1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, mobile device, or other device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to improve the user experience, and to provide website operators with information about how the site is being used.
Each cookie typically contains the name of the website that set it, the duration for which the cookie will remain on your device, and a value — usually a randomly generated unique number used to identify your browser or device.
This Cookie Policy explains how PublicNSA LLC dba BIGDBM ("BIGDBM," "we," "us," or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on the website located at https://bigdbm.com and any related subdomains (the "Website"). It should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
2. Why We Use Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies for a number of purposes, including to:
- Make the Website work. Certain cookies are strictly necessary for the Website to function. Without them, services you have asked for — such as remembering your session or form data — cannot be provided.
- Improve your experience. Preference cookies allow us to remember choices you make (such as language or region) and provide a more personalized experience.
- Understand how visitors use the Website. Analytics cookies help us measure traffic, identify the most popular pages, and understand how visitors navigate the site, so we can improve it.
- Support our marketing activities. Marketing cookies allow us and our advertising partners to deliver advertisements that are relevant to your interests and to measure the effectiveness of our campaigns.
- Ensure security. Some cookies help us detect and prevent fraud, protect user accounts, and maintain the integrity of the Website.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Strictly Necessary
Essential Cookies
Required for the Website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the Website will not then work.
Functional
Preference Cookies
Allow the Website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or the region you are in) and to provide enhanced, more personalized features. These cookies may also be used to provide services you have asked for, such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. Without these cookies, some functionality may not be available.
Analytics
Performance Cookies
Collect information about how visitors use the Website — for instance, which pages visitors go to most often and if they get error messages from web pages. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymous. These cookies are used only to improve how the Website works and are not used to identify you personally.
Marketing
Targeting & Advertising Cookies
Used to deliver advertisements that are more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and to help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. They are usually placed by advertising networks with our permission and remember that you have visited a website.
4. Cookies on This Site
The following table describes the primary cookies currently in use on the BIGDBM Website. Because the Website is regularly updated and third-party services may change their cookie behavior, this list may not always be exhaustive.
Essential & Functional Cookies
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| bigdbm_cookie_consent | BIGDBM | Stores your cookie consent preference so the consent banner is not shown on subsequent visits. | 1 year |
| _session | BIGDBM | Maintains your session state across pages during a single browsing session. | Session |
| PHPSESSID | BIGDBM | A general-purpose server-side session identifier used to preserve session state. | Session |
Analytics & Performance Cookies
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how you use the Website. | 2 years |
| ga* | Google Analytics | Identifies unique sessions on the Website and maintains session state across pages. | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how you use the Website. | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Used to throttle request rate to Google Analytics servers. | 1 minute |
Marketing & Targeting Cookies
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Meta (Facebook) | Used by Meta to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real-time bidding from third-party advertisers. | 3 months |
| fr | Meta (Facebook) | Used by Meta to deliver, measure, and improve the relevance of ads. | 3 months |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads | Used by Google AdSense to experiment with advertisement efficiency across websites. | 3 months |
| _ttp | TikTok | Stores and tracks visitor information for advertising and marketing, including conversion events. | 13 months |
| li_fat_id | Used for LinkedIn's member indirect identifier for conversion tracking, retargeting, and analytics. | 30 days | |
| UserMatchHistory | Tracks visitors so that more relevant ads can be presented based on the visitor's preferences. | 30 days |
5. First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are set directly by BIGDBM when you visit our Website. They are used to make the Website work correctly and to remember your preferences.
Third-party cookies are set by a domain other than BIGDBM — for example, by analytics providers such as Google Analytics, or by advertising partners such as Meta, LinkedIn, or Google Ads. These cookies allow those third parties to recognize your browser across different websites you visit. The use of these cookies by third parties is subject to those third parties' own privacy and cookie policies, over which BIGDBM has no control.
6. Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, we and our partners may use other tracking technologies on the Website:
- Pixel tags (web beacons). Tiny, invisible images embedded in web pages or emails that signal to a server when a page or email has been viewed. Pixel tags are used to measure the effectiveness of our email campaigns and to track user activity on the Website.
- Local storage. Your browser's local storage is used to store small amounts of data on your device outside of cookies. BIGDBM uses local storage to preserve your cookie consent choice between sessions.
- Device fingerprinting. A combination of information about your device and browser (such as IP address, browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and installed fonts) may be used to identify and recognize your device across sessions, particularly in contexts where cookies are unavailable or have been cleared.
- Session replay tools. We may use tools that record mouse movements, clicks, scrolling behavior, and keystrokes (excluding form input) to help us understand how visitors interact with the Website and to identify usability issues. Any such recordings are processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Depending on your jurisdiction, when you first visit the Website you may be presented with a cookie consent banner that gives you the option to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can update your preferences at any time by clearing your browser's cookies and revisiting the Website.
Blocking or disabling certain cookies may affect your ability to use the Website or access certain features. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be disabled through our consent mechanism, as they are required for the Website to function.
To opt out of interest-based advertising by our advertising partners, please visit:
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): optout.aboutads.info
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): optout.networkadvertising.org
- European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA): youronlinechoices.eu
- Google Ads settings: adssettings.google.com
- Meta Ad Preferences: facebook.com/ads/preferences
8. Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find cookie settings in your browser's "Preferences," "Settings," or "Privacy" menu. Common browser controls include:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data
- Opera: Settings → Advanced → Privacy & security → Site Settings → Cookies
You can also visit allaboutcookies.org for comprehensive guidance on managing cookies across different browsers and devices.
9. Do Not Track
Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" ("DNT") feature that signals to websites that you do not want to have your online activity tracked. Because there is currently no industry-standard interpretation of DNT signals, the BIGDBM Website does not currently respond to DNT signals. You can use the tools described in Sections 7 and 8 above to limit tracking of your activity on the Website.
10. Cookie Retention Periods
Cookies may be either session cookies, which expire when you close your browser, or persistent cookies, which remain on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them.
The specific duration of each cookie used on the Website is listed in the cookie table in Section 4. In general:
- Strictly necessary and session cookies typically expire when you close your browser or within a few hours.
- Preference and analytics cookies typically have a lifespan of 30 days to 2 years.
- Marketing and targeting cookies typically have a lifespan of 30 days to 13 months, depending on the advertising partner.
11. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, applicable law, or our business practices. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
Your continued use of the Website after any changes to this Cookie Policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact us:
Privacy