opt out of interest-based advertising:

Google Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com — manage and opt out of Google’s ad personalisation
Meta Ad Preferences: https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/ — manage Facebook and Instagram ad preferences
Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) opt-out: https://optout.networkadvertising.org/ — opt out of NAI member companies
Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out: https://optout.aboutads.info/ — opt out of DAA member companies
European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA): https://www.youronlinechoices.com/ — for EEA/UK users
Our cookie consent tool: decline ‘Targeting & Advertising’ cookies when you visit the Site

Note that opting out of interest-based advertising does not mean you will stop seeing advertisements. It means the advertisements you see will not be personalised based on your browsing history and inferred interests.

7.3 Affiliate Tracking Cookies

Our content — particularly VPN reviews, software comparisons, and product recommendation articles — may contain affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link, affiliate tracking cookies may be set to identify your click and attribute any subsequent purchase or qualifying action to StaticFog. These cookies are typically set by the merchant’s affiliate platform, not by StaticFog directly.

Affiliate tracking is clearly disclosed at the top of articles containing affiliate links. The affiliate cookies set are those of the merchant or affiliate network (such as Impact Radius, CJ Affiliate, or similar platforms), and are governed by their respective privacy policies.

8. VPN Content and Third-Party Service Disclosures

A significant portion of StaticFog’s content relates to VPN services. When we link to VPN provider websites — whether through editorial content, reviews, or affiliate links — those VPN providers’ websites will set their own cookies on your device independently of StaticFog, once you visit their sites. StaticFog has no control over and accepts no responsibility for the cookies or tracking practices of any VPN provider or other third-party website you visit through our Site.

We recommend reviewing the cookie policy and privacy policy of any VPN service website you visit, particularly given that VPN providers’ privacy practices vary significantly and are a key factor in evaluating their suitability for privacy-conscious users.

When you first visit the Site, a cookie consent banner will be presented offering you the following choices:

Accept All — permit all cookies across all five categories
Reject All (Non-Essential) — block all cookies except strictly necessary cookies
Customise Preferences — individually accept or reject cookies in each category (Performance & Analytics, Functional, Targeting & Advertising, Social Media)

You can revisit and change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the \

9.2 Browser-Level Controls

All major web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings menus. You can configure your browser to block all cookies, block only third-party cookies, receive a notification before cookies are set, or delete existing cookies. The following links provide browser-specific cookie management instructions:

Google Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647
Mozilla Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences
Apple Safari (macOS): https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-sfri11471/mac
Apple Safari (iOS): https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
Microsoft Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/delete-cookies-in-microsoft-edge-63947406-40ac-c3b8-57b9-2a946a29ae09
Opera: https://help.opera.com/en/latest/web-preferences/#cookies
Brave: https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022806212
Samsung Internet (mobile): Settings > Privacy and Security > Sites and Downloads > Delete Browsing Data

Important: Blocking all cookies through your browser settings will disable strictly necessary cookies and will likely impair or break core Site functionality, including your ability to log in, maintain your session, and have your cookie preferences remembered.

9.3 Mobile Device Advertising Controls

On mobile devices, you can manage advertising identifiers assigned by your operating system:

Apple iOS (iPhone/iPad): Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking — disable \
Google Android: Settings > Google > Ads — enable \

9.4 Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers include a \

You can achieve the effect of DNT by using our cookie consent tool to decline non-essential cookies, or by using the browser and device controls described above.

