Cookie Policy
What cookies this site uses
Last updated: 30 August 2026. This page explains the cookies, local-storage preference, and similar technologies used by the Tom Hobbs website.
How this site approaches cookies
This site keeps its cookie footprint light. Google Analytics is optional and does not load unless you explicitly allow it. Declining analytics does not prevent you from using the site.
Strictly necessary technologies support security and the Kit mailing-list flow. Retailer links use fixed Amazon UK URLs. The free thriller files are served as normal site downloads and do not require a separate download-service cookie.
Cookies currently in use
__cf_bm, cf_clearance, and related Cloudflare cookies
Strictly necessary
Provider: Cloudflare
Purpose: May be set by Cloudflare to manage traffic, apply security protections, reduce malicious traffic, and help the site load reliably.
Duration: Varies by cookie and Cloudflare feature
_ga and _ga_<measurement-id>
Optional analytics
Provider: Google Analytics
Purpose: Set only after you allow analytics. They distinguish browser sessions so aggregated site usage can be measured. Advertising storage, advertising personalisation, and Google signals are disabled.
Duration: Up to 2 years, subject to browser and Google Analytics settings
Kit form cookies or similar technologies
Form / service functionality
Provider: Kit
Purpose: May be used when the mailing-list form is submitted so the subscription flow can function properly and protect against abuse.
Duration: Varies by cookie and Kit setting
Google Analytics
Google Analytics 4 is used only after you select Allow analytics. It helps measure aggregate page use and a confirmed mailing-list signup event. Names, email addresses, and form contents are not sent to Analytics, and sensitive query-string fields are removed before it is enabled.
Advertising storage, advertising personalisation, and Google signals are disabled. You can change your choice at any time using Cookie settings in the footer. If you withdraw permission, the site stops further analytics collection from this browser and attempts to remove its Google Analytics cookies.
Google provides more information about its technologies at policies.google.com/technologies/cookies.
Cloudflare cookies
Cloudflare documents a number of cookies that may be used on customer websites for security and traffic management, including cookies such as __cf_bm and cf_clearance when relevant features are enabled.
More information is available in Cloudflare’s cookie documentation at developers.cloudflare.com.
Kit and the mailing-list form
The mailing-list signup on this site sends subscription details to Kit. When you interact with that signup flow, Kit may set cookies or similar technologies under its own service terms.
Kit’s privacy information is available at kit.com/privacy.
Managing cookies
Your analytics choice is stored in local storage under th_analytics_consent_v1. This is necessary to remember whether you allowed or declined analytics; it does not identify you and is not sent to Google Analytics.
Use Cookie settings in the site footer to allow, decline, or withdraw analytics permission. You can also control or remove cookies and local storage through your browser settings.
You can usually control or remove cookies through your browser settings. Blocking all cookies may affect how some parts of the site work, including third-party signup behaviour.