Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how EduPayOS ("we", "our", "us", or "the Company") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit and use our payment orchestration and commission management platform (collectively, "the Platform" or "Services") available at edupayos.com and through our software applications.

This policy should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, which provide additional information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

By using our Platform, you consent to our use of cookies and similar technologies in accordance with this Cookie Policy. If you do not agree with our use of cookies, you may disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may impact your ability to use certain features of our Platform.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, smartphone, or other internet-enabled device) when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide information to website owners, and enhance user experience.

Cookies typically contain:

• The name of the website that set the cookie
• A unique identifier (usually a randomly generated string)
• An expiration date (some cookies expire when you close your browser, while others persist for a specified period)
• Data that the website needs to remember about your visit

Cookies are stored by your web browser and can be accessed by the website that set them (first-party cookies) or by other websites that have permission to access them (third-party cookies). Cookies cannot access other information on your device or transmit viruses or malware.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

We use several types of cookies and similar tracking technologies on our Platform, each serving different purposes:

3.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

Essential cookies are strictly necessary for the Platform to function properly and cannot be disabled in our systems. These cookies enable core functionality such as:

• Authentication and Security: Maintaining your login session, verifying your identity, and protecting against unauthorised access. These cookies are essential for account security and preventing fraud.
• Session Management: Remembering your session state, maintaining your connection to the Platform, and ensuring that your actions are properly attributed to your account.
• Load Balancing and Performance: Distributing traffic across servers to ensure optimal Platform performance and availability.
• Security Features: Implementing security measures such as CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) protection, rate limiting, and detecting suspicious activity.
• Cookie Consent: Remembering your cookie preferences and consent choices so we do not repeatedly ask for your consent.

Important: Without essential cookies, we cannot provide the core functionality of our Platform, including account access, payment processing, and security features. Disabling essential cookies will prevent you from using our Services.

3.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies

Performance and analytics cookies collect information about how you use our Platform, helping us understand user behaviour, identify issues, and improve our Services. These cookies may collect:

• Which pages you visit and how long you spend on each page
• How you navigate through the Platform (clickstream data)
• Which features you use most frequently
• Errors or issues you encounter
• Performance metrics such as page load times and response times
• Device and browser information (anonymised where possible)

We use this information to:

• Improve Platform performance and user experience
• Identify and fix bugs, errors, and usability issues
• Optimise page layouts and feature placement
• Understand which features are most valuable to users
• Plan future enhancements and developments

Performance and analytics cookies are typically set by third-party analytics providers (such as Google Analytics, if used) or by our own analytics systems. The data collected is usually aggregated and anonymised, meaning it cannot be used to identify you personally.

3.3 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies remember your preferences and choices to provide a more personalised and convenient experience. These cookies may store:

• Language preferences
• Time zone settings
• Display preferences (such as theme or layout)
• Form data you have entered (to prevent loss if you navigate away)
• Feature preferences and customisations

Functional cookies enhance your experience by eliminating the need to re-enter information or reconfigure settings each time you visit the Platform. These cookies are not strictly necessary for the Platform to function, but they significantly improve usability.

3.4 Targeting and Advertising Cookies

We may use targeting and advertising cookies to deliver relevant content and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. These cookies may:

• Track your interactions with our marketing communications
• Measure the performance of advertising campaigns
• Personalise content and recommendations
• Limit the number of times you see the same advertisement

Targeting and advertising cookies are typically set by third-party advertising networks or marketing platforms. We only use these cookies where you have provided consent, and you can opt out at any time through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner.

4. Cookie Duration

Cookies can be categorised by their duration:

4.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your web browser. These cookies are essential for maintaining your session and ensuring that you remain logged in while using the Platform. Session cookies typically store:

• Authentication tokens and session identifiers
• Temporary form data
• Security tokens for CSRF protection

4.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a specified period (ranging from days to years) or until you manually delete them. These cookies are used to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Maintain your login state across browser sessions (where you choose "Remember Me")
• Track analytics and usage patterns over time
• Store cookie consent preferences

The retention period for persistent cookies varies depending on their purpose. Essential cookies may persist for the duration of your account, while analytics cookies typically expire after 12-24 months. Functional cookies may persist for several months or until you clear them.

