Cookie policy
Legal Document
A complete, transparent breakdown of every cookie GearSteal.com uses — what it does, why it exists, and how you can control it.
🌿 The Short Version (Plain English)
- GearSteal.com uses cookies to make the site work, understand how it is used, and track affiliate sales.
- Some cookies are strictly necessary — without them, the site cannot function properly.
- Analytics and marketing cookies are only set with your explicit consent.
- Affiliate tracking cookies are placed by our network partners (AWIN, Amazon) when you click through to a retailer.
- You can accept, decline, or customise cookie settings at any time via our cookie consent banner.
- This policy complies with GDPR (EU), the UK PECR, and ePrivacy Directive requirements.
01.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit, or to another website that recognises that cookie. Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to the owners of the site.
Types of Storage Technologies
- Session cookies — temporary cookies that are deleted from your device as soon as you close your browser. They are used to carry information across pages of a website during a single browsing session.
- Persistent cookies — these remain on your device for a set period of time, or until you delete them manually. They are activated each time you visit the website that created them.
- First-party cookies — set directly by GearSteal.com and only readable by us.
- Third-party cookies — set by a third-party service embedded on our site (e.g. Google Analytics, AWIN). These are readable by the third party that set them, not just by GearSteal.com.
- Local storage & session storage — similar to cookies but stored differently in your browser. Used for saving preferences and state without expiry (local storage) or for the duration of a session only (session storage).
- Pixel tags / web beacons — tiny transparent images embedded in pages or emails that confirm they have been loaded, used in conjunction with cookies to track user activity.
02.
Why We Use Cookies
GearSteal.com uses cookies for the following core purposes:
- Essential functionality — to keep the site working correctly, maintain your session as you navigate between pages, and protect against security threats.
- User preferences — to remember your cookie consent choices, display preferences, and any personalisation options you have selected.
- Performance measurement — to understand how visitors interact with our site, which pages are most visited, and where users come from, so we can continuously improve the experience.
- Affiliate commission tracking — to attribute purchases made after clicking our affiliate links to GearSteal.com, enabling us to earn the commissions that fund this free resource.
- Advertising relevance — with your consent, to show you relevant advertisements both on and off GearSteal.com based on your interests and browsing behaviour.
- Security & fraud prevention — to detect and prevent spam, bot activity, and other forms of abuse that could harm the site or its users.
03.
Types of Cookies We Use
We group all cookies used on GearSteal.com into five categories. The sections below provide a detailed breakdown of each category, including the specific cookie names, their purpose, who sets them, and how long they last.
Summary Overview
| Category | Consent Required? | Set By | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Strictly Necessary | No — always active | GearSteal.com | Core site functionality |
| 2. Functional | No — but can be disabled | GearSteal.com | Preferences & usability |
| 3. Analytics | Yes — consent required | Google Analytics | Traffic & behaviour data |
| 4. Affiliate Tracking | Yes — consent required | AWIN, Amazon, etc. | Commission attribution |
| 5. Marketing | Yes — consent required | Google, Meta, etc. | Targeted advertising |
04.
Category 1 — Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for GearSteal.com to function. They cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually set only in response to actions made by you, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms.
You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but if you do, some parts of the site may not work correctly. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and do not require your consent under GDPR or PECR.
05.
Category 2 — Functional Cookies
Functional cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.
06.
Category 3 — Analytics & Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us know which pages are the most and least popular, and see how visitors move around the site. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and therefore anonymised.
Consent is required before these cookies are set. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Google Analytics Data Processing
- We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) with IP anonymisation enabled — your IP address is truncated before any data is stored by Google.
- We have a Data Processing Agreement with Google LLC governing how Analytics data is handled.
- GA4 data is retained for a maximum of 14 months before automatic deletion.
- You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking globally using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
- Analytics data is processed in the United States under EU Standard Contractual Clauses.
07.
Category 4 — Affiliate Tracking Cookies
These cookies are set when you click an affiliate link on GearSteal.com and are redirected to a retailer’s website. They record that your visit originated from GearSteal.com, enabling the retailer and affiliate network to attribute any resulting sale to us and pay us a commission.
