Cookie Policy

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small file that contains letters and numbers that is downloaded onto your computer when you visit a website. It is sent to your browser and stored on your computer’s hard drive, tablet or mobile device. When you visit our site it can allow us to recognize and remember you.

Technologies similar to cookies

Technologies that store or access information on a user’s device are similar to cookies and are also covered by this policy. These technologies may include:

• Device fingerprinting – using a set of information without relying on cookies in order to identify a particular device. We may collect your IP address, monitor settings, type of browser and operating system to create a unique serial number which constitutes a digital “fingerprint”.

• Local storage – storage of data in the local device’s cache, for example to load content quicker.

• Pixels – a small pixel graphic, which is used to track user behavior, site conversions etc.

• Scripts – small computer programs embedded within websites that give them extra functionality but may access user devices.

In this policy we call all cookies and similar technologies “cookies”, for ease.

First-party and third -party cookies

There are different types of cookies:

• First-party cookies – cookies that are set by Xcel Property Media, LLC when you use our site.

• Third-party cookies – cookies that are set by other parties or organizations (other than the Xcel Property Media, LLC) when you use our site. Some Xcel Property Media, LLC web pages may also contain content from or link to other sites which may set their own cookies. If you share a link to a Xcel Property Media, LLC page, the service you share it on may set a cookie on your browser.

How do we use cookies?

We use cookies in a range of ways to improve your experience on our site, including:

• Keeping you signed in.

• Understanding how you use our site, for instance how long you stay on a page or which article you read next.

• Delivering content to you.

• Showing you Guardian products and services that are relevant to you.

• Delivering marketing and service messages to you on our site.

• Working with partners to deliver relevant advertising to you.

• Reminding you to complete online journeys (e.g. registration flow).

• Processing payments and refunds.

• Monitoring how users interact with pages on our site to identify and remedy interface issues.

In the next sections, we explain in more detail how cookies on our site may be useful, as well as when and where you can control them.

What types of cookies do we use?

We use four types of cookies:

• Strictly Necessary – These cookies are essential to provide you with services you have requested, which means they cannot be switched off through the “Privacy Settings” link. For example, strictly necessary cookies make it possible for you to stay logged into your Xcel Property Media, LLC account and make comments. If you set your browser to block these cookies, then these functions and services will not work for you. In particular, we won’t be able to save your preferences about cookies.

• Performance – These cookies measure how often you visit our site and how you use them. We use this information to get a better sense of how you engage with our site and to improve our sites so that you have a better experience. For example, we collect information about which of our pages are most frequently visited, and by which types of users. We also use third-party cookies to help with performance.

• Functionality – These cookies are used to recognize you and remember your preferences or settings when you return to our site so that we can provide you with a more personalized experience.

• Advertising – These cookies are used to collect information about your visit to our site, including the content you have viewed, the links you have followed and information about your browser, device and your IP address. We have set out more details on this below.

How long do cookies last?

• Session cookies – These cookies only last as long as your online session and expire when you close your browser (e.g., Chrome or Safari).

• Persistent cookies – These cookies stay on your device after your browser has been closed and last for a time specified in the cookie (but not longer than 13 months). We use these cookies when we need to remember you for more than one browsing session, for instance to remember your preferences from one visit to the next.

Do we sell your information?

We will not sell your information to third parties. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on how we protect your privacy.