Cookie Policy
Last updated: March 28, 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites function and track usage patterns.
2. Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| cookie_consent | Stores your cookie preference | 12 months |
| wp_session | WordPress session | Session |
Analytics Cookies (Matomo)
Self-hosted analytics. No third-party data sharing. IP addresses anonymized.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _pk_id | Unique visitor (anonymized) | 13 months |
| _pk_ses | Session tracking | 30 minutes |
Affiliate Cookies (Amazon.com)
Amazon may set cookies when you click affiliate links. See Amazon’s Privacy Notice.
3. Managing Preferences
- Cookie consent banner on first visit
- Browser settings: Chrome | Firefox | Safari
- Opt out of Matomo
4. California Residents (CCPA)
We do not sell personal data through cookies. California residents may submit opt-out requests via our contact page.
Analytics Data Collection
Since June 2026, we exclusively use Matomo in anonymous mode to measure our audience.
Matomo (self-hosted, cookie-free)
We use Matomo, a self-hosted analytics platform on our servers (Hetzner, Frankfurt). Data collected: pages visited, visit duration, device type, traffic source, approximate country. No cookies are set: tracking is entirely cookieless and anonymous. IP addresses are anonymized (last 2 octets masked). Legal basis: legitimate interest (Art. 6.1.f GDPR). No consent banner required. No third-party data sharing.
Google Search Console (GSC)
We use Google Search Console for SEO performance analysis. Per-page data, no identifiable visitors. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Art. 6.1.f GDPR).
Google Trends & YouTube Trends
We use the public Google Trends and YouTube Data APIs. Aggregated and anonymous data. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Art. 6.1.f GDPR).
Analytics Database
Data is stored locally on our server. No personally identifiable information, no third-party transfers.
Analytics Data Collection
Since June 2026, we exclusively use Matomo in anonymous mode to measure our audience.
Matomo (self-hosted, cookie-free)
We use Matomo, a self-hosted analytics platform on our servers (Hetzner, Frankfurt). Data collected: pages visited, visit duration, device type, traffic source, approximate country. No cookies are set: tracking is entirely cookieless and anonymous. IP addresses are anonymized (last 2 octets masked). Legal basis: legitimate interest (Art. 6.1.f GDPR). No consent banner required. No third-party data sharing.
Google Search Console (GSC)
We use Google Search Console for SEO performance analysis. Data: search queries, impressions, clicks, average position. Per-page data, no identifiable visitors. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Art. 6.1.f GDPR).
Google Trends & YouTube Trends
We use the public Google Trends and YouTube Data APIs. Data: trending keywords, relative interest (0-100). Aggregated and anonymous. Legal basis: legitimate interest (Art. 6.1.f GDPR).
Analytics Database
Data is stored locally on our server. No personally identifiable information, no third-party transfers.