Affiliate tracking cookies do not contain your personal information. They contain an anonymised click reference, a timestamp, and the IDs of the publisher (us) and the advertiser (the retailer). Consent is required before these cookies are set.
08.
Category 5 — Marketing & Advertising Cookies
Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites with the intention of displaying advertisements that are relevant and engaging for individual users. These cookies remember that you have visited GearSteal.com and may be used by our advertising partners to build a profile of your interests.
These cookies are strictly opt-in. They are only set if you explicitly accept marketing cookies via our cookie consent banner. Declining these cookies will not affect your ability to use GearSteal.com, but the advertising you see may be less relevant to you.
09.
Third-Party Cookies
In addition to the cookies set by GearSteal.com directly, some cookies on our site are set by third-party services that we use. We do not control these cookies. They are governed by the privacy policies of the third parties that set them.
Third-Party Cookie Sources on GearSteal.com
| Third Party | Type | Purpose | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Analytics | Website usage statistics and user behaviour tracking | policies.google.com |
| Google AdSense | Advertising | Display advertising personalisation and delivery | policies.google.com |
| AWIN Network | Affiliate | Affiliate click and commission tracking | awin.com/privacy |
| Amazon Associates | Affiliate | Amazon affiliate link tracking and attribution | amazon.com/privacy |
| ShareASale | Affiliate | ShareASale affiliate commission tracking | shareasale.com/privacy |
| CJ Affiliate | Affiliate | Commission Junction click and sale attribution | cj.com/privacy |
| Meta (Facebook) | Marketing | Facebook ad pixel for retargeting (consent required) | facebook.com/privacy |
| Akismet | Security | Spam detection in comment and form submissions | akismet.com/privacy |
| Google reCAPTCHA | Security | Bot and spam prevention on contact forms | policies.google.com |
10.
Cookie Consent — How We Collect It
In compliance with GDPR, the UK PECR, and the EU ePrivacy Directive, GearSteal.com requires your explicit consent before placing any non-essential cookies on your device. Here is how our consent system works:
How Consent Works
- First visit — on your first visit, a cookie consent banner appears at the bottom of the screen. No non-essential cookies are set before you make a choice.
- Accept All — enables all cookie categories including analytics, affiliate tracking, and marketing cookies.
- Decline Non-Essential — only strictly necessary cookies are set. Analytics, affiliate tracking, and marketing cookies are blocked.
- Cookie Settings — opens a detailed preference centre where you can toggle each cookie category individually.
- Consent record — your choice is stored in the
CookieConsentcookie for 12 months, so you are not asked again on every visit. - Withdraw consent — you can change your cookie preferences at any time using the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer of every page.
11.
How to Manage & Disable Cookies
You have several options for managing and disabling cookies, ranging from our built-in consent tools to browser-level settings and third-party opt-out tools.
Option 1 — GearSteal.com Cookie Settings
The easiest way to manage cookies on our site is through our cookie consent tool. Click the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer of any page to open the preference centre and adjust your choices at any time.
Option 2 — Google Analytics Opt-Out
To prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your browsing across any website (not just GearSteal.com), you can install the official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available for all major browsers.
Option 3 — Interest-Based Advertising Opt-Out
To opt out of interest-based advertising from multiple advertising networks at once, visit:
Option 4 — AWIN Affiliate Cookie Opt-Out
To opt out of AWIN’s affiliate tracking cookies specifically, you can visit AWIN’s privacy page, which provides instructions for opting out of AWIN tracking. Note: this will mean GearSteal.com does not receive a commission even if you purchase after clicking our links.
Option 5 — Browser Privacy Extensions
The following browser extensions can block tracking cookies across all websites:
- uBlock Origin — free, open-source ad and tracker blocker (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
- Privacy Badger — automatically learns to block invisible trackers (EFF) (Chrome, Firefox)
- Ghostery — blocks trackers and provides transparency about what is running on each page
- Cookie AutoDelete — automatically deletes cookies from closed tabs
12.
Managing Cookies by Browser
All major browsers provide built-in controls to view, manage, block, and delete cookies. Here is how to access cookie settings in the most common browsers:
Google Chrome
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) → Settings
- Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Choose your cookie behaviour or “See all site data” to manage individual cookies
Mozilla Firefox
- Click the menu (☰) → Settings
- Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Choose Standard, Strict, or Custom; click “Manage Data” to delete specific cookies
Apple Safari
- Safari menu → Preferences → Privacy
- Click “Manage Website Data” to view and delete cookies
- Enable “Prevent cross-site tracking” for enhanced protection
Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) → Settings
- Privacy, search, and services → Cookies and site permissions
- Choose tracking prevention level or manage individual site cookies
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
- Settings → Safari
- Under Privacy & Security, toggle “Block All Cookies” or “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking”
- Tap “Advanced” → “Website Data” to clear cookies from specific sites
Android (Chrome)
- Tap the three-dot menu → Settings
- Site Settings → Cookies
- Toggle cookies on/off or select “Block third-party cookies”
13.
Impact of Disabling Cookies
The table below summarises what happens if you disable each cookie category on GearSteal.com:
| Cookie Category | If Disabled — Impact on You | Impact on GearSteal.com |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Core site features may break. WordPress login will not work. Cookie preferences will not be saved. | Site may malfunction for affected users. |
| Functional | Language preferences and shopping cart state may not persist between pages. Minor usability impact. | Reduced ability to personalise your experience. |
| Analytics | No direct impact on your browsing experience. | We cannot measure site traffic, page performance, or user behaviour. Harder to improve the site. |
| Affiliate Tracking | You can still browse deals and click through to retailers. Your purchases are unaffected. | We do not receive commissions for your purchases, even if you buy after clicking our links. |
| Marketing | You will still see ads, but they will be less relevant to your interests. No other impact. | Reduced ad revenue. Advertising partners cannot build profiles based on your GearSteal.com visits. |
14.
Cookies & GDPR Legal Basis
For users in the European Union, European Economic Area, and United Kingdom, the following table summarises the legal basis under GDPR Article 6 on which we process the data associated with each cookie category:
| Cookie Category | GDPR Legal Basis | Can You Object? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Legitimate Interest (Art. 6(1)(f)) — processing is required to operate the service you have requested | No — these cookies are exempt from consent requirements under PECR Regulation 6(4) |
| Functional | Legitimate Interest (Art. 6(1)(f)) — enhancing the usability of the service | Yes — via cookie settings or browser controls |
| Analytics | Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) — explicit opt-in required before analytics cookies are set | Yes — withdraw consent at any time via cookie settings |
| Affiliate Tracking | Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) — explicit opt-in required; also Legitimate Interest for commission attribution | Yes — withdraw consent at any time via cookie settings |
| Marketing | Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) — explicit opt-in required; no marketing cookies set without consent | Yes — withdraw consent at any time; use opt-out tools listed in Section 11 |
Cross-Border Data Transfers
Some cookies on GearSteal.com are set by providers based in the United States (Google, Meta, Amazon). Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA/UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:
- Google — EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and Google’s EU-US Data Privacy Framework certification.
- Meta — EU Standard Contractual Clauses and Meta’s Data Privacy Framework certification.
- Amazon — EU Standard Contractual Clauses and AWS data processing terms.
- AWIN — UK-based with GDPR-compliant data processing across EU advertiser network.
15.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, the services we integrate, or applicable legal requirements. When we make changes, we will:
- Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
- Post a notice on the Site if the changes are material.
- Reset the cookie consent banner where required so you can review and re-confirm your preferences under the updated policy.
We recommend reviewing this Cookie Policy periodically. Your continued use of GearSteal.com after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of those changes. Previous versions of this policy are available on request by emailing privacy@gearsteal.com.
Questions About Cookies?
If you have questions about the cookies we use, want to exercise your data rights in relation to cookie data, or need help adjusting your cookie preferences, please contact us.
info@gearsteal.com
GDPR data subject requests are processed within 30 days as required by law.
