Hiddensystems Limited, trading as Hidden Systems. Last updated 31 October 2026, effective 1 November 2026. This policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies on hiddensystems.co.uk. Read it with our Privacy Policy.
1. What cookies are
1.1 Cookies are small text files that a website saves on your computer, phone or tablet. Similar technologies, such as pixels, local storage and scripts that read information from your device, work in a similar way. In this policy, “cookies” includes all of them.
1.2 Some cookies are essential for the website to work. For example, they remember your basket. Others help us understand how the site is used, or allow advertisers to measure their adverts.
2. How we ask for your consent
2.1 When you first visit hiddensystems.co.uk, a cookie banner lets you choose to “Accept all”, “Reject all” or “Choose cookies”. Rejecting is as easy as accepting.
2.2 We do not set analytics or marketing cookies until you have said yes. Essential cookies are always on, because the site cannot work without them.
2.3 You can change your mind at any time using the “Cookie settings” link at the bottom of every page. If you withdraw consent, we will stop setting those cookies. You can also delete existing cookies in your browser settings.
2.4 We keep a record of your choice, using a cookie, for up to 12 months. After that, we ask you again.
3. What changed in 2026, and what it means for you
3.1 From 5 February 2026, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 changed the law on cookies (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). Websites may now use some low-risk cookies without asking first. This applies to cookies used only to produce aggregate statistics about how a website is used, so that the site can be improved, and to cookies that remember your display preferences. In both cases, the website must explain the cookies clearly and give you a simple, free way to object. The ICO published its final guidance on these rules on 29 April 2026.
3.2 Under that guidance, the statistics exception does not apply to analytics that track individual visitors, link visits to purchases for advertising, or allow the analytics provider to use the data for its own purposes. Google Analytics, as we use it, does not meet these conditions. We therefore continue to ask for your consent before using Google Analytics or any advertising cookies.
4. The cookies we use
The tables below list the cookies we expect to be set. Cookie names and lifetimes can change when providers update their services. Our consent tool scans the site regularly, and its up-to-date list is shown in the “Cookie settings” panel.
4.1 Strictly necessary (always on)
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| wp_woocommerce_session_[hash] | Hidden Systems (WooCommerce) | Gives each visitor a unique code so that the store can find their basket | 2 days |
| woocommerce_items_in_cart, woocommerce_cart_hash | Hidden Systems (WooCommerce) | Detect changes to your basket | Session |
| woocommerce_recently_viewed | Hidden Systems (WooCommerce) | Shows the recently viewed products you see on the site | Session |
| store_notice[id] | Hidden Systems (WooCommerce) | Remembers that you have dismissed a store notice | Session |
| wordpress_logged_in_[hash], wordpress_sec_[hash], wordpress_test_cookie, wp-settings-[id] | Hidden Systems (WordPress) | Keep you logged in to your account securely and check that your browser accepts cookies | Session to 14 days (log-in) / 1 year (settings) |
| __stripe_mid, __stripe_sid | Stripe | Fraud prevention during payment. We load these only on basket and checkout pages | 1 year / 30 minutes |
| m | Stripe (m.stripe.com) | Fraud prevention during payment | Up to 2 years |
| cmplz_* (e.g. cmplz_banner-status, cmplz_consented_services, cmplz_policy_id) | Hidden Systems (Complianz) | Remember your cookie choices | 365 days |
Our enquiry and contact forms are protected from spam by our own checks, which do not set cookies.
4.2 Functional (we ask first)
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded video or map cookies (e.g. YouTube, Google Maps) | Play embedded videos and show maps. Until you agree, you will see a link or placeholder instead | Varies |
4.3 Analytics (we ask first)
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics 4 (via Site Kit) | Distinguishes visitors | 2 years (shortened by some browsers) |
| _ga_[container-id] | Google Analytics 4 | Keeps track of the session | 2 years |
| tk_ai, tk_qs, tk_ni, tk_* | Jetpack / WooCommerce Analytics (Automattic) | Visitor statistics for Jetpack features | Session to 1 year |
| sbjs_current, sbjs_first, sbjs_current_add, sbjs_first_add, sbjs_session, sbjs_udata, sbjs_migrations | Hidden Systems (WooCommerce order attribution) | Records how you arrived at our site (e.g. a search engine or an advert), so that the source can be saved against any order you place | Session |
4.4 Marketing (we ask first)
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| _gcl_au and Google Ads conversion cookies | Google (Google for WooCommerce / Google Ads) | Measure whether Google adverts and free product listings lead to sales | 90 days |
We do not currently use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn advertising tags on our website. If we add them, we will update this policy and ask for your consent first. Yoast SEO and Google Search Console do not set cookies for visitors to our website.
5. Third-party cookies and your data
5.1 Analytics and marketing providers may process your data outside the UK. See section 4 of our Privacy Policy for details and safeguards.
6. Contact
6.1 If you have questions about cookies, contact info@hiddensystems.co.uk or telephone 01344 511 612. You also have the right to complain to the ICO (see section 8 of our Privacy Policy).