Cookie Policy
Last updated: May 3, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies Forthsource uses on this marketing website, why we use them, and how you can control them. For information about how we handle personal data more generally, see our Privacy Policy.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember your actions and preferences (such as language, pages visited, or whether you have accepted analytics) over a period of time, so you don't have to keep re-entering them whenever you come back.
Cookies we use
| Cookie | Purpose | Category | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
fc_consent_v1 |
Remembers your per-category cookie consent choice (Analytics on/off, Marketing on/off) so we don't ask again. Stored as JSON with a version + timestamp; expires after ~12 months and you'll then be asked again. | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
fs_client_id, fs_first_landing_path, fs_first_referrer, fs_utm_*, fs_blog_views; fc_first_touch in session storage on ForthClear |
First-party attribution: lets us tell which marketing page or campaign brought you to the install link, so we can measure what works. | Analytics | Cookies: 30 days – 1 year; session storage: current tab session |
session, CSRF tokens |
Required for the site and any forms to work securely. | Essential | Session |
_ga, _ga_* (Google Analytics 4) |
Set by Google Analytics to measure aggregate visitor behaviour (pages viewed, traffic sources). Only set after you enable the Analytics category via the cookie banner. | Analytics | Up to 2 years |
_gcl_au (Google Ads, forthcast.io only) |
Conversion linker for Google Ads campaigns. Only set after you enable the Marketing category. | Marketing | Up to 90 days |
How we ask for consent
The cookie banner lets you accept, reject or manage optional cookies. Manage preferences lets you turn Analytics and Marketing on or off independently; Strictly Necessary stays on. Where our site requires an opt-in, optional storage stays off until you enable it. In regions using our notice mode, optional categories start on and you can turn them off. Your saved choice overrides those defaults. Analytics includes our first-party campaign attribution. Google tags use advanced Consent Mode v2: with consent denied, they can send cookieless measurement signals to Google, but analytics and advertising cookie storage remain denied. Each choice is logged server-side (timestamp, page, and category booleans). We retain those consent records for 24 months, after which a nightly job deletes them.
Changing or withdrawing consent
You can change your choice at any time by clicking Cookie preferences here or in the footer of any page. You can also delete the fc_consent_v1 cookie in your browser to be asked again. Your choice expires after about 12 months, after which we'll re-prompt. Turning Analytics off stops campaign attribution and removes our first-party attribution cookies. Some previously set third-party cookies may remain; your browser settings let you remove those.
Third-party services
When enabled by your consent, the following third parties may set cookies on this site:
- Google Analytics 4 — operated by Google Ireland Ltd. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- Google Ads (forthcast.io only) — same operator and policy as above.
Contact
Questions about this Cookie Policy? Contact us at hello@forthsource.io.
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