Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, tablet, or mobile device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to website owners about how their site is being used.

Cookies can be:

• Session cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser. They enable the website to link your actions during a single browsing session (e.g., remembering items in your cart).
• Persistent cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period or until you manually delete them. They remember your preferences across multiple visits.
• First-party cookies: Set directly by AuraTech Global Store.
• Third-party cookies: Set by external service providers (e.g., PayPal, Google Analytics) when their content or services are embedded in or linked from our site.

Beyond traditional cookies, similar technologies such as web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage may also be used. For simplicity, we refer to all such technologies collectively as "cookies" in this policy.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential / Strictly Necessary Cookies

Essential cookies enable core functionality. Without these cookies, our website cannot work properly and services such as the shopping cart and checkout cannot be provided.

• Session cookie (auratech_session): Maintains your browsing session and shopping cart contents. Expires when you close your browser.
• Authentication cookie (auratech_auth): Keeps you securely logged in to your account. Persistent; expires after 30 days or on logout.
• Theme preference (auratech-theme): Remembers whether you prefer light or dark mode. Stored in localStorage, not transmitted to our servers. Persistent.
• CSRF token cookie: A security token that protects form submissions against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. Session duration.
• Cookie consent record: Stores your cookie consent preferences so we do not ask again on every page load. Persistent; expires after 12 months.

These cookies are placed automatically and do not require your consent under GDPR Article 6(1)(b) (necessity for contract performance) and the ePrivacy Directive's strictly necessary exemption.

2.2 Analytics Cookies (Optional — Requires Consent)

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting aggregated information. This data helps us identify technical problems, improve page layouts, and optimize the shopping experience. These cookies do not collect personally identifying information.

• Google Analytics (_ga, _gid, _gat): Tracks page views, session duration, traffic sources, and user behavior in aggregate. Data is anonymized and sent to Google's servers.
  • _ga — Distinguishes unique users. Persistent: 2 years.
  • _gid — Distinguishes users. Expires after 24 hours.
  • _gat — Used to throttle request rate. Expires after 1 minute.

Analytics cookies are only placed if you opt in via our cookie consent banner. You can withdraw consent at any time (see Section 3).

2.3 Marketing / Advertising Cookies (Optional — Requires Consent)

Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites to display advertisements that are relevant and engaging. They may be set by us or by third-party advertising partners. These cookies work by uniquely identifying your browser and device.

• Facebook Pixel: If used, tracks conversions from Facebook ads, optimizes ad delivery, and builds remarketing audiences. Data is sent to Meta (Facebook). Persistent: 90 days.
• Google Ads / Remarketing: If used, allows us to show ads to people who have previously visited our store. Data is sent to Google. Persistent: up to 540 days.
• TikTok Pixel: If used, measures the effectiveness of TikTok ads and enables remarketing. Persistent: up to 13 months.

Marketing cookies are only placed if you explicitly consent via our cookie banner. You can withdraw consent at any time.

2.4 Third-Party Cookies (Functional)

When you use certain third-party services embedded in our website, those providers may set their own cookies:

• PayPal: When you are redirected to PayPal for payment or use embedded PayPal buttons, PayPal sets cookies to facilitate the payment process, detect fraud, and maintain security. These are governed by PayPal's own Cookie Policy.
• Firebase / Google Auth: If Firebase Authentication is used for user accounts, Google may set session and security cookies. Governed by Google's Privacy and Cookie Policy.
• Google Fonts / CDN: Loading fonts from Google Fonts may result in Google receiving your IP address. No tracking cookies are set by Google Fonts itself.
• Font Awesome (cdnjs.cloudflare.com): Loading Font Awesome icons from the Cloudflare CDN may log your IP address for CDN delivery purposes. No tracking cookies are set.

3. Cookie Consent

3.1 How We Obtain Consent

When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that:

• Clearly explains that we use cookies
• Provides a link to this full Cookie Policy
• Allows you to accept all cookies, accept only essential cookies, or customize your preferences by category

We only set non-essential cookies (analytics and marketing) after you have given explicit, informed consent. Essential cookies are placed automatically as they are strictly necessary for the site to function.

3.2 Withdrawing Consent

You have the right to withdraw your cookie consent at any time. You can do this by:

• Clicking the "Cookie Preferences" link in our website footer to reopen the consent manager
• Adjusting your browser settings to block or delete cookies (see Section 4)
• Using browser extensions designed to manage or block cookies (e.g., uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger)

Please note that withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of cookie processing that occurred before you withdrew consent. Blocking certain cookies may affect your experience of our website (e.g., your shopping cart may not work correctly if session cookies are blocked).

3.3 Consent Renewal

Your cookie consent preference is stored for up to 12 months. After this period, we will ask for your consent again. You may also update your preferences at any time via the Cookie Preferences link.

4. Managing Cookies in Your Browser

You can control and manage cookies directly through your web browser settings. The steps vary by browser:

Google Chrome

1. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner
2. Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
3. Choose your preferred cookie setting: "Allow all cookies", "Block third-party cookies", or "Block all cookies"
4. To delete existing cookies: Go to Privacy and security → Clear browsing data, select "Cookies and other site data", and click "Clear data"

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-right corner
2. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security
3. Under "Enhanced Tracking Protection", choose your preferred level of cookie blocking
4. To delete existing cookies: Scroll to "Cookies and Site Data" and click "Clear Data"

Apple Safari (macOS)

1. Go to Safari → Preferences → Privacy
2. Under "Cookies and website data", choose your preferred setting
3. To delete existing cookies: Click "Manage Website Data..." and remove specific or all cookies

Apple Safari (iOS / iPadOS)

1. Open Settings → Safari
2. Under "Privacy & Security", toggle "Block All Cookies" on or off as preferred
3. To clear cookies: Tap "Clear History and Website Data"

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner
2. Go to Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
3. Configure your preferred settings for cookies
4. To clear cookies: Go to Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data

For comprehensive guidance, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

5. Third-Party Services and Their Cookie Policies

The following third-party services used on our website have their own cookie and privacy policies. We encourage you to review them:

• PayPal: Payment processing and fraud prevention
  Cookie Policy: https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/cookie-full
  Privacy Policy: https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full
• Google / Firebase: User authentication, analytics, and CDN services
  Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
  Cookie Policy: https://policies.google.com/technologies/cookies
  Google Analytics opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Meta (Facebook): Marketing pixel (if enabled)
  Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
  Opt-out: Facebook Ad Preferences
• Cloudflare (cdnjs): CDN delivery for Font Awesome icons
  Privacy Policy: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/

We have no control over third-party cookies set by these providers. Changes to their cookie practices are governed by their own policies.

6. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, our business operations, legal requirements, or guidance from supervisory authorities. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Post a notice on our website if the changes are significant
• Where required by law or guidance, display a new cookie consent banner

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies. Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acknowledgment of the updated policy.

If you have concerns about changes to our cookie practices, please contact us (see Section 7).

7. Contact

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, or would like to exercise rights related to cookie data under GDPR, please contact us:

For broader privacy and data protection concerns, also see our Privacy Policy and your rights under GDPR, including the right to lodge a complaint with the Slovenian Information Commissioner: https://www.ip-rs.si/.