Cookie Policy

Last updated: July 2026

Welcome to Aetherium (aetherium.top), an independent blog dedicated to wildlife conservation, rewilding projects, and biodiversity science. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which ones we use, and how you can control them. By continuing to browse Aetherium, you agree to the use of cookies as described here. For full details on how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) when you visit a website. They help the site remember your actions and preferences (such as language, font size, or login state) over a period of time, so you don’t have to re-enter them every time you return. Cookies also help website owners understand how people interact with their content.

Cookies can be first-party (set by the site you are visiting) or third-party (set by a domain other than the one you are visiting, such as an advertising partner). They may be session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or persistent cookies (remain for a set period or until you delete them).

2. Cookies We Use on Aetherium

We use three categories of cookies to provide, improve, and monetise our wildlife conservation content. We do not use cookies for any purpose other than those described below.

2.1 Essential (Strictly Necessary) Cookies

These cookies are required for the basic functionality of the blog. They enable core features like page navigation, secure access, and load balancing. Without these cookies, the site cannot operate properly.

• Purpose: Session management, CSRF protection, remembering cookie consent status.
• Examples: Session ID cookies, cookie consent preference cookie.
• Duration: Usually session-based or up to 12 months for consent preferences.

2.2 Analytics Cookies

We use analytics cookies (via a privacy-friendly, self-hosted or third-party analytics tool) to understand how readers interact with Aetherium. This helps us improve content, track page performance, and measure the reach of our conservation stories.

• Purpose: Count visits, track popular articles, see aggregate geographic and device data (no personal identification).
• Data collected: Anonymised IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on site.
• Duration: Persistent (typically up to 24 months, but data is anonymised).

2.3 Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense & Third-Party Ad Partners)

To keep Aetherium free and support our wildlife reporting, we display advertisements via Google AdSense and other trusted ad networks. These partners use cookies to deliver relevant ads, measure ad performance, and prevent the same ad from appearing too often.

• Purpose: Personalise ads based on your browsing interests (e.g., wildlife gear, eco-travel, conservation books), limit ad frequency, and track conversions.
• How it works: Google AdSense uses a unique cookie (e.g., _gads, _gac_) to build an interest profile. This profile is linked to your browser, not your name or email.
• Sharing: Data may be shared with Google and its partners as described in Google’s Advertising Privacy & Terms.
• Duration: Persistent (typically 13–24 months, depending on the cookie).

3. How You Can Control Cookies

You have the right to accept or reject cookies. You can manage your preferences in the following ways:

3.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can block all cookies, delete existing ones, or set your browser to notify you when a cookie is being sent. Please note that disabling certain cookies (especially essential ones) may affect how Aetherium functions.

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data.
• Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data.
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data.
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies.

3.2 Ad Personalisation Opt-Out

If you do not want Google AdSense to show personalised ads, you can:

• Visit Google’s Ad Settings and toggle off “Ad Personalization.”
• Use the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt-out tool (for multiple ad partners).
• Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on (for analytics).

Even if you opt out of personalisation, you will still see ads — they will just be less relevant (e.g., based on the content of the page rather than your browsing history).

4. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. When we make material changes, we will post a notice on the Aetherium homepage and update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

5. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, or if you would like to exercise your data rights, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: aetherium.top/privacy (Privacy Policy)

We are committed to protecting your privacy while delivering meaningful content about the natural world. Thank you for supporting wildlife conservation.