Markov Solutions Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how Markov Solutions ("we" or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website, markovsolutions.net (the "Website"). We want to be transparent about how and why we use these technologies and inform you about your choices in managing cookies. We are committed to complying with global regulations regarding cookies and online tracking, including the EU ePrivacy Directive/GDPR requirements for consent and transparency, and relevant laws in other jurisdictions such as the CCPA in California. By using our Website, you can choose your preferences for cookies via our consent banner. Your continued use of the site after setting your preferences will signify your consent (where required) to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the site owners or to remember certain information about you. Cookies can serve various purposes:

• Some cookies are essential for the operation of a website (for example, to remember items in a shopping cart or keep you logged in).
• Other cookies are used to analyze website usage (analytics cookies) or to personalize advertising (advertising cookies).
• Cookies may be temporary (session cookies), which are deleted when you close your browser, or persistent cookies, which remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them.

Cookies can also be classified by who sets them: first-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting (in this case, markovsolutions.net), while third-party cookies are set by domains other than the one you are visiting (for example, by our analytics or advertising partners).

In addition to cookies, we may use similar tracking technologies such as web beacons, pixels, or local storage. For simplicity, this policy refers to all of these as "cookies."

3. Types of Cookies We Use

We use the following categories of cookies on our Website:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly or to provide a service you requested. They enable core functionalities such as security, network management, and accessibility. For example, when you submit our contact form, a necessary cookie might be used to ensure that the form data is sent securely. We also use a cookie to remember your cookie consent preferences (so that the site knows whether you have accepted or declined various types of cookies). These cookies do not collect personal information for marketing purposes and are generally set in response to your actions (such as setting privacy preferences or filling in forms). Because they are necessary for the functioning of the site, they do not require your consent. However, you can still block them via browser settings (see Managing Cookies below), but parts of the site may not work correctly without them.

Analytics Cookies

We use cookies to understand how visitors engage with our Website so we can improve our content and user experience. In particular, we use Google Analytics (a web analytics service provided by Google) which sets first-party cookies on your device. These cookies (such as _ga, _gid, and similar identifiers) allow us to collect information about Website usage, such as the number of visitors, which pages are viewed, how long people stay on each page, and how visitors navigate through the site. The information collected via Google Analytics cookies is transmitted to and stored by Google on servers (which may be in the United States or other countries). We have configured Google Analytics to anonymize IP addresses where applicable, which means Google truncates/anonymizes the last octet of your IP address for users in the European Economic Area. The data we receive from Google Analytics is aggregated and does not personally identify you. We use this data for statistical analysis — for example, to identify trends in site usage or to troubleshoot performance issues. Google may also use the data collected via Analytics cookies for its own purposes as described in Google's privacy documentation. You can learn more about how Google Analytics works and how Google safeguards data by visiting Google's "How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services" and their data privacy and security overview.

Advertising Cookies (Google Ads)

Our Website uses Google Ads conversion tracking (and may use other Google advertising features) to measure the effectiveness of our Google advertising campaigns. When you click on one of our Google Ads and then visit our site, a third-party cookie from Google Ads (for example, a cookie named _gcl_au or similar, on the domain googleadservices.com or doubleclick.net) may be placed on your browser. This cookie helps us recognize that you came to our site via an ad and can inform us if you take certain actions on our site (like submitting a contact form, which we treat as a conversion). The information collected via these advertising cookies does not include details like your name or email; instead, it may include data such as your IP address, browser type, and the fact that you visited our site and performed a conversion action. We use this information to evaluate and optimize our advertising efforts (for example, to see which ads are most effective). We do not use third-party advertising cookies for personalized ads on our site (we are not showing third-party banner ads or engaging in retargeting at this time). However, Google may use the information from conversion cookies in aggregate to improve ad services and reporting. For more information on how Google uses cookies in advertising, you can visit Google's Cookie Usage in Advertising page.

Functional Cookies (Site Preferences and Features)

To enhance your experience on our Website, we may use certain functional cookies. For example, if our blog allows guest commenting, we might use a cookie to remember the name or alias you provided so that it auto-fills for your next comment. Likewise, if you "like" a blog post, we might set a cookie to remember that action, preventing you from liking the same post multiple times and helping us show an accurate like count. These cookies improve convenience and site functionality. While they may not be strictly necessary, they are designed to make your visits more personalized. We will generally treat these cookies as requiring consent if they are not essential to providing a service you explicitly requested. If you disable or do not consent to these cookies, certain features (like remembering your comment name or your liked posts) might not work, but the core usage of the site should remain unaffected.

4. Managing Cookies and Consent

Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our Website (and periodically thereafter, as required by law), you will see a cookie consent banner. This banner gives you the opportunity to accept or reject different categories of cookies (except strictly necessary cookies, which are always enabled because the site cannot function properly without them). We do not set analytics or advertising cookies until you have given consent via this banner.

