1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, tablet, or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used by websites to make the user experience more efficient and personalized. Cookies allow websites to recognize your device on subsequent visits, remember your preferences, and gather analytical data about how you interact with content.
Cookies can be classified in a number of ways: by their origin (first-party cookies set by Zone Thunder directly, or third-party cookies set by our service providers), by their duration (session cookies that expire when you close your browser, or persistent cookies that remain on your device for a set period), and by their purpose (essential, analytics, or preference cookies).
In addition to traditional cookies, Zone Thunder also makes use of localStorage â a browser-based storage mechanism â to remember certain user preferences such as your age verification status and cookie consent decision. Like cookies, data stored in localStorage remains on your device until cleared. You can manage localStorage data through your browser's developer tools or privacy settings, just as you would with cookies.
The information stored in cookies and localStorage on Zone Thunder is used solely to improve your experience on our Platform and to ensure the Platform operates correctly. We do not use cookie data for advertising profiling or cross-site tracking, and we do not sell cookie-derived data to third parties.
2. Types of Cookies We Use
Zone Thunder uses three categories of cookies and similar technologies. Below is a summary, followed by detailed sections on each type and a comprehensive cookie table listing individual cookies.
- Essential Cookies: These cookies are strictly necessary for the Platform to function. Without them, you would not be able to use core features of the site. These cookies do not require your consent under applicable law.
- Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with Zone Thunder by collecting anonymized or aggregated information about traffic patterns, popular content, and user behavior. These cookies are only placed with your consent.
- Preference Cookies: These cookies allow the Platform to remember choices you have made (such as your age verification status, cookie consent preference, and display settings) to provide a more personalized experience. Some of these are essential; others require consent.
Cookie Reference Table
| Cookie / Key Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
zt_age_verified |
Essential (localStorage) | Records that the user has confirmed they are 19+, preventing the age gate from reappearing on every page load. | 30 days |
zt_cookie_consent |
Essential (localStorage) | Stores the user's cookie consent decision (accepted or declined) so the banner does not reappear unnecessarily. | 12 months |
_ga |
Analytics (third-party) | Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. | 2 years |
_ga_[ID] |
Analytics (third-party) | Google Analytics 4 cookie used to persist session state and track page views within a session. | 2 years |
_gid |
Analytics (third-party) | Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish users, storing and updating a unique value for each page visited. | 24 hours |
zt_theme |
Preference (localStorage) | Remembers display preferences selected by the user for a consistent visual experience across sessions. | 6 months |
zt_session |
Essential (session cookie) | Maintains your active session while browsing Zone Thunder, enabling consistent experiences across page navigation. | Session (expires on browser close) |
3. Essential Cookies
Essential cookies are those that are strictly necessary for the operation of Zone Thunder. They enable core features such as page navigation, secure access, age verification gating, and storing your consent preferences. Without these cookies or their localStorage equivalents, the Platform cannot function correctly, and we therefore do not require your consent to place them.
Our essential cookies include:
- zt_age_verified: This localStorage entry is set when you confirm that you are 19 years of age or older by clicking the appropriate button on our age verification gate. It prevents the age verification dialog from interrupting your experience on subsequent page visits within the 30-day validity window. This data is stored only in your browser's localStorage and is never transmitted to our servers.
- zt_cookie_consent: This localStorage entry records your response to our cookie consent banner â whether you accepted or declined non-essential cookies. This is essential for us to honor your consent choices consistently and to comply with our legal obligations under applicable Canadian privacy law.
- zt_session: This standard session cookie maintains your connection to the Platform while you browse, ensuring consistent functionality across different pages and features. It is deleted automatically when you close your browser.
Because essential cookies are required for the Platform to function, disabling them through your browser settings may cause parts of Zone Thunder to malfunction or become unavailable. We minimize our use of essential cookies to only those that are genuinely necessary.
4. Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors find and use Zone Thunder, enabling us to measure and improve our Platform's performance and content quality. These cookies are only placed on your device if you have accepted non-essential cookies via our cookie consent banner.
Zone Thunder may use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, to collect anonymized data about user behavior. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect standard internet log information and visitor behavior information in an anonymous form. No personally identifiable information is collected through these analytics cookies.
The information collected by analytics cookies includes:
- Pages visited and the order in which they were visited.
- Time spent on each page and on the Platform overall.
- How users arrived at Zone Thunder (search engines, direct URL entry, etc.).
- Geographic region (country and province level only â not precise location).
- Device type, operating system, and browser type.
- Interactions with specific features or content areas.
