Cookie Policy
Last updated: August 18, 2026
The short version
- The quiz saves your progress in your own browser only, so a page refresh doesn’t erase your answers. That storage never leaves your device.
- We use a small, named set of analytics and advertising-measurement tools — Google, Meta, and Microsoft Clarity — listed in full below.
- You can opt out of the advertising tools at any time; the links are in section 5.
- Your quiz answers are never shared with any advertising or analytics tool.
The short version is a courtesy. The full policy below is what applies.
1. What cookies and similar technologies are
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Similar technologies include pixels (small snippets of code that measure activity), tags (managed for us by Google Tag Manager), and browser storage (local storage and session storage, which live only in your browser).
This policy covers thefogpattern.com and its subdomains, including quiz.thefogpattern.com. Our checkout is hosted by Whop, which sets its own cookies under its own policy. Not every tool runs on every page — a tool that is not active on a page sets nothing there.
2. Strictly necessary & functional storage
Quiz progress storage (bfq_state) — When you take our pattern check, we save your progress (your answers and your place in the quiz) in your browser’s session storage. This exists only so an accidental page refresh doesn’t erase your answers. It is stored only on your device, is never transmitted to us or to anyone else, is not used for tracking or advertising, and is deleted automatically when you close the tab or after 60 minutes, whichever comes first. Answers to optional health questions are never included in this storage. Because it is strictly necessary for the service you are actively using, it does not require consent.
Hosting security cookies — Our hosting provider (Cloudflare)
may set strictly necessary security cookies (e.g. __cf_bm) to protect the
site from automated abuse; these expire within about 30 minutes.
Checkout session cookies — Our checkout platform (Whop) and our payment processor (Stripe) set strictly necessary cookies on the checkout pages to keep your session and process your payment securely. These cannot be switched off, because the checkout cannot work without them.
3. Analytics & performance
These tools help us understand how visitors use the site — which pages are read, where visitors come from, and where the site can be improved.
- Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics — Google Ireland Limited, used to manage tags and analyze website usage. (Google privacy policy)
- Microsoft Clarity — Microsoft Corporation, used to analyze usage behavior (e.g., heatmaps and session statistics). (Microsoft privacy statement)
4. Advertising & measurement
These tools measure whether our advertising works, so we don’t waste money showing ads to people who aren’t interested. They may collect information about your visit, such as pages viewed and actions taken.
- Meta Pixel — Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, used to measure and optimize our advertising on Facebook and Instagram. (Meta privacy policy)
- Google Ads Conversion Tracking — Google Ireland Limited, used to measure the effectiveness of our advertising. (Google privacy policy)
Your quiz answers are never shared with these tools. Advertising measurement sees that a page was visited or a purchase completed — never what you answered.
All tools at a glance
| Tool | Provider | Category | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz progress storage (bfq_state) | Us (your browser only) | Strictly necessary | Keeps your quiz answers through a page refresh; never leaves your device. |
| Cloudflare security (__cf_bm) | Cloudflare, Inc. | Strictly necessary | Protects the site from automated abuse; expires in ~30 minutes. |
| Checkout session | Whop, Inc. / Stripe, Inc. | Strictly necessary | Keeps your checkout session and processes payment securely. |
| Google Tag Manager | Google Ireland Limited | Tag management | Loads and manages the measurement tags listed here. |
| Google Analytics | Google Ireland Limited | Analytics | Analyzes website usage (pages visited, traffic sources). |
| Microsoft Clarity | Microsoft Corporation | Analytics | Heatmaps and session statistics to improve the site. |
| Meta Pixel | Meta Platforms Ireland Limited | Advertising | Measures and optimizes our Facebook/Instagram advertising. |
| Google Ads Conversion Tracking | Google Ireland Limited | Advertising | Measures the effectiveness of our Google advertising. |
5. Your choices
- Cookie settings: where a cookie banner or settings panel is shown, you can accept or decline non-essential cookies there.
- Browser controls: you can block or delete cookies in your browser settings at any time. The site will still work, though some features may be limited. Strictly necessary storage (like your quiz progress) clears itself automatically.
- Google: adjust your ad preferences at adssettings.google.com or install the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.
- Meta: adjust your ad preferences at facebook.com/adpreferences.
- Industry opt-outs: opt out of interest-based advertising via aboutads.info/choices or optout.networkadvertising.org.
- U.S. state residents: some state laws treat advertising cookies as the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information. To opt out, use the “Do Not Sell or Share My Information” link in our footer or email support@thefogpattern.com. Where required by law, we honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a valid opt-out for the browser sending it.
6. Changes
We may update this policy from time to time — for example, if we add or remove a tool. The date at the top shows the latest version.
7. Contact
Questions about cookies or privacy: support@thefogpattern.com
See also our Privacy Policy for how we handle personal information generally.