Cookie Policy

Website: mindiaries.com
Operator (Data Controller): individual, Romania (EU)
Technology: WordPress
Languages / target audience: HU / RO / EN, international visitors
Consent management: CookieYes or Complianz

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies the website uses, for what purposes, how you can manage your preferences, and how this relates to the GDPR (EU 2016/679) and the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC) (in particular, information stored on or accessed from your device).

Important (adult content): Literary works (books, short stories) published on the website may contain 18+ (erotic) scenes. By opening such content, you acknowledge the warning, and viewing is recommended only for adults. (This notice is content-related; showing an age warning in itself does not require marketing cookies. If we introduce an “age reminder” cookie in the future, we will indicate it separately among the cookie categories.)

1. What is a cookie and what is it used for?

A cookie is a small data file that a website can store in your browser and read later. Cookies may be:

• session cookies: last until you close your browser,
• persistent cookies: remain in your browser for a specified period,
• first-party cookies: set by the domain you visit,
• third-party cookies: set by an external provider’s domain (e.g., advertising, measurement).

Some cookies are essential for the website to work, while others serve statistical analysis, convenience features, or advertising purposes.

2. Legal background in brief (Romania + EU)

2.1. ePrivacy (2002/58/EC) – storage/access on your device

The ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC) concerns data protection in electronic communications; in practice, it also provides the principles for placing/reading cookies (in particular under Article 5(3)).

2.2. Romanian regulation and authority practice

In Romania, cookie-related requirements are also defined by national implementation (in particular the relevant provisions of Law no. 506/2004); the Romanian data protection authority ANSPDCP emphasizes in its communications that prior consent is required for cookies that are not technically necessary, and failure to comply may be subject to sanctions.

2.3. GDPR (EU 2016/679) – when cookies involve personal data

If a user can be identified or profiled based on cookies (or the data collected through them) (e.g., advertising identifiers, behavioral patterns), GDPR rules also apply: lawful basis, notice, retention, and data subject rights.

3. How do we obtain consent, and how can it be withdrawn?

The website uses the CookieYes/Complianz interface to manage consent:

• In the pop-up banner, you can accept, reject, or customize non-essential cookies by category.
• You can change your consent at any time using the “Cookie Settings” button at the bottom of the website.
• Withdrawing consent must be as easy as giving it (a GDPR principle reflected in EDPB guidance).

4. Cookie categories on the website

We manage and display cookies in the consent interface according to the categories below. Specific cookie names and expiration times may change depending on the website’s current settings and provider updates; the most up-to-date list is available in the “Cookie Settings” interface.

4.1. Strictly Necessary cookies

Purpose: ensuring basic website operation, security, remembering language settings, storing consent status.
Lawful basis: typically legitimate interest (providing the service and operating it securely) and, under ePrivacy, “necessary” cookies (these usually do not require prior consent, but do require information).

a) Language cookie – Polylang

• What does it do? Remembers that you want to use the website in HU/RO/EN.
• Why is it necessary? Language switching and displaying content in the selected language occurs at the user’s request.
• How long does it last? Depends on settings (session or persistent).

b) Security – Wordfence + system session

• What does it do? Helps protect the website (e.g., against automated attacks, brute force attempts) and maintains the session where needed.
• What data may it involve? Technical identifiers, session identifiers; the security system may also use IP addresses and technical metadata in the background for attack prevention (this is typically not “cookie data,” but part of security operation).

c) Consent storage – CookieYes/Complianz

• What does it do? Records your choice (which categories you accepted) so the banner does not reappear on every page load and so the system knows what it may activate.
• What does it store? Consent status and a timestamp (consent logic).
• Why is it important? For compliance (accountability) and respecting your preferences.

4.2. Performance & Functionality cookies

Purpose: page load speed, convenience features, supporting the login process.
Lawful basis: may be legitimate interest (performance) or consent, depending on how essential the configured cookies are and what data they involve.

a) Cache and image loading – LiteSpeed Cache

• What does it do? Caching, optimized loading, faster delivery of images.
• What cookies may exist? Typically technical in nature (cache status, compatibility indicators).
• Effect: faster loading, less data traffic, more stable user experience.

b) Social login / authentication – Nextend Social Login

• What does it do? If you log in with a Google account, authentication/state cookies may be required for the login process to work.
• Note: Login is a functional service; the cookies aim to maintain a secure session and identify the user during the login process (not for marketing purposes).

4.3. Statistics cookies

Purpose: creating anonymous/aggregated traffic statistics (e.g., which articles are read, how long users spend on the site) and improving content and user experience.
Lawful basis: consent (for non-essential cookies). Consent can be withdrawn using the “Cookie Settings” button.

