Privacy Policy

Last updated: 22 September 2026.

Gary Smailes operates this website. For questions about your information, contact me@garysmailes.com.

Website analytics

We use first-party Ahoy analytics and Google Analytics to understand which content is useful, how readers find the website, and how they move through it and return over time. Ahoy analytics are stored in our website database. Google Analytics sends usage and technical information to Google, which processes it under Google’s privacy policy.

When first-party Ahoy analytics are enabled, we record the pages and article categories visited, visit times, selected referring websites and campaign labels, general browser, operating system and device types, internal navigation clicks, and categories of outbound links clicked. On articles we measure approximate scroll progress. We also estimate active viewing time while a page is visible and you are interacting with it.

We use this information to calculate traffic trends, returning visits, and common sequences such as reading an article, visiting About, and following an external link. A click does not tell us what you do on another website.

Browser identifiers and cookies

The analytics_browser cookie contains a protected random browser identifier and its first-observed time. It lasts up to 13 months from creation and lets us connect visits from that browser. It does not contain your name or email address. Linked visit records are pseudonymous, rather than anonymous.

Google Analytics may also set or read cookies and similar identifiers. Our Ahoy implementation does not identify you across devices or use fingerprinting. Blocking or clearing cookies, changing browsers, or blocking scripts can prevent tracking or make the same person appear as a new visitor. Your browser settings can block or remove cookies. An optional analytics_exclude cookie stops first-party Ahoy collection from that browser when set to 1; it does not control Google Analytics.

Information we do not record in first-party analytics

We do not store IP addresses or complete browser user-agent strings in the Ahoy analytics database. We do not collect keystrokes, form contents, session recordings, precise location, URL fragments, or arbitrary query parameters in that database. Referring websites and campaigns are restricted to approved categories. The server necessarily receives connection information to deliver the site, and operational logs are separate from analytics.

How long information is kept

Detailed Ahoy visit and event records are scheduled for deletion after 13 months through daily maintenance. Monthly statistical summaries are retained indefinitely to understand long-term trends. These summaries contain counts and measurements, without browser identifiers or individual browsing histories; small breakdown categories are combined where appropriate. If maintenance fails, deletion can be delayed until processing is restored. Google controls retention of the information processed by Google Analytics under the site’s Google Analytics settings and Google’s policies.

Hosting and access

The intended hosting arrangement is DigitalOcean infrastructure managed through Hatchbox. The site operator and authorised infrastructure providers may process information needed to operate and secure the service. Hosting logs and backup copies follow their separately configured retention schedules; deletion from the live analytics database does not immediately remove existing backup copies.

Google processes information received through Google Analytics. Links to other websites are governed by those websites’ privacy practices. We do not sell our first-party analytics records or use them to build advertising profiles.

Questions and requests

Email me@garysmailes.com with questions or requests about access, correction or deletion. Because our analytics use random browser identifiers, an email address alone will not identify your visit records. Please do not email browser cookies or security tokens.