Cookie Policy
Last updated: September 2026
This policy explains how Nerdster Ltd uses cookies and similar technologies on nerdster.co.uk, exactly what each choice on our cookie banner does, and how to change your mind.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files a website stores on your device. Where this policy says “cookies” it also covers similar technologies — chiefly your browser’s local storage and session storage, which work the same way. We use them for three things: to remember your cookie choice, to measure how the site is used, and — only if you agree — to understand user journeys and measure our advertising.
Your choice, and what each option does
The first time you visit, a banner offers two buttons. Here is precisely what each one means:
- Before you choose anything — privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics (Umami) counts visits and pages; it sets no cookies, uses no persistent identifier and cannot identify you. Google’s tag also loads, but in consent-denied mode: it sets no cookies and no identifier, and sends only cookieless signals (the page address, the referring site and the broad type of device and browser) that Google uses to estimate overall visit and conversion numbers. Nothing from Microsoft or LinkedIn loads.
- “Accept all” — Google Analytics and Google Ads switch to full measurement and set their cookies, and we load Microsoft Clarity and LinkedIn Insight (listed below). These can involve a persistent identifier and, for Microsoft Clarity, a recording of how pages are used (a session replay, with typed text masked) which is sent to Microsoft.
- “Essential only” — no cookies and no identifiers of any kind. The cookieless analytics is switched off, Google’s tag stays in consent-denied mode (the cookieless signals above, nothing more), Microsoft and LinkedIn never load, and any first-party cookies our tags set on an earlier visit are expired. We remember that you chose this.
You can change your mind at any time — see Managing your choice.
Cookies and similar technologies we use
Remembering your choice (always on)
| Name | Stored by | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
cookie-consent | This site (local storage) | Remembers whether you accepted or chose essential only | Until you clear it |
umami.disabled | This site (local storage) | Set when you choose essential only; tells the cookieless analytics to stay off | Until you accept, or clear it |
nd-attr | This site (session storage) | Remembers how you arrived — the page you landed on, the referring site and any campaign or ad-click reference in that address — so that if you send an enquiry we know which listing or advert it came from. Written once per visit, never sent anywhere unless you submit a form | Until you close the browser tab |
These are held in your browser’s storage, not as cookies. None of them identifies you; nd-attr leaves your device only inside an enquiry you choose to send.
Analytics — measuring how the site is used
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| none (cookieless) | Umami (self-hosted, stats.nerdster.ai) | Anonymous visit and page counts. On by default; turned off by “Essential only”. | — |
_ga, _ga_2BK0GF397R | Google Analytics 4 | Distinguishes visitors and sessions. Set only after “Accept all”; until then Google’s tag runs cookieless. | ~2 years |
_clck, _clsk | Microsoft Clarity | Session identifiers for heatmaps and session replay. Only after “Accept all”. | ~1 year / 1 day |
Advertising and audiences — only after “Accept all”
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
_gcl_au, IDE | Google Ads / DoubleClick | Measures ad conversions and links ad clicks to visits | ~90 days / ~13 months |
bcookie, li_gc, lidc | LinkedIn Insight | Conversion tracking and matched audiences for LinkedIn ads | up to ~1 year |
MUID, ANONCHK, MR, SM, SRM_B | Microsoft (Clarity / Bing) | Advertising and analytics identifiers | up to ~1 year |
To be plain about it: if you choose “Accept all”, third-party advertising cookies are set. If you choose “Essential only”, none are set, and the first-party ones our tags set on an earlier visit (_ga, _ga_*, _gcl_*, _clck, _clsk) are expired straight away. Cookies that belong to another site — LinkedIn’s and Microsoft’s advertising cookies — sit on their domains and cannot be removed by ours; they expire on their own schedule, or you can delete them in your browser.
Managing your choice
Withdrawing consent is as easy as giving it. Press the button below, or the “Cookie settings” link in the footer of every page, and the banner comes back with the same two choices. Choosing “Essential only” there stops the tools immediately and expires our first-party cookies as described above.
- Block or delete cookies: every major browser lets you block or delete cookies in its privacy settings. Blocking cookies does not stop the cookieless analytics — use “Essential only” to turn that off.
- If your browser blocks site storage (some private or hardened modes), we cannot remember a choice, so none of the tools above run and the banner appears on each page.
Third parties
When you choose “Accept all”, these providers may set cookies and receive data under their own privacy policies. We do not sell your data.
- Google (Analytics & Ads) — policies.google.com/privacy
- Microsoft (Clarity) — privacy.microsoft.com
- LinkedIn — linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy
Updates
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted here with a new revision date above.
Contact
For questions about our use of cookies, contact us at [email protected] or write to: Nerdster Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ.