What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to website operators.
Similar technologies include web beacons (small image files), pixel tags, local storage, and session storage. This policy covers all such technologies collectively referred to as "cookies".
Cookies can be:
- Session cookies — temporary files deleted when you close your browser;
- Persistent cookies — files that remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted;
- First-party cookies — set by BookWalker directly;
- Third-party cookies — set by third-party services integrated into our Platform.
Why We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Keep you securely logged in to your account;
- Remember your language and display preferences;
- Protect the Platform against fraudulent activity and security threats;
- Understand how users interact with the Platform to improve our service;
- Ensure the Platform functions correctly across different browsers and devices.
We do not use cookies to: serve targeted advertising; track your activity across other websites; build advertising profiles; or sell data to third parties.
Types of Cookies by Category
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Platform to function and cannot be disabled. They do not require your consent under the ePrivacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC as amended). They include authentication tokens, security cookies, and load-balancing cookies.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable enhanced functionality such as remembering your language setting, reading preferences, and display options. They are not strictly necessary but improve your experience. They require your consent.
Analytics Cookies
These cookies collect aggregated information about how visitors use the Platform — which pages are visited, how long sessions last, and where errors occur. This data helps us improve the Service. We use only privacy-friendly analytics tools where possible. These cookies require your consent.
What We Do Not Use
We do not use advertising cookies, retargeting cookies, social media tracking pixels, or any cookies that track your activity across third-party websites.
Cookies We Use
| Cookie Name | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
bw_auth_token |
30 days | Stores your JWT authentication token. Required to keep you logged in. | |
bw_session |
Session | Session identifier. Deleted when browser is closed. | |
bw_csrf |
Session | Cross-site request forgery protection token. | |
bw_lang |
1 year | Stores your preferred language (EN/DE/ES). | |
bw_prefs |
1 year | Stores display preferences (font size, theme). | |
bw_cookie_consent |
1 year | Records your cookie consent choice. | |
_analytics_id |
2 years | Anonymised visitor identifier for aggregate usage analytics. Set only with consent. | |
_analytics_session |
30 minutes | Session tracking for analytics. Set only with consent. |
Third-Party Cookies
Our Platform may integrate with a small number of third-party services that may set their own cookies:
| Third Party | Purpose | Cookie Type | Their Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment processing. Stripe may set cookies for fraud prevention and security during checkout. | stripe.com/privacy | |
| Analytics provider (if enabled) | Aggregated usage statistics | Disclosed at consent banner |
We do not embed social media buttons, advertising networks, or other third-party tracking technologies that would set cookies without your knowledge.
Your Choices & Consent
When you first visit BookWalker, you will see a cookie consent banner. From this banner you can:
- Accept all cookies — enables strictly necessary, functional, and analytics cookies;
- Accept necessary only — enables only cookies essential for the Platform to function;
- Manage preferences — select individually which cookie categories to enable.
Your consent choice is recorded in the bw_cookie_consent cookie and respected throughout your session and future visits. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking "Cookie Settings" in the website footer.
Withdrawing consent from non-essential cookies will not affect the functionality of your account or your ability to use the Platform's core features.
Managing Cookies in Your Browser
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent you from logging in or using core features of the Platform.
| Browser | Cookie Settings |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data |
| Mozilla Firefox | Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data |
| Apple Safari | Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data |
| Microsoft Edge | Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Cookies |
| Opera | Settings → Advanced → Privacy & security → Cookies |
For mobile devices, refer to your device's browser settings or operating system privacy settings.
You can also opt out of analytics tracking by visiting the opt-out page of the relevant analytics provider, or by enabling your browser's "Do Not Track" signal (see Section 8).
Do Not Track (DNT)
Some browsers transmit a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal to websites. There is currently no universally agreed standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Our Platform currently does not alter its behaviour in response to DNT signals.
However, your cookie consent choices (made through our consent banner) remain fully respected regardless of DNT status. If you have opted out of analytics cookies, no analytics data will be collected.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our cookie usage, legal requirements, or business practices. The updated policy will display a revised "Last updated" date. Where we introduce new categories of cookies that require consent, we will re-display the consent banner.
Contact
For questions about our use of cookies, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Post: VINIKIS LTD, 1 Bishops Green, St. Swithins Close, Derby, England, DE22 3FX