Cookie & Similar Technologies Policy

1. What Are Cookies & Similar Technologies?

This Cookie Policy explains how Pathubs(“we”, “us”, or “our”) uses cookies and related browser storage mechanisms when you visit our website (pathubs.com).

HTTP Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites that you visit. Cookies are commonly used to make websites work efficiently, provide security against malicious bots, remember preferences, and provide analytical usage insights.

Similar Browser Technologies:In addition to traditional cookies, modern web platforms utilize other client-side storage mechanisms. Authoritative regulatory bodies, such as the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), explicitly treat these storage technologies under the same transparency and consent requirements:

Web Storage (Local Storage & Session Storage): Mechanisms built into your web browser that allow websites to store data locally on your device. Unlike cookies, data stored in localStorage does not travel with every HTTP network header, does not automatically expire, and is accessed only by JavaScript running within your browser.
Scripts & Pixels: Small snippets of code loaded into the page that execute specific technical functions, such as validating human interaction (Cloudflare Turnstile) or measuring aggregate page traffic (Google Analytics).

Important Distinction: Pathubs does not classify all client-side storage as “cookies.” Functional educational progress (e.g. checked curriculum topics and bookmarks) is saved in browser localStorage to allow offline study and instant page loading. We detail both cookies and browser storage transparently below.

2. How Pathubs Uses These Technologies

We classify client storage and telemetry technologies into three functional categories:

A. Essential / Strictly Necessary Technologies

These technologies are technically required for Pathubs to function securely and deliver the core services you request. They cannot be switched off in our preference manager because disabling them would break core application functionality, security, or authentication:

Consent Memory: Remembering your affirmative cookie preferences across visits.
User Authentication: Maintaining your secure login session and syncing your learning dashboard across devices if you create an account.
Security & Abuse Prevention: Distinguishing human learners from automated bots and enforcing API rate limits via Cloudflare Turnstile and Upstash Redis.
Payment Operations: Enabling voluntary contributions via Razorpay when explicitly initiated by the user.

B. Product Analytics Technologies (Consent-Gated)

These technologies help us understand how learners interact with Pathubs—such as which roadmaps are explored, which quiz milestones present difficulties, and whether search queries yield results. This enables us to refine curriculum guides and fix navigation dead-ends.

Consent Guarantee: Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is integrated via Google Consent Mode v2. Analytics cookies and behavioral telemetry are strictly blocked by default. They are activated only ifyou explicitly grant “Analytics” consent in our banner or preference modal. If denied, our application code executes an immediate hard stop and transmits zero behavioral events.

C. Advertising & Marketing Technologies (Consent-Gated)

Pathubs is a free educational platform. To support ongoing server hosting costs, we may display third-party advertisements via Google AdSense.

Consent Guarantee: Google AdSense scripts and advertising identifiers are dynamically loaded only if you affirmatively grant “Marketing & Advertising” consent. If denied, the advertising script is not injected, and Google Consent Mode sets ad_storage, ad_user_data, and ad_personalization to denied.

Note regarding European Traffic (EEA, UK, Switzerland):Under official Google AdSense policies, serving personalized or non-personalized advertisements to visitors located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland requires a Google-certified Consent Management Platform (CMP) integrated with the IAB Europe Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF v2.3), such as Google Privacy & Messaging. Pathubs implements Google Consent Mode v2 on the client side, while regional European regulation messages are managed via Google AdSense account configuration.

3. Active Cookie Inventory

The following table discloses the HTTP cookies that may be set on your device depending on your interaction and consent choices:

Cookie Name	Provider	Category	Party	Typical Duration	Purpose & Consent Condition
_ga	Google Analytics	Analytics	First-Party	Up to 2 years	Distinguishes pseudonymous learners to measure aggregate visits. Only set if Analytics consent is granted.
_ga_*	Google Analytics	Analytics	First-Party	Up to 2 years	Maintains session state across page navigation. Only set if Analytics consent is granted.
sb-*-auth-token	Supabase	Essential	First-Party	Session / 1 year	Stores encrypted session tokens for authenticated students. Set only when a user logs in.
__cf_bm / cf_clearance	Cloudflare	Essential	Third-Party	30 minutes to 1 year	Cloudflare Turnstile bot detection and DDoS mitigation. Set to secure feedback and contact APIs.
rzp_device_id	Razorpay	Functional	Third-Party	Session / 1 year	Fraud prevention and device authentication during voluntary contribution checkout. Set only if checkout is opened.
__gads / __gpi	Google AdSense	Advertising	Third-Party	13 months	Ad frequency capping, fraud prevention, and ad measurement. Only set if Marketing consent is granted.