Google Analytics (via Google Site Kit integration)

• What can it measure? Pageviews, events (depending on settings), device/browser information, approximate geographic data, source/channel data.
• Why “statistical”? The purpose is to analyze website performance and content, not to target you with ads (although measurement can be combined with advertising systems-this depends on settings).
• When does it activate? Only if you enable the Statistics/Analytics category in the banner.

4.4. Advertising & Marketing cookies (Marketing) – detailed (highlighted)

Purpose: displaying ads, measurement, frequency capping, fraud prevention, and personalized ads (if you consent).
Lawful basis: typically consent for marketing cookies, especially for personalized advertising and cross-site tracking. (In Romania and the EU, prior consent is expected for non-essential cookies, and authority practice confirms this.)

4.4.1. Google AdSense – how can it work in practice?

Google AdSense advertising codes (“ad tags”) initiate technical requests to Google systems when ads load, and Google may send cookies to the browser for ad delivery/measurement. According to Google support materials, a cookie is typically set when a user visits a page that contains Google advertising tags (ad tags).

4.4.2. What marketing purposes may appear?

Marketing/advertising cookies can be used for several purposes (depending on settings and how Google/partners operate), such as:

• Personalized ads: estimating interests and showing more relevant ads.
• Ad measurement: measuring views/clicks, evaluating conversions and campaign effectiveness.
• Frequency capping: preventing you from seeing the same ad too often.
• Fraud and abuse prevention: filtering suspicious traffic.

Google’s cookie technologies and examples (e.g., the role of certain cookie names) are described in Google’s own notices.

4.4.3. Highlighted warning: third-party cookies and cross-site tracking

The Marketing category is particularly sensitive because third-party tracking is common in the advertising ecosystem. Google documentation also indicates that advertising technologies use cookies, and one of their purposes is to make ads more relevant based on a user’s prior activity.

What does this mean in simple terms?
If you enable marketing cookies, advertising cookies (and related identifiers) may allow:

• the advertising system to recognize your browser across different websites,
• to infer interests,
• and, based on this, to display personalized ads (retargeting / interest-based advertising).

4.4.4. When does marketing run?

• If you ACCEPT the Marketing category: AdSense personalized ads and related measurement/identifiers may become active.
• If you REJECT the Marketing category: the website does not activate marketing cookies; however, ads may still technically appear in a non-personalized way (depending on ad settings and how providers operate).

Note: Advertising systems are complex and may change over time; therefore, the most accurate and always up-to-date details are provided by the cookie list shown in the consent manager and by Google’s cookie notices.

4.5. Limitation of liability for third-party providers

To operate and finance the website, we use third-party services, in particular hosting services (Romarg) and services provided by Google (especially: Google AdSense, Google Analytics / Site Kit). These providers operate under their own technical, business, and data processing rules.

The Operator does not accept liability for the availability, interruptions, or errors of third-party providers’ systems, nor for content provided by those providers (in particular: ad content, offers, landing pages), nor for any damages arising from the use of or access to third-party services.

This provision does not affect the Operator’s obligation to provide the relevant privacy and cookie information about third-party services used on the website and, where necessary, to manage consent lawfully.

5. How can users change their cookie settings?

5.1. On the website (recommended)

• Click the “Cookie Settings” button at the bottom of the website.
• Turn categories on/off (except Strictly Necessary).
• The change takes effect immediately and can be repeated at any time.
• Withdrawing consent must be easy (EDPB principle).

5.2. In the browser

In your browser settings, you can:

• delete existing cookies,
• block cookies,
• set notifications for cookie placement.

Important: If you block cookies entirely, some functions (e.g., remembering language, login) may not work properly.

6. How long do cookies remain?

Cookie retention depends on:

• whether it is a session or persistent cookie,
• the plugin/provider settings,
• the cookie list displayed in the consent interface.

Exact expirations are provided in the cookie list published in the “Cookie Settings” interface (based on the current state).

7. Contact and further information

If you have questions about cookie management, please write to: office@mindiaries.com
For details about processing personal data, please refer to the Privacy Policy (legal bases, recipients, data subject rights, etc.).

7.1. Liability disclaimer regarding website content

Disclaimer of liability for decisions resulting from use of the content
Articles, posts, opinions, guides, tool and software recommendations, and marketing/business-related content published on the website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute individualized professional advice (in particular legal, financial, tax, investment, or business management advice).

Users make decisions and take actions based on information on the website entirely at their own responsibility. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Operator does not accept liability for any direct or indirect damage, lost profit, financial loss, or business loss resulting from the use, application, or misinterpretation of information published on the website.

8. Short text for the consent banner (Consent Banner) – 3 versions

1. “We use cookies to operate the website, create statistics, and-if you consent-show personalized ads. You can change your settings anytime.”
2. “Do you accept statistical and marketing cookies? This helps us provide a better experience and personalized ads. You can change your decision anytime under ‘Cookie Settings’.”
3. “In addition to cookies necessary for operation, we also use analytics and AdSense ads. You decide: accept, reject, or customize.”