All analytics data is aggregated and anonymized before being used in any reporting or decision-making. We have configured Google Analytics with IP anonymization enabled, ensuring that no full IP addresses are stored. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking at any time by declining non-essential cookies in our consent banner, by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by adjusting your browser settings.
5. Preference Cookies
Preference cookies allow Zone Thunder to remember choices you have made and provide enhanced, personalized features. These cookies help deliver a more tailored experience by recalling your settings between visits. Where preference cookies go beyond the strictly essential (for example, remembering display themes or optional UI settings), we obtain your consent before placing them.
Our preference-related data includes:
- Display Settings (zt_theme): If you have selected any display preferences â such as reduced-motion settings or custom UI configurations â this preference cookie ensures those settings are applied consistently each time you visit.
- Navigation State: Where applicable, preference data may remember which sections of the Platform you have recently visited or explored, enabling a more seamless continuation of your entertainment experience.
Preference cookies do not collect personally identifiable information. They store only functional preference data tied to your device and browser, not to your identity. If you clear your browser cookies or use a different device, any stored preferences will be reset and you will need to configure them again.
You can withdraw consent for preference cookies at any time by clearing cookies and localStorage data in your browser settings. Please note that doing so will also clear your age verification and cookie consent records, meaning you will be presented with those prompts again on your next visit.
6. Managing Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies when you visit Zone Thunder:
Via Our Cookie Consent Banner: When you first visit Zone Thunder, a cookie consent banner allows you to accept or decline non-essential (analytics and preference) cookies. You can change your consent at any time by clearing your browser's localStorage and cookies, which will cause the banner to reappear on your next visit.
Via Your Browser Settings: All modern web browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies stored on your device. You can typically find these options in your browser's settings or preferences menu under sections labelled "Privacy," "Security," or "Site Data." Specific instructions for common browsers are provided in Section 7 below.
Opt-Out Tools: For analytics cookies specifically, you may use third-party opt-out tools such as the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Please be aware that restricting or deleting cookies may affect the functionality of Zone Thunder. In particular, if essential cookies are blocked, certain core features of the Platform â including the age verification gate, session management, and consent preference storage â may not work as intended. We recommend selectively managing non-essential cookies rather than blocking all cookies if you wish to continue using the Platform comfortably.
7. Browser-Specific Instructions
Below are instructions for managing cookies in the four most commonly used web browsers. Note that the exact steps may vary slightly depending on your browser version and operating system.
Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Select Settings, then navigate to Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data. From here you can allow all cookies, block third-party cookies, block all cookies in incognito mode, or manage exceptions for specific sites. To delete existing cookies, go to Privacy and security > Clear browsing data and check the "Cookies and other site data" option. You can also view and delete cookies for specific sites by clicking on See all site data and permissions.
Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three-line menu in the top-right corner. Select Settings, then click on Privacy & Security. In the Cookies and Site Data section you can manage how Firefox handles cookies, set Enhanced Tracking Protection levels, and clear existing site data. To manage cookies for individual websites, click Manage Data in the Cookies and Site Data section. Firefox's "Custom" Enhanced Tracking Protection mode gives you granular control over which types of trackers are blocked.
Apple Safari
On macOS, open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar, then select Settings (or Preferences in older versions). Click the Privacy tab. From here you can choose to block all cookies or block cross-site tracking. To manage specific cookies, click Manage Website Data, where you can see and remove cookies from individual websites. On iOS devices, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data to view and manage stored data, including cookies from Zone Thunder.
Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Select Settings, then navigate to Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data. You can toggle "Block third-party cookies" or manage exceptions for specific sites. To clear existing cookies, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data and select "Cookies and other site data." You can also configure tracking prevention levels under Privacy, search, and services to control how Edge handles cross-site tracking across all websites including Zone Thunder.
For information about managing cookies in other browsers, please refer to the help documentation provided by your browser's developer. Most modern browsers follow similar patterns for cookie and site data management.
8. Contact Us About Cookies
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies and similar technologies, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to transparency and will be happy to provide any additional information you need about our cookie practices.
You can contact our Privacy team using any of the following methods:
- Privacy Email: privacy@zonethunder.com
- General Email: hello@zonethunder.com
- Legal Inquiries: legal@zonethunder.com
- Contact Form: zonethunder.com/contact-page.php.html
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
We aim to respond to all privacy and cookie-related inquiries within 5 business days. This Cookie Policy is reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable regulations. Please check back regularly for the most current version. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent revision was made.
For information about how we handle your personal data more broadly â including data collected through cookies â please review our full Privacy Policy. For the terms governing your use of Zone Thunder, please review our Terms of Service.