This page lists every cookie and browser storage item hashbitstudio.com uses, what each one is for, and how to change your mind. We keep the list short on purpose — there is nothing here for advertising.
What cookies are
A cookie is a small file a website asks your browser to store, so it can recognise something on a later visit. Some sites also use local storage, which works similarly but stays in the browser rather than being sent with every request. We use one local storage item and, if you consent, a small number of analytics cookies.
What we use
| Name | Provider | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hbs-consent-v1 | HashBitStudio (first party) | Strictly necessary | Until you clear it | Local storage, not a cookie. Remembers the choice you made in the cookie banner so we stop asking and so your preference is applied on every page. Set whether you accept or decline. |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Analytics | ~13 months | Distinguishes one visitor from another so visits can be counted. Only set after you grant consent. |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Analytics | ~13 months | Per-property cookie that keeps session state for Google Analytics 4. Only set after you grant consent. |
| Calendly cookies | Calendly (third party) | Functional | Set by Calendly | Set only when the booking widget on our contact page is used, so the scheduling flow works. Governed by Calendly’s own policy. |
Google Consent Mode v2, in plain English
We run Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4 through a Google feature called Consent Mode v2. Before anything Google-related loads, we tell it that every consent signal is set to denied. That is the starting position for every visitor, on every visit. While consent is denied, Google’s tags do not write the _ga cookies, do not read an existing identifier, and do not build a profile of you — at most they send a cookieless ping that lets us see rough, aggregated traffic levels. If you accept analytics in our banner, we flip the signal to granted, and only then do the analytics cookies get set and normal measurement begin. If you decline, or simply ignore the banner, the denied default stays exactly as it is.
Changing your choice
You can change your mind whenever you like. Use the “Cookie settings” link in the footer of any page to reopen the banner and update your preference. The new choice takes effect immediately and is saved under hbs-consent-v1 in your browser.
If you withdraw consent, we stop the analytics signal straight away. Cookies already written by Google remain in your browser until they expire or you delete them — clearing site data for this domain removes them at once, along with your saved preference, which means the banner will ask again on your next visit.
Controlling cookies in your browser
Every major browser lets you view, block and delete cookies from its settings, usually under privacy or site data. You can block cookies entirely if you prefer. Doing so will not break this site — nothing here depends on cookies to function, though a third-party embed such as the booking widget may not work fully if you block all third-party storage.
Third-party cookies
The only third parties that can set storage through this site are Google, for analytics after you consent, and Calendly, when you use the booking widget on our contact page. Their handling of that data is covered by their own policies: Google and Calendly. We do not use advertising, retargeting or social media tracking cookies.
Changes to this policy
If we add or remove a cookie, we will update the table above and change the “last updated” date at the top of this page.
Contact us
Questions about cookies
Email hello@hashbitstudio.com. For the wider picture of how we handle personal data, see our Privacy Policy.
HashBitStudio (SMC-Private) Ltd
Islamabad, Pakistan
