Cookies & Tracking Technologies

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and provide information to the website owners about how their site is being used.

Cookies typically contain:

• The name of the website that created the cookie
• The lifetime of the cookie (how long it stays on your device)
• A unique identifier (usually randomly generated numbers)
• Optional data related to your preferences or activity

Cookies cannot harm your device, run programs, or deliver viruses. They cannot read information from your hard drive or access personal files on your computer. They simply store small pieces of data that help websites function properly.

In addition to cookies, we may also use similar technologies such as web beacons, pixel tags, local storage, IndexedDB, and tracking scripts, all of which serve similar purposes to cookies.

2. Why We Use Cookies

PNG Valley uses cookies for several important reasons to enhance your experience and improve our services:

• Essential Functionality: To enable core website features like navigation, secure access, and form submissions
• Performance Optimization: To analyze how visitors use our site and improve loading speed
• User Experience: To remember your preferences, language settings, and download history
• Analytics: To understand visitor behavior, popular content, and traffic sources
• Advertising: To display relevant advertisements through Google AdSense and partners
• Security: To protect against fraud, spam, CSRF attacks, and unauthorized access
• Personalization: To tailor content and recommendations to your interests
• Marketing: To measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns
• Consent Management: To comply with GDPR, CCPA, and Google Consent Mode v2 requirements

Without cookies, many features of PNG Valley would not work properly, and your browsing experience would be significantly limited.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

We use several different types of cookies, each serving a specific purpose. These can be classified by their function, duration, and origin:

By Function:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies - Required for the website to function properly
• Site Functionality Cookies - Enable enhanced features and personalization
• Safety & Security Cookies - Protect against attacks (CSRF, fraud)
• Analytics/Performance Cookies - Help us understand visitor behavior
• Advertising/Marketing Cookies - Used for targeted advertisements
• Preference Cookies - Remember your choices and settings
• Social Media Cookies - Enable social sharing features

By Duration:

• Session Cookies - Deleted when you close your browser (temporary)
• Persistent Cookies - Remain on your device for a set period or until deleted (long-term)

By Origin:

• First-Party Cookies - Set directly by PNG Valley
• Third-Party Cookies - Set by external services (Google, Facebook, etc.)

4. PNG Valley Cookies Table

Below is a comprehensive list of cookies set directly by PNG Valley (first-party cookies):

5. Third-Party Cookies Table

The following third-party services may set cookies on your device when you visit PNG Valley. These cookies are controlled by the respective third parties:

6. Essential Cookies

Essential cookies are strictly necessary for our website to function properly. These cookies cannot be disabled because the website would not work without them. They do not collect personal information for marketing purposes.

What Essential Cookies Do:

• Enable secure login and user authentication
• Maintain your session across pages
• Remember your cookie consent preferences
• Provide security protections against fraud
• Enable basic website functionality like forms and navigation
• Support load balancing for better performance
• Store Google Consent Mode v2 settings

Because these cookies are essential, they are exempt from consent requirements under GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws.

7. Site Functionality Cookies

Site Functionality cookies enable enhanced features and personalization that improve your browsing experience on PNG Valley. These cookies remember choices you make and provide convenient features.

What Functionality Cookies Do:

• Recognize you when you return to our site
• Store information about your preferences (such as language)
• Customize our site and provide you with offers targeted towards your interests
• Allow you to use our site in a way that makes browsing more convenient
• Store items in an electronic favorites list between visits
• Remember your account details if you register with us
• Track your download history for personalized recommendations
• Enable interactive chat with support representatives

These cookies are optional. Disabling them will not prevent you from using PNG Valley, but some convenience features may not be available.

8. Safety & Security Cookies

Safety cookies protect both you and PNG Valley from malicious activities and security threats. These are essential for maintaining a safe browsing environment.

What Safety Cookies Do:

• CSRF Protection: Prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks
• Bot Detection: Identify and block malicious automated traffic
• Fraud Prevention: Detect suspicious login attempts and fraud
• DDoS Mitigation: Protect against distributed denial-of-service attacks
• Session Hijacking Prevention: Protect user sessions from theft
• Rate Limiting: Prevent abuse of our services

9. Analytics Cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with PNG Valley by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This data helps us improve our website’s functionality and user experience.

