1. No advertising or analytics cookies
ProofForum does not currently set advertising, behavioural-tracking or analytics cookies. If non-essential tracking is introduced in the future, it must not be enabled before the site provides any consent controls required by applicable law.
2. Cookies used by ProofForum
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
proofforum_session | Essential first-party session cookie used to authenticate requests, maintain the signed-in session and support security controls such as CSRF protection. | Browser-session cookie. The server also enforces its own idle and absolute session limits. |
pf_remember | Optional first-party authentication token created only when you select Stay signed in. It contains a random selector and secret token; ProofForum stores only the token hash in the database. It never contains your password. | Up to 30 days, or earlier if you log out, reset your password, the token expires, or access is revoked. |
3. Local browser storage
The compact cookie notice may store pf_cookie_notice_dismissed_v1 in local storage so it does not reappear on every page. This preference is stored locally in your browser and is not an authentication credential.
4. Security attributes
Authentication cookies use first-party paths, HttpOnly where applicable, SameSite=Lax, and the Secure flag when ProofForum is served over HTTPS. Persistent sign-in tokens are random and revocable; the corresponding secret is not stored in plaintext in the database.
5. Aggregate analytics without analytics cookies
ProofForum may maintain daily first-party aggregate counters for repository operation and product improvement, including paper views, PDF downloads, searches, submission/version activity, moderation decisions, human reviews, AI checks/evidence and subject traffic. These counters are stored server-side without an analytics cookie, visitor identifier, account identifier, IP address, user-agent value or browser fingerprint in the analytics table. Likely email addresses, URLs and long numeric identifiers are not retained as search-query dimensions.
6. Controlling cookies
You can delete or block cookies using your browser controls. Blocking the session cookie will prevent authenticated ProofForum features from working. You can avoid the persistent cookie simply by leaving Stay signed in unchecked.
7. Changes
This policy will be updated if ProofForum introduces additional cookies or similar technologies. Non-essential cookies will not be silently added under the current essential-only notice.
8. Contact
Questions about cookies or privacy: proofforum@hotmail.com.