Effective March 28, 2026 - Last updated March 28, 2026
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device when you visit them. They help the website remember things about your visit - like your login status and preferences - so you don't have to re-enter information every time you come back. Most websites use cookies, and they have been around since the early days of the web.
This policy explains which cookies IFO4 uses, why we use them, and how you can control them.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Category | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
ifo4_session | Keeps you logged in as you navigate across pages | Necessary | 30 days |
ifo4_csrf | Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks (a security measure) | Necessary | 1 hour |
ifo4_consent | Remembers your cookie preferences so we don't ask you again every visit | Necessary | 1 year |
_ga | Google Analytics - helps us understand how people use our platforms (only set with your consent) | Performance | 2 years |
_gid | Google Analytics - distinguishes unique visitors (only set with your consent) | Performance | 24 hours |
stripe_mid | Stripe payment processing - used for fraud prevention | Necessary | 1 year |
stripe_sid | Stripe session identifier - maintains your payment session | Necessary | 30 minutes |
These cookies are required for our platforms to function. Without them, you would not be able to log in, make payments, or use basic features. Because they are essential, you cannot turn them off. We keep necessary cookies to the minimum required.
These cookies help us understand how people use our platforms - which pages are visited most, where people spend time, and where they run into problems. This data is aggregated and anonymized, meaning we cannot identify individual users from it. Performance cookies are only set with your consent. You can refuse or revoke consent at any time.
These cookies remember choices you make (such as language preference or display settings) to provide a more personalized experience. We currently use minimal functional cookies, but this may change as we add features. Any new functional cookies will be documented here.
We do not currently use any marketing or advertising cookies. IFO4 does not serve ads and does not track you for advertising purposes. If this ever changes, we will update this policy and require your consent before setting any marketing cookies.
When you first visit an IFO4 platform, you will see a cookie consent banner. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customize your preferences. You can change your preferences at any time through the cookie settings link in the footer of any page.
You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Here is how to manage cookies in common browsers:
Note: Blocking necessary cookies will prevent our platforms from working properly. You may not be able to log in or use core features if necessary cookies are blocked.
IFO4 respects Do Not Track (DNT) signals sent by your browser. When we detect a DNT signal, we do not set performance or functional cookies, and we disable any third-party analytics tracking. Necessary cookies (login, security) are still set because the platform cannot function without them.
We may update this cookie policy from time to time, particularly as we add new features or change our technology providers. When we make changes, we will update the "last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will reset your cookie preferences so you can make a fresh choice based on the updated information.
If you have questions about our use of cookies, contact us at privacy@ifo4.org.