Cookies
Last updated: 5 October 2026
## 1. How we use cookies and similar technologies
Howmigo uses cookies, local storage and similar technologies to operate the site, remember preferences, understand usage and, where enabled, support advertising through Google AdSense.
You can accept all optional categories, reject them, or choose categories separately. You can change your choice at any time through **Cookie settings** in the footer.
## 2. Essential storage — always active
Essential storage is used where necessary for the website to function or to remember a privacy choice you have made. It may include:
- authentication or session information needed to keep you signed in; - your cookie-consent choice; - language, theme and interface preferences; - security and fraud-prevention information.
Because this storage is necessary for the service or for remembering your privacy choice, it is not controlled by the optional analytics or advertising toggles.
## 3. Analytics — optional
If you consent to analytics, Howmigo uses Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the site. Google Analytics may use first-party cookies such as `_ga` and `_ga_<measurement-id>` and related browser storage. Cookie names and durations can change as Google updates its services.
Typical analytics information includes pages viewed, navigation, approximate location, device and browser type, referring source and interaction events. We do not intentionally send names, email addresses, comment text or other directly identifying content to Google Analytics.
The Consent Mode v2 signal for this category is `analytics_storage`.
## 4. Advertising — optional
If you consent to advertising, Google AdSense may use cookies, identifiers or similar technologies for ad delivery, fraud prevention, frequency control, measurement and, where enabled and permitted, personalised advertising.
Depending on Google's configuration, advertising cookies or identifiers may be used. Exact cookie names and lifetimes can vary by Google service, browser and configuration.
The relevant Google Consent Mode v2 signals are:
- `ad_storage` — storage used for advertising purposes; - `ad_user_data` — permission to send user data to Google for advertising-related purposes; - `ad_personalization` — permission to use data for personalised advertising.
These signals are denied by default until your choice permits them.
## 5. What happens before you consent
Howmigo uses Google Consent Mode v2. Non-essential analytics and advertising storage is denied by default.
For Google measurement, we use advanced consent mode. This means Google tags may load before you have made a choice and may send limited, cookieless signals while analytics or advertising storage is denied. These signals are used for privacy-preserving measurement and modelling and do not permit the denied analytics or advertising cookies to be stored for that purpose.
If you reject an optional category, the corresponding consent signal remains denied. If you later change your choice, we send an updated consent signal.
## 6. Google AdSense
Howmigo displays or may display advertising supplied through Google AdSense. Advertising technology can involve cookies, local storage or other identifiers. Where consent is legally required, Howmigo does not grant the relevant advertising consent signals unless you have chosen the advertising category.
Google may offer personalised, non-personalised or limited advertising depending on your consent, region, the consent-management setup and Google's own product rules.
## 7. Affiliate links
Some links to shops are affiliate links. Clicking an affiliate link does not require Howmigo to place an affiliate cookie on your device merely to display the link. However, once you leave Howmigo, the merchant or affiliate network may set cookies or use other technologies on its own website to attribute the referral or purchase. Their own cookie and privacy policies apply there.
Howmigo may receive referral or transaction reports from affiliate partners so commissions can be attributed and reconciled.
## 8. Google Search Console
We use Google Search Console to understand aggregated search performance, indexing and search visibility. Search Console does not require Howmigo to place a Search Console cookie on your browser.
## 9. How to change your choice
Use **Cookie settings** in the footer at any time to reopen the consent controls. You can also delete cookies and local storage through your browser settings.
Withdrawing consent does not automatically remove cookies that were previously stored, so you may also wish to delete them in your browser. After withdrawal, Howmigo will send denied consent signals for the categories you no longer allow.
Rejecting analytics or advertising does not prevent you from reading Howmigo guides or using the core site.
## 10. Changes to this page
We update this page when our cookie use, advertising setup, Google configuration or other relevant technology changes. The date at the top shows the current version.