What this policy covers
This policy explains the cookies and similar technologies used on fastnode.uk, the public website run by FastNode Ltd. It is written to meet the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and UK GDPR. The customer portal at portal.fastnode.uk uses its own strictly necessary storage to keep you signed in; that is covered at the end of this page.
A cookie is a small text file a website asks your browser to keep. localStorage is a similar browser feature that holds data for a site without sending it with every request. The law treats both the same way: anything that is not strictly necessary needs your consent first.
Before you choose
When you first visit, the site sets nothing and loads Google Analytics in a consent-denied state. In that state, no analytics cookies are written and no identifiers are stored on your device. A banner asks whether you accept analytics. The site works fully whichever option you pick, or if you ignore the banner entirely.
Remembering your choice
| Name | Type | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
fn_consent | localStorage | Records whether you accepted or declined analytics, so we do not ask on every page | Until you clear site data or change your choice |
This entry is strictly necessary to respect your decision, so it is stored whichever way you answer. It contains only the value granted or denied and is never sent to our servers or anyone else.
Analytics cookies, only if you accept
If you click accept, we load Google Analytics 4 with consent granted. It sets the following first-party cookies on fastnode.uk:
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes one browser from another with a random identifier | Up to 2 years |
_ga_<container-id> | Google Analytics | Keeps session state for our GA4 property, such as the start of the current visit | Up to 2 years |
We use the data to see which pages are read, which guides are useful, which links people follow and where visitors give up. Reports are aggregated. We have not enabled Google signals or advertising features, and we do not use the data to build profiles of individuals or show you adverts. Google acts as our processor for this; its own terms describe how it handles the data, and our Privacy Notice covers retention and international transfers.
What we do not use
- No advertising or retargeting cookies.
- No social media pixels or embedded share widgets that track you.
- No third-party chat widgets.
- No fingerprinting or other techniques designed to identify you without cookies.
Fonts are loaded from Google Fonts. That request sends your IP address and browser details to Google so it can return the font files, but it does not set cookies.
Why we bother asking
Plenty of sites set analytics cookies on arrival and call it implied consent. UK law does not accept that, and neither do we. Asking first costs us data: a share of visitors never answer, and we don't count them. We would rather have honest, slightly smaller numbers than quietly track people who never agreed.
It also keeps the site fast. Until you accept, the analytics library runs without storing anything, and the banner itself is a few lines of plain JavaScript with no third-party consent platform behind it.
Changing your mind
You can withdraw or give consent whenever you like. Use the "Cookie settings" link in the site footer to bring the banner back and choose again. If you withdraw consent, we stop loading analytics immediately and the site attempts to remove existing _ga cookies. You can also delete cookies and site data for fastnode.uk in your browser settings, which clears fn_consent too, so you will be asked again on your next visit.
Browser extensions that block analytics work fine with this site. Nothing breaks if Google Analytics never loads, and we will not nag you to switch your blocker off.
The customer portal
The portal at portal.fastnode.uk stores a session token so you stay signed in while you manage your servers, and may remember interface preferences such as a selected tab. These are strictly necessary for a service you have asked for and do not require consent. They are not used for analytics or advertising, and they are removed when you sign out or when the session expires.
Contact
Questions about cookies or anything on this page can go to [email protected]. FastNode Ltd, company number {{COMPANY_NUMBER}}, registered office {{REGISTERED_ADDRESS}}.