• If you click "Accept All" on the banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies as described in this Cookie Policy.
• If you click "Reject All" (or decline non-essential cookies), we will not set any analytics or advertising cookies on your device. Only essential cookies (including a cookie to remember that you opted out) will be used.
• The banner may also allow you to make a granular choice. For instance, you might choose to enable Analytics cookies but disable Advertising cookies, or vice versa. Use the banner's options (such as "Preferences" or "Cookie Settings") to customize your cookie preferences. The banner will explain what each category of cookie does so you can make an informed decision.

Our consent mechanism is designed to meet GDPR and similar requirements for prior consent. Until you express your preference, non-essential cookies are kept inactive. If you simply continue to browse the site without interacting with the banner, we will treat that as a no consent for non-essential cookies (i.e., we will not load analytics/advertising cookies) and you may be reminded about the cookie choices again. We aim to respect your choice: once you've made a selection, your preferences will be remembered for future visits (via a cookie that stores your consent decision).

Changing Your Cookie Preferences

You have the right to change your cookie choices or withdraw consent at any time. Here are ways you can manage cookies:

• On Our Website: You can click the"Manage Cookie Settings" button located at the top of this Cookie Policy page to reopen the cookie consent banner and modify your preferences. This button allows you to easily change your cookie settings at any time without having to clear your browser cookies. If you've cleared your cookies or are using a different browser/device, the consent banner will automatically appear when you first visit the site.
• Browser Settings: Most web browsers provide settings that let you control or block cookies. You can typically remove existing cookies, block all cookies, or block cookies from specific sites. For example, in Chrome you can go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data, and in Safari you can go to Preferences > Privacy. Consult your browser's help documentation for exact instructions. Note: If you block all cookies, our Website may not function fully as some cookies are essential. If you clear cookies, it will remove cookies that store your preferences (including your opt-out choices), so upon your next visit you will likely see the consent banner again to reconfirm your preferences.
• Opt-Out Mechanisms: For third-party analytics and advertising tools, there are additional opt-out options:
  • Google Analytics offers a browser add-on that prevents Google Analytics from collecting data on any site. You can download it from Google's site (the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on).
  • For Google Ads, you can adjust your ad personalization settings by visiting the Google Ads Settings page (if you have a Google account) or going to resources like the NAI (Network Advertising Initiative) opt-out page or YourAdChoices (for US users) to opt out of interest-based advertising cookies from participating companies. European users can visit Your Online Choices (youronlinechoices.eu) for similar opt-out controls.

Please be aware that if you disable cookies, the functionality of our Website may be impacted. Essential features will generally still work, but you might experience inconveniences. For example, if you disable functional cookies, you may need to re-enter information that would have otherwise been remembered, and if you disable analytics cookies, we will have less insight into how to improve our site experience for users. We respect and support your decision to manage cookies as you see fit.

5. International Users and Cookie Compliance

Our aim is to ensure compliance with cookie-related regulations no matter where our users are located:

• Users in the European Union/EEA: We follow the EU ePrivacy Directive (and local implementations) and GDPR requirements for cookies. That's why we present a consent banner and allow you to opt in or out of non-essential cookies. We also implement measures like IP anonymization for Google Analytics as an added compliance step. If you are in the EU/EEA, your consent choices are strictly honored. The data collected via cookies may be transferred outside the EU (e.g., to the U.S. for processing by Google). Where such transfers occur, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses as described in our Privacy Policy.
• Users in California (CCPA/CPRA): As described, we do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising without consent. If you opt out of advertising cookies via our banner or other methods, that choice will be treated as an opt-out of any "sale" or "share" of data that those cookies might involve. We also do not use cookies to discriminate in service or price. In compliance with CPRA, if we were to add cookies that involve selling/sharing data, we would update our notices and include a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" option. Currently, the cookie usage is limited to analytics and first-party ad measurement.
• Other Regions: We endeavor to follow best practices universally. For instance, Canada requires user consent for non-essential cookies (similar to EU) – our banner addresses that by seeking consent. In Brazil, the LGPD emphasizes informing users about data collection – this policy and our banner serve that purpose. We watch for updates in laws (such as emerging U.S. state privacy laws in Virginia, Colorado, etc.) and adjust our cookie practices as needed to remain compliant.

6. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in the cookies we use or to comply with legal requirements. When we make changes, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes (for example, if we start using a new category of cookies or begin processing data in a materially different way), we may provide a more prominent notice or request renewed consent for certain cookies. We recommend that you review this Cookie Policy from time to time to stay informed about our use of cookies and related technologies. Your continued use of our Website after any modifications to this policy will be treated as acceptance of the updated policy, where applicable law permits.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our use of cookies, your cookie preferences, or anything in this Cookie Policy, please do not hesitate to contact us: