1. What Are Cookies?

1.1 How Cookies Work

When you visit MailWave, your browser automatically downloads and stores cookies from our website. These cookies contain information that helps us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Keep you logged in to your account
• Understand how you use our service
• Provide personalized features and content
• Improve our website performance and security

1.2 Types of Cookie Storage

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted
• First-Party Cookies: Set directly by MailWave
• Third-Party Cookies: Set by external services we use (like analytics and security providers)

1.3 Cookie Security

All cookies used by MailWave are secured using industry-standard practices:

• Secure Flag: Cookies transmitted only over HTTPS connections
• HttpOnly Flag: Prevents access by client-side scripts
• SameSite Attribute: Protects against cross-site request forgery
• Encryption: Sensitive data in cookies is encrypted

2. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies for several important purposes that enhance your experience and help us provide better service:

2.1 Essential Website Functionality

• Authentication: Keep you logged in to your account
• Security: Protect against fraud and unauthorized access
• Session Management: Maintain your temporary email sessions
• Load Balancing: Distribute traffic efficiently across our servers

2.2 Performance and Analytics

• Website Performance: Monitor and improve loading times
• Error Tracking: Identify and fix technical issues
• Usage Analytics: Understand how visitors interact with our service
• Feature Optimization: Determine which features are most valuable

2.3 Personalization

• User Preferences: Remember your settings and choices
• Language Selection: Display content in your preferred language
• Theme Preferences: Maintain your chosen color theme or layout
• Feature Customization: Personalize the interface based on your usage

2.4 Marketing and Advertising

• Ad Personalization: Show relevant advertisements based on your interests
• Campaign Tracking: Measure effectiveness of marketing campaigns
• Conversion Tracking: Understand user journey and signup process
• Referral Attribution: Credit our affiliate partners for referred signups

3. Types of Cookies We Use

MailWave uses different types of cookies, each serving specific purposes:

4. Cookie Categories

5. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are set by third-party services we use to enhance our website functionality:

5.1 Google Services

5.2 Payment and Security Services

5.3 Security and Infrastructure

• Cloudflare: DDoS protection, CDN services, and bot mitigation
• Cloudflare Turnstile: Privacy-friendly bot detection to protect forms and sign-up flows
• Security Providers: Fraud detection and prevention

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

6.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit MailWave, you'll see a cookie consent banner with options to:

• Accept All: Enable all cookies for the full experience
• Reject Non-Essential: Only use necessary cookies
• Manage Preferences: Choose specific cookie categories

6.2 Cookie Preference Center

Access our Cookie Preference Center to:

• View all cookies currently set on your device
• Enable or disable specific cookie categories
• Learn more about each cookie's purpose
• Reset your preferences at any time

6.3 Impact of Disabling Cookies

7. Browser Cookie Settings

You can control cookies directly through your browser settings. Here's how to manage cookies in popular browsers:

7.1 Private/Incognito Browsing

Private browsing modes automatically delete cookies when you close the browser:

• Chrome: Incognito Mode (Ctrl+Shift+N)
• Firefox: Private Browsing (Ctrl+Shift+P)
• Safari: Private Browsing (Cmd+Shift+N)
• Edge: InPrivate Browsing (Ctrl+Shift+N)

8. Mobile Device Settings

8.1 Mobile Browser Settings

8.2 App-Specific Settings

If you use MailWave through mobile apps, cookie preferences are managed within:

• App settings and preferences
• Privacy and security sections
• Data usage and tracking controls
• Account-level privacy settings

9. Cookie Retention and Expiry

9.1 Cookie Lifespan

9.2 Automatic Cookie Cleanup

We implement automatic cookie management:

• Regular Audits: Periodic review of all cookies
• Automatic Expiry: Cookies deleted when no longer needed
• User Inactivity: Long-term unused cookies are removed
• Policy Updates: Cookies updated when policies change

9.3 Manual Cookie Management

You can manually manage cookies by:

• Clearing browser cache and cookies regularly
• Using browser developer tools to inspect cookies
• Setting automatic cookie deletion schedules
• Using cookie management browser extensions

10. Updates to Cookie Policy

10.1 When We Update This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when:

• We implement new cookies or tracking technologies
• Legal requirements or regulations change
• Our service functionality evolves
• We partner with new third-party services
• User feedback suggests improvements

10.2 How We Notify You

When we make significant changes to this policy, we will:

• Email Notification: Send updates to registered users
• Website Banner: Display prominent notifications
• Cookie Banner: Show updated consent options

10.3 Your Continued Consent

After policy updates:

• Your previous consent preferences remain valid
• New cookie types require fresh consent
• You can update your preferences at any time
• Continued use implies acceptance of minor changes

11. GDPR and Legal Compliance

11.1 Legal Basis for Cookie Processing

11.2 Your Rights Under GDPR

As a data subject, you have the right to:

• Access: Know what cookies are stored on your device
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate cookie data
• Erasure: Request deletion of cookies and associated data
• Restriction: Limit how we process your cookie data
• Portability: Receive your cookie data in a portable format
• Object: Object to non-essential cookie processing
• Withdraw Consent: Revoke consent for non-essential cookies

11.3 Data Protection Impact Assessment

We have conducted a thorough assessment of our cookie practices to ensure:

• Minimal data collection necessary for service provision
• Strong security measures for cookie data protection
• Clear and transparent information about cookie usage
• Easy mechanisms for consent management
• Regular review and updates of cookie practices

12. Contact Information

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://mailwave.dev

We aim to respond to all cookie-related inquiries within 5 business days.