Last updated: 27 July 2026
BearingSolve uses cookies and similar browser storage on https://www.bearingsolve.com. This policy explains which technologies we use, why we use them, and how you can control the optional services.
Necessary services are active because they are required to keep the application secure and working. Usage analytics and experience diagnostics remain disabled unless you allow them. Opening Customize does not start optional services: they start only after you select Accept all or save choices with the corresponding option enabled. You can change your choice at any time using the Privacy settings button.
Cookies and similar technologies
A cookie is a small piece of data stored by your browser. Similar technologies include local storage and IndexedDB. They can remember a choice, maintain an authenticated session, protect the service from abuse, or help us understand how the application is used.
Technology summary
| Technology and provider | Category | Purpose | Storage and retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy preferences | Necessary | Stores the optional-service choices, policy version, and decision date. | First-party cookie and local storage; up to 180 days. |
| Authentication and abuse protection Google (Firebase) | Necessary | Maintains authentication and helps protect the service from abuse. | Browser storage used by the service; for the relevant token or session lifetime. Authentication state may remain until sign-out or browser data is cleared. |
| Google Analytics | Usage analytics — optional | Distinguishes users and preserves analytics session state. | First-party cookies; Google specifies a default expiration of up to 2 years. Browser limits or service configuration may shorten this period. |
| Experience diagnostics BearingSolve and Google | Optional | Stores a privacy-masked reconstruction of navigation and interactions for technical and usability diagnosis. | Stored in the BearingSolve cloud environment for up to 30 days. |
| Approximate location lookup ipwho.is | Part of experience diagnostics — optional | Returns an approximate city, country, and country code based on the request IP. | No BearingSolve browser identifier is sent. The returned location is stored with the recording for up to 30 days. |
Necessary services
These technologies support authentication and other security controls, core calculator functionality, user-requested preferences, and your privacy choice. They cannot be disabled through our settings because the relevant application functions would not work reliably without them.
The privacy preference record stores your optional-service choices, the policy version, and the date of your decision for up to 180 days. The same preference may also be stored in browser local storage so it remains available when one storage mechanism is restricted.
A local feedback preference records when the quick result question was last offered, so it is not repeated for seven days. It contains no user identifier and is not sent with feedback. The browser may retain it until site storage is cleared; the seven-day limit is checked when the question becomes eligible again.
Usage analytics — optional
If you allow usage analytics, we measure page views, navigation, calculator activity, feedback activity, device information, and authentication status. When signed in, an internal account identifier may be associated with analytics events. We use this information to understand product usage and improve BearingSolve.
The analytics service may set first-party cookies after you provide permission. Google specifies a default expiration of up to 2 years, although browser limits or service configuration may shorten this period. These defaults are documented in the GA4 cookie usage guide. Analytics is only initialized after you save a choice with Usage analytics enabled and stops future collection when you disable it in Privacy settings.
Experience diagnostics — optional
If you allow experience diagnostics, BearingSolve creates a reconstruction of page content, navigation, clicks, scrolling, and other interactions. This technology is commonly called session replay. We use it to identify technical errors and usability problems.
The recorder does not access your camera or microphone. Form inputs are masked, designated sensitive text is masked, iframes are blocked, and canvas content is not captured. A recording may contain other visible page content, your approximate city and country, browser and viewport information, and your account identity when you are signed in.
Approximate location is requested from the IP-based location service ipwho.is. BearingSolve stores only the returned city, country, and country code with the recording. Recordings are stored in our cloud environment for up to 30 days and are available only through authorized administrator tools.
Advertising
BearingSolve does not currently use advertising cookies or optional advertising trackers.
Changing your choice
Use the Privacy settings button at the bottom of the application to review or change your optional choices. Disabling experience diagnostics stops the active recording; disabling usage analytics stops future analytics collection. Changing a choice does not automatically delete data already collected under the previous choice. You can clear BearingSolve cookies and browser storage through your browser settings.