Last updated: 1 October 2026
This website (readthemanual.co.uk) uses cookies and similar technologies. This policy explains what cookies we use, why, and how you can manage them.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the site remember your preferences and understand how you use it.
Your Consent Choices
We ask for your consent using Google’s consent management tool (Google Privacy & messaging), which is certified under the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) v2.2. It is shown to visitors in the UK, the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Your answer decides whether Google Analytics, Google AdSense, Microsoft Clarity and the Meta Pixel may use cookies: until you agree, Google’s tags run in consent mode without cookies and Clarity runs without cookies. The Meta Pixel only starts when you consent to storing information on your device and to personalised advertising.
If Google’s message is not available for your visit, a simpler cookie banner (Cookie Compliance by Hu-manity.co) is shown instead, and your choice there controls the same tools. You can change your mind at any time using the privacy and cookie settings link Google’s tool places on the page, or by clearing cookies for this site in your browser.
What Loads on This Site
- Google Analytics 4 (via Site Kit by Google): visit statistics. Cookies only with consent.
- Google AdSense: adverts. Personalised ads and ad cookies only with consent.
- Google Privacy & messaging: the consent tool itself. It stores your choice in a cookie (for example FCCDCF).
- Microsoft Clarity: heatmaps and session recordings. Cookies only with consent.
- Meta Pixel: measurement of visits from our Facebook and Instagram posts and adverts. Only with consent.
- YouTube: pages with an embedded video load the YouTube player, which sets YouTube cookies.
- Brevo: newsletter sign-up forms, and browser push notifications only if you choose to turn them on.
- Our own self-hosted visit counter: counts page views without cookies.
- Amazon affiliate links: no cookies until you click one.
Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies
These are required for the website to function properly. They include session cookies and security cookies. You cannot opt out of essential cookies.
Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. These cookies collect anonymised data about page views, time on site, and how you arrived.
- Provider: Google LLC
- Cookies: _ga, _ga_*, _gid
- Duration: Up to 2 years
- Purpose: Traffic analysis and site improvement
Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)
We display advertisements through Google AdSense. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site and other websites.
- Provider: Google LLC and advertising partners
- Purpose: Serving relevant advertisements, frequency capping, and ad performance measurement
- More information: Google Advertising Policies
You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or aboutads.info.
Behaviour Analytics (Microsoft Clarity)
We use Microsoft Clarity to see how pages are used, through heatmaps and session recordings, so we can fix pages that confuse or frustrate readers. Clarity masks text you type into forms. It does not identify you to us.
Provider: Microsoft Corporation
Cookies: _clck and _clsk (first-party: Clarity user ID and session); CLID, MUID, MR, SM and ANONCHK (third-party, set by Microsoft)
Purpose: Behaviour analytics and session recording
More information: Clarity cookie list and the Microsoft Privacy Statement
Advertising Measurement (Meta Pixel)
We use the Meta Pixel to measure visits that come from our Facebook and Instagram posts and adverts, and to show our adverts to people who have visited the site.
Provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd
Cookies: _fbp (and _fbc when you arrive from a Facebook link)
Duration: Up to 90 days
Purpose: Advert measurement and audience building
More information: Meta Cookies Policy. You can control ad preferences in your Facebook or Instagram settings.
Embedded Video (YouTube)
Provider: Google LLC
Cookies: YSC, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA and related YouTube cookies
Purpose: Playing embedded videos and YouTube’s own measurement
More information: How Google uses cookies
Affiliate Cookies (Amazon Associates)
Some links on this site are affiliate links to Amazon. When you click these links, Amazon may place cookies on your device to track referrals. This allows us to earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
- Provider: Amazon EU S.a r.l.
- Duration: 24 hours (session-based for commission tracking)
- Purpose: Affiliate referral tracking
Managing Cookies
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can view and delete cookies, block all or specific cookies, or set your browser to notify you when a cookie is placed.
Please note that blocking certain cookies may affect the functionality of this website. For more information about managing cookies in your browser:
Changes to This Policy
We may update this cookie policy from time to time. The “last updated” date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision.
Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, contact us at [email protected].