Cookie Policy

Browser storage is not all advertising

Cookies are sent with matching web requests; local storage remains in your browser unless code reads and transmits it. Sudoku’s local saves and puzzle history are distinct from Google’s advertising choices. The current game automatically saves progress and history. The owner must confirm the lawful storage basis for these functional features; this page and Google’s CMP do not themselves obtain consent for custom puzzle storage.

Verified game inventory

sudoku-studio:v1 · local storage

Puzzle and solution, values, notes, timer, undo/redo edits, completion/hints, game type, difficulty and mistakes preference. Functional saved-game feature. No automatic expiry; removed by clearing puzzle data or browser storage.

sudoku-history-* · cookies

Sharded fingerprints of puzzles delivered, including abandoned puzzles, to prevent repeat delivery. Functional history, not an advertising ID; not asserted to be strictly necessary. Path=/, SameSite=Lax, Secure on HTTPS, Max-Age=34560000 seconds (400 days) from the last write. Cookies accompany matching site requests. Restart intentionally retains the current puzzle.

sudoku-history-backup · local storage

Backup of delivered-puzzle fingerprints. Functional non-repeat history. No automatic expiry.

sudoku-extra-* · local storage

New locally generated puzzle collections by variant/difficulty, including puzzle solutions and compact ratings. Functional collection expansion. No automatic expiry.

No sessionStorage is used by the inspected game source. A bundled, unused sidebar component can set sidebar_state for seven days, but it is not mounted in the Sudoku or policy pages and was not observed setting that cookie.

Hosting and third-party technologies

A public visit on 23 October 2026 observed hosting cookies __dpl and __cf_bm as well as the game history cookie. Their actual purpose and expiry must be confirmed with the hosting provider; they are not classified as strictly necessary here without that confirmation. They are not deleted by the puzzle-only control.

Hosting-injected scripts /~flock.js and /__l5e/events…js provide analytics/event capabilities. The delivered analytics code supports a 30-minute visit cookie by default and alternative local/session storage configurations; its runtime storage behavior was not established for all visitors. No additional analytics storage was observed in the automated test. Event reporting to /__l5e/trackevents was observed. Provider retention and any consent requirements remain owner checks.

Google Fonts loads external styles and font files. AdSense’s global script can load advertising and consent technologies. Google and selected ad vendors may set cookies or access identifiers according to configuration, region and consent. We do not have a verified list of their cookie names, expiries or active vendors; the owner must review Google’s message/vendor list and actual browser behavior. Do not interpret this inventory as a complete list of every vendor-generated cookie.

See Google’s partner-site information and the Privacy Policy for recipients, legal-basis limitations and hosting disclosures.

Advertising consent in Europe

The intended consent provider is Google AdSense’s Google-certified Privacy & messaging European regulations CMP for the EEA, UK and Switzerland. Activation must be completed and verified in the owner’s account. This website does not supply a separate cookie-consent banner, certify TCF consent, or claim a CMP is already active.

The owner must provide Do not consent, Consent and Manage options through Google’s message and verify optional processing respects choices. The AdSense script stays in server-rendered HTML to preserve verification and CMP loading; it can connect to Google before a choice, and account-side behavior must be checked before monetization.

Change choices or erase puzzle data

The footer’s Privacy and cookie settings control requests Google’s official revocation message. If Google is blocked, not ready, has no published message or does not apply in your region, it provides an explanation instead of pretending a choice was saved. Privacy information & settings explains both actions.

Clear saved puzzle data asks for confirmation and removes only the game keys and sudoku-history-* cookies listed above on the current origin. It erases progress and history, so old puzzles may return. It does not remove Google/TCF consent records, hosting cookies, or revoke advertising consent. Browser settings can clear site data separately.

Consent must not gate Sudoku. US state messages and other jurisdictions require separate owner review; this update is not a globally complete compliance implementation.