Note: Third-party providers (such as Google or Razorpay) may occasionally update cookie identifiers or durations. We periodically review this inventory to reflect technical updates.

4. Local Storage Inventory (Non-Cookie Data)

Pathubs uses browser localStorage to deliver high-performance educational features. This data is stored locally in your browser sandbox and is not transmitted automatically across normal HTTP network requests:

Storage Key	Category	Lifespan	Purpose & Data Stored
pathubs_cookie_consent_v1	Essential	Persistent	Records your affirmative cookie consent choices (version, analytics boolean, marketing boolean, timestamp).
skillpath_user_session	Essential	Until Logout	Stores basic session metadata (user ID, display name, email, avatar URL) for authenticated learners.
skillpath_progress_v1_*	Functional	Persistent	Stores completed topic IDs and roadmap completion percentages scoped to your active user account or session.
skillpath_history_v1_*	Functional	Persistent	Stores the 20 most recent learning paths visited so you can resume study from the dashboard.
skillpath_bookmarks_v1_*	Functional	Persistent	Stores your bookmarked resource IDs for quick access in your personal library.
skillpath_quiz_*	Functional	Persistent	Stores milestone and topic quiz completion status and numerical scores.
skillpath_tour_done	Functional	Persistent	Remembers whether you have already completed the 5-step interactive onboarding tour.
pathubs_student_feedback / pathubs_topic_feedback / support_messages	Functional	Persistent	Local offline fallback copy of student feedback, bug reports, and support messages.
approved_community_resources / voted_community_resources	Functional	Persistent	Caches community-suggested educational resource links and local upvote status.
sync_queue_*	Functional	Until Synced	Temporary offline buffer that enqueues study checkmarks when offline and flushes to Supabase upon reconnect.

6. Browser-Level Controls & Deletion

In addition to our on-site preferences modal, you can control or delete cookies and web storage directly through your browser settings:

Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies → See all site data and permissions.
Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Clear Data.
Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data.
Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data.

Please note: Clearing your browser's local storage will remove your saved learning progress, topic checkmarks, and bookmarks stored locally on that device unless you are signed in with a synchronized Pathubs account.

7. Third-Party Technology Providers

Pathubs engages reputable third-party technology providers to assist in platform operation, security, and measurement. Each provider processes technical information subject to their respective privacy terms:

Google LLC (Google Analytics & AdSense): Provides aggregate web measurement and advertising infrastructure. Learn more at Google Privacy & Terms .
Supabase, Inc.: Provides user authentication, database persistence, and cloud sync services. Learn more at Supabase Privacy Policy .
Cloudflare, Inc. (Turnstile): Provides privacy-preserving CAPTCHA-free bot verification and security defense. Learn more at Cloudflare Privacy Policy .
Razorpay Software Private Limited: Provides PCI-DSS compliant checkout processing for voluntary contributions. Learn more at Razorpay Privacy Policy .
Upstash, Inc.: Provides distributed serverless Redis for API rate limiting and DoS mitigation. Learn more at Upstash Privacy Policy .

8. Applicable Regulatory Frameworks

Pathubs operates from India and is accessible to learners internationally. We design our storage and telemetry controls with consideration of applicable global standards:

India (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 & DPDP Rules, 2025): We respect the principles of transparency and affirmative consent. Technical identifiers are handled responsibly, and non-essential telemetry is consent-gated in alignment with the phased commencement of the notified DPDP Rules.
European Union & UK (ePrivacy Directive / PECR / GDPR): In accordance with Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive and UK PECR Regulation 6, non-essential cookies and storage mechanisms require prior, informed, revocable consent before being accessed or placed on terminal equipment.

Legal Notice: This policy is maintained for technical transparency and educational disclosure. It does not constitute a representation of global statutory certification. Specific regulatory applicability depends on user location and evolving administrative rules.

9. Contact & Questions

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or browser storage technologies, please reach out to us:

Platform: Pathubs

Support Email: supportpathubs@gmail.com

Response Window: We endeavor to respond to privacy and technical storage inquiries within 48 to 72 business hours.

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