Cookie Policy

1. Cookies We Use

Qu-Chat uses minimal cookies to provide essential functionality. We categorize our cookies as follows:

1.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be disabled:

• Session Management: Maintains your session state while using Qu-Chat
• Security: Protects against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and other security threats
• Preferences: Remembers your settings and preferences

1.2 Analytics Cookies (Optional)

These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website:

• Page views and navigation patterns
• Browser type and device information
• Approximate geographic location (country/region level)

Note: Analytics data is aggregated and anonymous. We do not track individual users or their conversations.

1.3 Third-Party Cookies

Some third-party services we integrate with may set their own cookies:

• Web3 Wallet Providers (MetaMask, WalletConnect) - for authentication
• IPFS Gateways - for media storage and retrieval

These services have their own cookie policies. We recommend reviewing them.

2. What We Don't Do

Unlike many websites, Qu-Chat does NOT use cookies for:

• Advertising or marketing
• Tracking your browsing across other websites
• Selling your data to third parties
• Creating detailed user profiles
• Monitoring your conversations or message content

3. Local Storage

In addition to cookies, Qu-Chat uses browser local storage to:

• Store your encryption keys locally (never transmitted to us)
• Cache message data for faster loading
• Remember your preferences and settings

Local storage data remains on your device and is not transmitted to our servers. You can clear this data at any time through your browser settings.

4. Managing Cookies

4.1 Browser Controls

Most browsers allow you to:

• View and delete cookies
• Block all cookies
• Block third-party cookies only
• Clear cookies when you close your browser

Check your browser's help documentation for specific instructions.

4.2 Impact of Blocking Cookies

If you block all cookies:

• Essential features may not work properly
• Your preferences won't be saved
• You may need to reconfigure settings on each visit

We recommend allowing essential cookies while blocking non-essential ones if you're concerned about privacy.

5. Cookie Retention

Different cookies have different retention periods:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain for a set period (typically 30-90 days)
• Local Storage: Persists until manually cleared

6. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post any changes on this page and update the "Last updated" date.

7. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us at:

hello@qu-chat.com