9.5 Opt-Out Links for Specific Third-Party Services

In addition to the controls above, you can opt out directly from specific third-party services:

Google Analytics: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Google Ads personalisation: https://adssettings.google.com
Facebook/Meta ad preferences: https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/
Twitter/X personalisation: https://twitter.com/settings/account/personalization
LinkedIn ad preferences: https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out
NAI member opt-out: https://optout.networkadvertising.org/
DAA opt-out: https://optout.aboutads.info/
EDAA opt-out (EEA/UK): https://www.youronlinechoices.com/

10. Your Rights Regarding Cookies by Jurisdiction

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have the right to:

Withdraw your cookie consent at any time without penalty, through our cookie consent tool or browser settings
Object to the processing of your personal data collected via cookies, including for direct marketing purposes
Access, correct, or request deletion of personal data we have collected about you via cookies
Lodge a complaint with your national data protection supervisory authority if you believe your rights under the GDPR or ePrivacy Directive have been violated

If you are located in the United Kingdom, you have equivalent rights under the UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR). PECR requires that we obtain your prior informed consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device, and that you are able to withdraw that consent at any time. You may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk/ if you believe we have violated your cookie rights.

10.3 California Residents — CCPA/CPRA

If you are a California resident, the CCPA/CPRA provides you with specific rights concerning personal information collected via cookies:

Right to Know: the right to request disclosure of the categories of personal information collected via cookies, the purposes for which it is used, and the categories of third parties to whom it is disclosed or shared
Right to Delete: the right to request deletion of personal information collected via cookies
Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: StaticFog does not sell personal information. However, we may share data with advertising partners for cross-context behavioural advertising. California residents may opt out of such sharing by declining advertising cookies through our consent tool or by contacting us
Right to Non-Discrimination: you will not receive different service quality or pricing for exercising your CCPA cookie rights

To exercise your California rights, contact us at support@staticfog.com with the subject line \

10.4 Other US States

Residents of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Texas, and other US states with enacted comprehensive privacy laws may have rights to opt out of the use of personal data for targeted advertising purposes. To exercise these rights, adjust your cookie preferences through our consent tool or contact us at support@staticfog.com.

11. International Data Transfers via Cookies

Some cookies on the Site are set by third parties whose servers are located in the United States and other countries outside the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or your country of residence. When data collected by cookies is transferred internationally, we require that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission — for transfers from the EEA
UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or an addendum to EU SCCs — for transfers from the UK
Adequacy decisions — for transfers to countries recognised as providing an adequate level of data protection
Participation in approved data privacy frameworks

Key international data transfer situations arising from cookies on our Site:

Google LLC (USA) — Google Analytics and Google Ads cookies. Google participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and uses SCCs for UK transfers
Meta Platforms Inc. (USA) — Facebook advertising and social cookies. Meta relies on SCCs for EEA and UK transfers
Twitter/X Corp. (USA) — Twitter embedded content cookies
LinkedIn Corporation (USA) — LinkedIn social and advertising cookies
Hotjar Ltd. (Malta/EU) — analytics and heatmap cookies (within the EEA)

Retention periods for individual cookies are listed in the tables in Section 5. As a general summary:

Session cookies: automatically deleted when you close your browser
Persistent cookies: retained for the duration shown in Section 5, or until you delete them through your browser settings
Cookie consent preference cookies: retained for 1 year so you are not asked to consent on every visit
Google Analytics cookies: retained for up to 2 years (individual cookie level) and up to 26 months (data retention at Google’s servers, configurable by us)
Advertising cookies: typically retained for 30 days to 2 years, depending on the specific cookie and advertising platform

You can delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Doing so may cause our cookie consent banner to reappear on your next visit, as your preference record will have been deleted.

We review and update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in the cookies we use, changes in applicable law, the introduction of new Site features, or guidance from regulatory authorities. The \

When we make material changes, we will:

Update the \
Display a prominent notice on the Site and/or reset the cookie consent banner so you are prompted to review your preferences again
Where required by applicable law, notify newsletter subscribers or registered users by email

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy each time you visit the Site to stay informed about how and why we use cookies.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Cookie Policy, our use of cookies, or how to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

General Enquiries: contact@staticfog.com

Data Rights & Support: support@staticfog.com

Phone: +1 (212) 555-4827

Physical Address: 245 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States

Contact Page: https://staticfog.com/contact-us/

We aim to respond to all cookie-related enquiries within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the relevant data protection supervisory authority in your jurisdiction — for example, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK, or your national supervisory authority in the EEA.