5. Third-Party Cookies

In addition to cookies we set directly (first-party cookies), we may allow third-party service providers to set cookies on our Platform. These third-party cookies are used for:

5.1 Analytics Providers

We may use analytics services (such as Google Analytics, if implemented) to understand how users interact with our Platform. These services use cookies to collect information about your use of the Platform, which is typically aggregated and anonymised. Analytics providers may combine this data with data from other websites you visit to build a profile of your online behaviour.

5.2 Service Providers

Third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Platform (such as cloud hosting providers, customer support tools, and security monitoring services) may set cookies to provide their services. These cookies are necessary for the Platform to function properly and are subject to the same security and privacy standards as our own cookies.

5.3 Social Media and Marketing Platforms

If we integrate social media features or use marketing platforms, these services may set cookies to track your interactions and measure campaign effectiveness. We only use these cookies where you have provided consent, and you can manage your preferences through our cookie consent banner or your browser settings.

5.4 Third-Party Cookie Policies

Third-party cookies are subject to the privacy policies and cookie policies of the third-party providers. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party service providers to understand how they use cookies and process your data. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or cookie usage of third-party providers.

6. Similar Tracking Technologies

In addition to cookies, we may use similar tracking technologies that serve similar purposes:

6.1 Web Beacons (Pixel Tags)

Web beacons are small, invisible images embedded in web pages or emails that allow us to track whether you have opened an email or visited a specific page. Web beacons are used for analytics, email tracking, and measuring the effectiveness of communications.

6.2 Local Storage and Session Storage

Local storage and session storage are browser storage mechanisms that allow websites to store data on your device. We may use local storage to:

• Store user preferences and settings
• Cache data to improve performance
• Maintain application state
• Store temporary form data

Unlike cookies, local storage data is not automatically sent to servers with each request, but it can be accessed by JavaScript code on the website that set it.

6.3 Fingerprinting

We may use device fingerprinting techniques to identify your device based on its unique characteristics (such as browser type, screen resolution, installed fonts, and other device attributes). Fingerprinting is used for security purposes, fraud prevention, and analytics. We do not use fingerprinting for advertising or tracking across websites.

7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for managing cookies and similar tracking technologies:

7.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:

• View and delete cookies stored on your device
• Block all cookies or block cookies from specific websites
• Allow cookies only from websites you visit (block third-party cookies)
• Set your browser to notify you before cookies are set
• Delete cookies automatically when you close your browser

Instructions for managing cookies vary by browser:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Cookies and site permissions
• Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data
• Opera: Settings → Privacy & security → Cookies

Important: Blocking or deleting essential cookies will prevent you from using our Platform. We recommend allowing essential cookies while managing your preferences for other cookie types.

7.2 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our Platform, we may display a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies
• Customise your cookie preferences by category
• View detailed information about each cookie category

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by accessing the cookie settings through our Platform or by clearing your cookies and revisiting the Platform.

7.3 Opt-Out Tools

For certain third-party cookies (particularly advertising and analytics cookies), you may be able to opt out through:

• Google Analytics Opt-Out: Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on
• Network Advertising Initiative: NAI Opt-Out Page
• Digital Advertising Alliance: DAA Consumer Choice Page
• European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: Your Online Choices

8. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling cookies may impact your ability to use our Platform:

8.1 Essential Cookies

If you disable essential cookies, you will not be able to:

• Log in to your account
• Access secure areas of the Platform
• Process payments or manage commissions
• Use core Platform features
• Maintain your session while navigating the Platform

8.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies

Disabling performance and analytics cookies will not prevent you from using the Platform, but it may:

• Limit our ability to identify and fix issues
• Prevent us from optimising Platform performance
• Reduce our understanding of user needs and preferences

8.3 Functional Cookies

Disabling functional cookies may result in:

• Loss of your preferences and settings
• Need to re-enter information each time you visit
• Less personalised user experience

9. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make material changes to this Cookie Policy, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this Cookie Policy
• Notify you by email (if you have provided an email address) or through a prominent notice on our Platform
• Provide a summary of material changes, where appropriate
• Obtain your consent where required by applicable law for material changes

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and similar technologies. Your continued use of our Services after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Cookie Policy, unless we are required by law to obtain your explicit consent.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy, our use of cookies, or your cookie preferences, please contact us using the following details:

When contacting us, please provide sufficient information to enable us to identify you and respond to your enquiry, including your name, email address, organisation (if applicable), and a description of your request or concern. We will respond to your enquiry as soon as reasonably practicable, typically within 5-10 business days.