1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, provide a better user experience, and supply information to site owners.
Cookies can be "first-party" (set by the website you are visiting) or "third-party" (set by a different domain). They can also be "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent" cookies (remaining on your device for a set period or until you delete them).
2. Cookies We Use
AFD Institute currently uses a minimal set of cookies. We believe in collecting only what is strictly necessary to provide our services.
2.1 Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are essential for the website and learning portal to function. They cannot be switched off. Under the ePrivacy Directive, strictly necessary cookies do not require consent.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
sb-*-auth-token | Supabase (self-hosted) | Authentication session — keeps you signed in to the learning portal | Session / 7 days | HttpOnly, Secure, First-party |
2.2 Third-party cookies
When you make a purchase, you are redirected to Stripe's secure checkout page. Stripe may set its own cookies during the payment process to prevent fraud and ensure transaction security. These cookies are governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy.
2.3 Analytics (no cookies, no consent required)
We use Umami, a privacy-first analytics tool that we host ourselves on EU
infrastructure (analytics.afdinstitute.com). Umami helps us understand aggregate
traffic — page views, referrers, and rough geography at country level — so we can
improve the site.
Crucially, Umami sets no cookies and collects no personal data. It does not track you across sites, does not record sessions, and does not build a profile of you. Because no personal data is processed and no information is stored on your device, this analytics requires no consent banner under the ePrivacy Directive and the GDPR. Your data never leaves our EU-hosted infrastructure and is never sold or shared.
3. How to Manage Cookies
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View the cookies stored on your device
- Delete individual cookies or all cookies
- Block cookies from specific or all websites
- Set preferences for first-party and third-party cookies
Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent the learning portal from functioning correctly — you may be unable to sign in or access course content.
Here are links to cookie management instructions for common browsers:
4. Do Not Track
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal to websites. Because our analytics (Umami) is cookieless and processes no personal data, no behavioural tracking takes place regardless of this signal — there is nothing to opt out of.
5. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, particularly if we introduce new cookies or tracking technologies. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.
6. Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, contact us at:
- Email: hello@afdinstitute.com
- Company: WLKNSN bv, Belgium