Cookie Policy
Last Updated: September 2026
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. They help websites remember your preferences and improve your experience.
Essential Cookies (Required)
These cookies are necessary for the Service to function. They cannot be disabled.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| auth_token / session | Keeps you logged in (JWT authentication) | Until browser close or token expiry (24 hours) |
| csrf_token | Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks | Session |
Preference Cookies (Functional)
These cookies remember your choices to provide a better experience.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| lang | Remembers your language preference | 1 year |
| theme | Remembers display preferences | 1 year |
Analytics Cookies (Optional)
We use two analytics tools, and they behave differently before you make a choice.
Google Analytics 4 — counts your visit, no cookie until you accept
Google Analytics runs on every page, but until you accept it runs in Consent Mode with storage denied: no cookie is written and no identifier is sent. Google receives the visit as an anonymous, cookieless signal, so we can see how many people arrived and from where, but nothing that follows you between visits. If you accept, Google sets the cookies below and your visits can be linked to one another. Google acts as our processor for this; see Google's Privacy Policy.
PostHog — nothing at all until you accept
PostHog (hosted in the EU) records how the product is used, including session replay with all form inputs masked. It is not loaded at allunless you accept — no cookies, no network requests, nothing. Declining leaves it entirely switched off.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes one visitor from another | 2 years |
| _ga_<id> | Google Analytics | Keeps track of the current session | 2 years |
| ph_<key>_posthog | PostHog | Identifies the session for product analytics | 1 year |
| alpha_consent | AlphaStocks | Remembers your choice here (browser storage, not a cookie) | Until you clear site data |
Everything in this table except alpha_consent is stored only after you accept. You can change your choice at any time by clearing site data for this site, which brings the banner back.
We do NOT use:
- Advertising or targeting cookies — Google's advertising signals (ad_storage, ad_user_data, ad_personalization) are denied for everyone, and accepting does not turn them on
- Social media tracking pixels
- Cross-site tracking of any kind
How to Control Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings:
- Chrome:Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies
- Firefox:Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies
- Safari:Preferences > Privacy > Cookies
- Edge:Settings > Privacy > Cookies
Blocking essential cookies will prevent you from logging in and using the Service.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.
Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, email privacy@alphastocks.app.