Cookie Policy of Gradguide
This document informs Users about the technologies that help Gradguide to achieve the purposes described below. Such technologies allow the Owner to access and store information (for example by using a Cookie) or use resources (for example by running a script) on a User’s device as they interact with Gradguide.
For simplicity, all such technologies are defined as "Trackers" within this document – unless there is a reason to differentiate.
For example, while Cookies can be used on both web and mobile browsers, it would be inaccurate to talk about Cookies in the context of mobile apps as they are a browser-based Tracker. For this reason, within this document, the term Cookies is only used where it is specifically meant to indicate that particular type of Tracker.
Some of the purposes for which Trackers are used may also require the User's consent. Whenever consent is given, it can be freely withdrawn at any time following the instructions provided in this document.
Gradguide uses Trackers managed directly by the Owner (so-called “first-party” Trackers) and Trackers that enable services provided by a third-party (so-called “third-party” Trackers). Unless otherwise specified within this document, third-party providers may access the Trackers managed by them.
The validity and expiration periods of Cookies and other similar Trackers may vary depending on the lifetime set by the Owner or the relevant provider. Some of them expire upon termination of the User’s browsing session.
In addition to what’s specified in the descriptions within each of the categories below, Users may find more precise and updated information regarding lifetime specification as well as any other relevant information – such as the presence of other Trackers - in the linked privacy policies of the respective third-party providers or by contacting the Owner.
Activities strictly necessary for the operation of Gradguide and delivery of the Service
Gradguide uses so-called “technical” Cookies and other similar Trackers to carry out activities that are strictly necessary for the operation or delivery of the Service.
Third-party Trackers
-
Tag Management
This type of service helps the Owner to manage the tags or scripts needed on Gradguide in a centralised fashion.
This results in the Users' Data flowing through these services, potentially resulting in the retention of this Data.
Google Tag Manager (Google Ireland Limited)
Google Tag Manager is a tag management service provided by Google Ireland Limited.
Personal Data processed: Tracker and Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
-
Platform services and hosting
These services have the purpose of hosting and running key components of Gradguide, therefore allowing the provision of Gradguide from within a unified platform. Such platforms provide a wide range of tools to the Owner – e.g. analytics, user registration, commenting, database management, e-commerce, payment processing – that imply the collection and handling of Personal Data.
Some of these services work through geographically distributed servers, making it difficult to determine the actual location where the Personal Data are stored.
Webflow (Webflow, Inc.)
Webflow is a platform provided by Webflow, Inc. that allows the Owner to build, run and host Gradguide. Webflow is highly customisable and can host websites from simple blogs to complex e-commerce platforms.
Personal Data processed: Tracker, Usage Data and various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service.
Place of processing: United States – Privacy Policy – Opt out.
Other activities involving the use of Trackers
Experience enhancement
Gradguide uses Trackers to provide a personalised user experience by improving the quality of preference management options, and by enabling interaction with external networks and platforms.
-
Displaying content from external platforms
This type of service allows you to view content hosted on external platforms directly from the pages of Gradguide and interact with them.
This type of service might still collect web traffic data for the pages where the service is installed, even when Users do not use it.
YouTube video widget (Google Ireland Limited)
YouTube is a video content visualisation service provided by Google Ireland Limited that allows Gradguide to incorporate content of this kind on its pages.
Personal Data processed: Tracker and Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Storage duration:
- PREF: 8 months
- VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE: 8 months
- YSC: duration of the session
Measurement
Gradguide uses Trackers to measure traffic and analyse User behaviour with the goal of improving the Service.
-
Analytics
The services contained in this section enable the Owner to monitor and analyse web traffic and can be used to keep track of User behaviour.
Google Analytics (Google Ireland Limited)
Google Analytics is a web analysis service provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”). Google utilises the Data collected to track and examine the use of Gradguide, to prepare reports on its activities and share them with other Google services.
Google may use the Data collected to contextualise and personalise the ads of its own advertising network.
Personal Data processed: Tracker and Usage Data.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy – Opt Out.
Storage duration:
- AMP_TOKEN: 1 hour
- _ga: 2 years
- _gac*: 3 months
- _gat: 1 minute
- _gid: 1 day
Facebook Analytics for Apps (Facebook Ireland Ltd)
Facebook Analytics for Apps is an analytics service provided by Facebook Ireland Ltd
Personal Data processed: Tracker, Usage Data and various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Storage duration:
TikTok conversion tracking
TikTok conversion tracking is an analytics and behavioural targeting service provided by TikTok Inc., TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited or by TikTok Technology Limited, depending on how the Owner manages the Data processing, that connects data from the TikTok advertising network with actions performed on Gradguide. The TikTok pixel tracks conversions that can be attributed to TikTok ads and enables to target groups of Users on the base of their past use of Gradguide.
Personal Data processed: device information, Tracker, unique device identifiers for advertising (Google Advertiser ID or IDFA, for example) and Usage Data.
Place of processing: United States – Privacy Policy; United Kingdom – Privacy Policy; Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Targeting & Advertising
Gradguide uses Trackers to deliver personalised marketing content based on User behaviour and to operate, serve and track ads.
Some of the advertising services used by the Owner adhere to the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework, an initiative that facilitates responsible privacy practises across the digital advertising industry - providing Users with enhanced transparency and control over how their data are used for advertising tracking purposes. Users can customise their advertising preferences at any time by accessing the advertising preferences panel from within the cookie notice or via the relevant link on Gradguide.
Gradguide participates in the IAB Europe Transparency & Consent Framework and complies with its Specifications and Policies. Gradguide uses iubenda (identification number 123) as a Consent Management Platform.
-
Remarketing and behavioural targeting
This type of service allows Gradguide and its partners to inform, optimise and serve advertising based on past use of Gradguide by the User.
This activity is facilitated by tracking Usage Data and by using Trackers to collect information which is then transferred to the partners that manage the remarketing and behavioural targeting activity.
Some services offer a remarketing option based on email address lists.
Services of this kind usually offer the possibility to opt out of such tracking. In addition to any opt-out feature offered by any of the services below, Users may learn more on how to generally opt out of interest-based advertising within the dedicated section "How to opt-out of interest-based advertising" in this document.
TikTok Remarketing
TikTok Remarketing is a remarketing and behavioural targeting service provided by TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited , TikTok Inc. or by TikTok Technology Limited, depending on how the Owner manages the Data processing, that connects the activity of Gradguide with the TikTok advertising network.
Personal Data processed: device information, Tracker, unique device identifiers for advertising (Google Advertiser ID or IDFA, for example) and Usage Data.
Place of processing: United Kingdom – Privacy Policy; United States – Privacy Policy; Ireland – Privacy Policy.
-
User database management
This type of service allows the Owner to build user profiles by starting from an email address, a personal name, or other information that the User provides to Gradguide, as well as to track User activities through analytics features. This Personal Data may also be matched with publicly available information about the User (such as social networks' profiles) and used to build private profiles that the Owner can display and use for improving Gradguide.
Some of these services may also enable the sending of timed messages to the User, such as emails based on specific actions performed on Gradguide.
Intercom (Intercom R&D Unlimited Company)
Intercom is a User database management service provided by Intercom R&D Unlimited Company.
Intercom can also be used as a medium for communications, either through email, or through messages within Gradguide. Intercom Messenger may use Trackers to recognise and track Users behaviour.
Personal Data processed: Data communicated while using the service, email address, Tracker, Universally unique identifier (UUID), Usage Data and various types of Data as specified in the privacy policy of the service.
Place of processing: Ireland – Privacy Policy.
Storage duration:
- intercom-id-*: 10 months
- intercom-session-*: 7 days
- intercom-test: indefinite
How to manage preferences and provide or withdraw consent
There are various ways to manage Tracker related preferences and to provide and withdraw consent, where relevant:
Users can manage preferences related to Trackers from directly within their own device settings, for example, by preventing the use or storage of Trackers.
Additionally, whenever the use of Trackers is based on consent, Users can provide or withdraw such consent by setting their preferences within the cookie notice or by updating such preferences accordingly via the relevant consent-preferences privacy widget, if available.
It is also possible, via relevant browser or device features, to delete previously stored Trackers, including those used to remember the User’s initial consent preferences.
Other Trackers in the browser’s local memory may be cleared by deleting the browsing history.
With regard to any third-party Trackers, Users can manage their preferences via the related opt-out link (where provided), by using the means indicated in the third party's privacy policy, or by contacting the third party.
Locating Tracker Settings
Users can, for example, find information about how to manage Cookies in the most commonly used browsers at the following addresses:
Users may also manage certain categories of Trackers used on mobile apps by opting out through relevant device settings such as the device advertising settings for mobile devices, or tracking settings in general (Users may open the device settings and look for the relevant setting).
How to opt out of interest-based advertising
Notwithstanding the above, Users may follow the instructions provided by YourOnlineChoices (EU and UK), the Network Advertising Initiative (US) and the Digital Advertising Alliance (US), DAAC (Canada), DDAI (Japan) or other similar services. Such initiatives allow Users to select their tracking preferences for most of the advertising tools. The Owner thus recommends that Users make use of these resources in addition to the information provided in this document.
The Digital Advertising Alliance offers an application called AppChoices that helps Users to control interest-based advertising on mobile apps.
Consequences of denying the use of Trackers
Users are free to decide whether or not to allow the use of Trackers. However, please note that Trackers help Gradguide to provide a better experience and advanced functionalities to Users (in line with the purposes outlined in this document). Therefore, if the User chooses to block the use of Trackers, the Owner may be unable to provide related features.
Owner and Data Controller
Gradguide Ltd.,
14 St. Stephens Green,
Dublin 2,
D02 Y611.
Owner contact email: team@gradguide.com
Since the use of third-party Trackers through Gradguide cannot be fully controlled by the Owner, any specific references to third-party Trackers are to be considered indicative. In order to obtain complete information, Users are kindly requested to consult the privacy policies of the respective third-party services listed in this document.
Given the objective complexity surrounding tracking technologies, Users are encouraged to contact the Owner should they wish to receive any further information on the use of such technologies by Gradguide.