TRACKING TRANSPARENCY
Cookie Policy
This policy describes the cookies, browser storage, Jetpack Stats, and optional WooCommerce measurement used by ReadPlots.
Effective and last updated: October 28, 2026
1. What cookies and browser storage are
Cookies are small text files stored by a browser. Local storage and session storage are similar browser technologies used to remember settings or progress. Some are required for a requested service. Optional WooCommerce referral measurement is controlled by the ReadPlots privacy panel. Jetpack Stats is described separately below.
2. Strictly necessary technologies
These technologies support security, login, the shopping cart, checkout, payment fraud prevention, membership verification, consent preferences, and delivery of content. They cannot be switched off through the ReadPlots consent panel because the requested service would not work correctly.
| Provider or example | Purpose | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
rp_cookie_consent | Remembers whether optional WooCommerce referral measurement was allowed or declined. | Up to 180 days |
| WordPress login and security cookies | Authenticate signed-in users, protect account sessions, and prevent misuse. | Session or up to the selected remembered-login period |
woocommerce_cart_hash, woocommerce_items_in_cart, wp_woocommerce_session_* | Maintain the cart and checkout session. | Session to approximately 2 days |
Stripe payment and fraud-prevention cookies, such as __stripe_mid, __stripe_sid, or equivalent device signals | Securely process payments, authenticate payment methods, and prevent fraud. | Provider-controlled; from session length to longer fraud-prevention periods |
| WordPress.com/Automattic checkout and fraud-prevention technologies | Protect transactions, verify membership, and prevent malicious or fraudulent activity. | Provider-controlled and limited to operational need |
3. Functional browser storage
| Storage | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Free-case local storage | Saves puzzle or mystery progress on the visitor's own device when no account is required. | Until the visitor resets the case or clears browser data |
| Homepage trial session storage | Saves the current sample-case step for the active browser session. | Until the browser session ends |
| Audiobook position local storage | Remembers playback position on the visitor's device. | Until playback completes or browser data is cleared |
4. Jetpack Stats and optional WooCommerce measurement
Jetpack Stats
Jetpack Stats helps ReadPlots understand aggregate website traffic. It operates when pages load and may receive technical browser information and page-visit or referral details. ReadPlots receives aggregate reports rather than visitor-identifying Stats logs. Automattic states that directly identifying Stats logs are retained for 28 days. Jetpack Stats is not controlled by the ReadPlots consent panel. See Jetpack's Stats privacy information for details.
Optional WooCommerce referral measurement
WooCommerce referral tools help ReadPlots understand how visitors reached the store. These optional tools remain off until the visitor allows them through the consent panel. They may create Sourcebuster sbjs_* identifiers after permission. Declining this option does not affect accounts, the cart, checkout, payments, memberships, or security.
Provider technologies and retention periods can change. ReadPlots periodically reviews the live site and this policy for material changes. ReadPlots does not use advertising pixels or sell this information.
5. External requests that are not cookies
Google Fonts may receive an IP address and standard request information when a font file is requested. Payment and fraud-prevention providers may receive device and transaction signals necessary to process a checkout. These activities are described in the Privacy Policy.
6. Manage your choices
This control applies only to optional WooCommerce referral measurement. “Essentials only” keeps it off. “Accept all” permits it. The control does not switch off Jetpack Stats. You can change the WooCommerce choice at any time. Browser settings can also delete stored data or block cookies, but blocking required cookies may prevent login, cart, checkout, or saved preferences from working.
ReadPlots treats a detected Global Privacy Control signal as a request to reject the optional WooCommerce measurement controlled by this panel unless you later make another choice. For other privacy requests, email readplotseditor@gmail.com.
7. Changes and contact
This policy is updated when technologies or providers materially change. Questions may be sent to readplotseditor@gmail.com.