Cookie Policy
Last Updated: January 28, 2025
This Cookie Policy explains how Cosmocodex Ltd, trading as The VPN Matrix ("we," "us," or "our"), uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website thevpnmatrix.com (the "Site"). This policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy, which provides comprehensive information about how we process personal data.
This Cookie Policy complies with the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC as amended), UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), GDPR, and other applicable cookie laws. By using our Site, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with this Cookie Policy. You can manage your cookie preferences using our cookie consent banner or browser settings at any time.
Legal Compliance: This policy ensures compliance with the EU ePrivacy Directive, UK PECR, GDPR Article 7 (conditions for consent), and similar laws requiring clear information about cookie usage before consent is given.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
Cookies can be "session" cookies (temporary, deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent" cookies (remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them).
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies (Always Active - No Consent Required)
These cookies are strictly necessary for the Site to function properly. They enable basic features like page navigation, security, and access to secure areas. Under EU ePrivacy Directive, these cookies do not require consent because they are essential for the service you requested.
Examples of Essential Cookies:
- • Session cookies: Maintain your session while browsing (deleted when browser closes)
- • Security cookies: Protect against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and security threats
- • Cookie consent storage: Remember your cookie preferences to avoid showing the banner repeatedly
- • Load balancing cookies: Distribute traffic across servers for performance
- • Authentication cookies: Maintain login state for subscription features (if applicable)
Retention: Session duration only (typically deleted when you close your browser) or up to 1 year for preference storage.
Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) - essential for website operation. No consent required under ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3).
Privacy-Friendly Analytics (No Cookies Used)
We use a privacy-focused analytics service that helps us understand how visitors use our Site. Importantly, our analytics service does not use cookies and does not collect personal data.
What We Track (Anonymous Data Only):
- • Page views and navigation patterns (anonymized)
- • Traffic sources and referrers (no personal identifiers)
- • Device and browser type (aggregated, anonymous)
- • Geographic location (country-level only, not precise location or IP addresses)
Privacy Features of Our Analytics Service:
- • No cookies: Our analytics service operates entirely without cookies
- • No personal data: Does not collect IP addresses, email addresses, names, or any personally identifiable information
- • Daily hash reset: Creates anonymous visitor hashes that automatically reset daily (no cross-site tracking, no persistent user profiles)
- • GDPR compliant: Does not require user consent under GDPR Article 6(1)(f) legitimate interest because no personal data is collected
- • No opt-out needed: Since no personal data is collected and no cookies are used, there's nothing to opt-out of
Retention: Anonymous analytics data with daily reset of visitor identifiers. No personal data is retained.
Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) - no consent required because no cookies are used and no personal data is collected. Complies with ePrivacy Directive as no cookies are set for analytics purposes.
Functional Cookies (Optional - Based on Your Usage)
These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization to improve your experience. They may be set automatically when you use certain features.
Types of Functional Cookies:
- • Theme preferences: Remember your dark/light mode selection
- • Language preferences: Remember your preferred language
- • Accessibility settings: Remember accessibility options you've configured
- • Comparison tool state: Remember selections in VPN comparison tools (temporary)
- • Form data (localStorage): Temporarily store form input to prevent data loss
Retention: Typically 12 months, or until manually cleared. Some functional cookies may persist until you clear browser data.
Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) - improving user experience. Under ePrivacy Directive, consent may be required for certain functional cookies depending on jurisdiction.
Affiliate Tracking Cookies (Set by Third Parties)
When you click VPN provider affiliate links on our Site, affiliate networks (operated by VPN providers) may set tracking cookies to attribute purchases. This enables us to earn commissions when you purchase VPN services through our links. These cookies are set by third parties, not by us directly.
How Affiliate Cookies Work:
- • When you click a VPN provider link, the affiliate network sets a cookie with a unique referral ID
- • If you purchase within the attribution window (typically 30-90 days), the purchase is attributed to our referral
- • We receive confirmation of the attribution but not your personal information
- • Each VPN provider/affiliate network has different cookie names and retention periods
Common Affiliate Cookie Characteristics:
- • Cookie names typically include: referral IDs, campaign IDs, or provider-specific identifiers
- • Retention: Typically 30-90 days (varies by affiliate network)
- • Purpose: Attribution only - to determine if a purchase resulted from our referral
- • Scope: First-party cookies set by the VPN provider's domain (not cross-site tracking)
Important: These cookies are set by VPN providers' affiliate networks when you visit their websites. They are not set by The VPN Matrix directly. Each VPN provider has its own privacy policy governing how these cookies are used. You can block these cookies using your browser settings or privacy extensions.
Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) - enabling affiliate program participation which funds our independent testing. However, under ePrivacy Directive, consent may be required in some jurisdictions depending on the specific implementation.
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our Site are set by third-party services we use:
- •Privacy-Focused Analytics: Our analytics service operates without cookies and collects no personal data
- •VPN Affiliate Networks: Track referrals when you click VPN provider links (these cookies are set by VPN providers' domains, not by us)
- •CDN Providers: Content delivery networks that improve site performance (may set technical cookies for load balancing)
Important: Third-Party Cookies
When third parties set cookies on our website or when you visit third-party sites, they become "data controllers" under GDPR for that data. We are not responsible for how third parties process data collected through their cookies. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies:
- • Privacy-Focused Analytics: Our analytics service does not set cookies and operates without collecting personal data.
- • VPN Provider Affiliate Networks: Each VPN provider has its own privacy policy. Check the privacy policy of any VPN provider you click through to.
- • CDN/Infrastructure Providers: May set technical cookies for load balancing and performance. These typically have minimal data processing.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Cookie Banner
When you first visit our Site, you'll see a cookie banner where you can accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in the footer.
Note: Our analytics service does not use cookies and collects no personal data, so it does not appear in the cookie consent banner and does not require your consent.
Browser Settings
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Here's how:
Important Note
Blocking or deleting essential cookies may affect the functionality of the Site. Some features may not work properly without cookies enabled.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that sends a signal requesting websites not to track you. However, there is currently no industry standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals, as the specification was never finalized.
Our Position on DNT:
- We respect your privacy preferences through our cookie consent banner
- Our analytics service does not use cookies or collect personal data, so it operates regardless of cookie preferences
- Our cookie banner provides granular control over cookie categories
- DNT signals cannot override essential cookies required for website functionality
- We follow privacy-by-default principles: we don't set optional cookies unless you consent, and our analytics require no cookies or consent
For the most effective privacy protection, we recommend using our cookie consent banner to manage preferences rather than relying solely on DNT signals.
Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by:
- • Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- • Displaying a notice on our homepage
- • Sending an email to newsletter subscribers (for significant changes)
We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.
Disputes and Contact
If you have concerns about our use of cookies, wish to withdraw consent, or have a dispute regarding this Cookie Policy, we encourage you to contact us directly:
Direct Communication:
First, contact us on @thevpnmatrix to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We commit to responding within 14 business days.
Contact Method:
Social Media: @thevpnmatrix
Questions About Cookies?
If you have questions about our use of cookies, wish to withdraw consent, or have concerns about this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
Company: Cosmocodex Ltd (trading as The VPN Matrix)
Substack: thevpnmatrix.substack.com
Instagram: @thevpnmatrix
Your Rights:
- • Our analytics service does not use cookies, so there's nothing to opt-out of for analytics
- • You can manage cookie preferences for other cookies through our cookie banner
- • You can delete cookies using your browser settings
- • You can block cookies entirely (though this may affect website functionality for cookies that require consent)
Related Policies:
This Cookie Policy complies with the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC), UK PECR, GDPR Article 7, and other applicable cookie and privacy laws.