Google Analytics:

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a web analytics service provided by Google LLC. Google Analytics uses cookies to help us analyze how users navigate our site, including:

• Page views and time spent on each page
• Traffic sources (search engines, referrals, direct visits)
• User behavior patterns and navigation paths
• Device and browser information
• Geographic location (country/city level)
• Bounce rate and engagement metrics
• Audience size and usage patterns

All data collected by Google Analytics is anonymized and aggregated. We do not have access to information that personally identifies individual users.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

10. Advertising Cookies

Advertising cookies are used to deliver relevant advertisements based on your interests and browsing behavior. PNG Valley uses Google AdSense and may work with other trusted advertising partners.

Google AdSense & DoubleClick:

We use Google AdSense, which uses the DoubleClick DART cookie, to display contextual and personalized advertisements. These cookies help:

• Show relevant ads based on your interests
• Prevent the same ad from being shown repeatedly (frequency capping)
• Measure ad performance and effectiveness
• Detect and prevent fraudulent ad clicks
• Provide advertisers with aggregated metrics
• Track ad conversions and attribution

Your Advertising Choices:

You can manage personalized advertising preferences through:

• Google Ads Settings - Manage Google ads
• aboutads.info - Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA)
• youronlinechoices.eu - For European users
• NAI Opt-out - Network Advertising Initiative
• Google Privacy Policy on Ads

11. Google Consent Mode v2

What is Google Consent Mode v2?

Google Consent Mode v2 is a framework that allows websites to communicate user consent choices to Google’s services. It ensures privacy-compliant ad serving while maintaining measurement capabilities.

Consent Signals We Implement:

• ad_storage - Controls advertising cookies
• analytics_storage - Controls analytics cookies
• ad_user_data - Controls sending user data to Google for advertising
• ad_personalization - Controls personalized advertising
• functionality_storage - Controls functional cookies
• personalization_storage - Controls personalization preferences
• security_storage - Controls security-related cookies

How It Works:

• When you visit our site, Google services are loaded with default denied state
• Our cookie banner asks for your explicit consent
• Based on your choice, consent signals are updated dynamically
• Google adjusts its services to respect your choices
• If you decline, Google uses cookieless measurement (privacy-preserving)

For more details about Consent Mode v2, visit Google’s Consent Mode documentation.

12. IAB TCF v2.2 Compliance

What is IAB TCF v2.2?

The IAB TCF (Interactive Advertising Bureau Transparency & Consent Framework) is the global standard for managing user consent for personalized advertising. Version 2.2 introduced enhanced transparency and user control.

What It Does:

• Provides clear, granular consent options for advertising
• Lists all vendors who may process your data
• Explains purposes for which data is processed
• Allows you to review and modify your choices anytime
• Communicates your choices to certified vendors automatically
• Ensures compliance with GDPR and ePrivacy Directive

Your TCF Rights:

• View the complete list of advertising vendors
• Choose which purposes you consent to
• Object to legitimate interest processing
• Withdraw consent at any time
• Access vendor privacy policies directly

13. AI & ML Cookies (2026)

AI-Enhanced Cookie Functions:

• Personalized Recommendations: AI algorithms analyze cookie data to suggest relevant resources
• Smart Search: Machine learning improves search results based on browsing patterns
• Content Filtering: AI helps filter and organize content based on your preferences
• Spam & Fraud Detection: ML models identify suspicious activities
• Predictive Loading: AI predicts content you may want to view and pre-loads it

What This Means for You:

• Cookie data is processed by AI/ML systems for service improvement
• Aggregated, anonymized data may be used for training internal models
• You can opt out of AI-based personalization in our cookie preferences
• We do NOT share your cookie data with third-party AI training providers without consent
• AI processing is subject to the same privacy rights as other cookie usage

For more information about AI usage at PNG Valley, see our Terms of Service - AI Content Policy.

14. Preference Cookies

Preference cookies remember choices you make on PNG Valley to provide a more personalized and convenient experience.

What Preference Cookies Remember:

• Your language preference (English, Chinese, Spanish, etc.)
• Your theme settings (light/dark mode if applicable)
• Your recently viewed resources or categories
• Your search filters and sorting preferences
• Your download history and favorites
• Your region/location settings
• Items you’ve marked as favorite or saved
• Your cookie consent preferences

These cookies are entirely optional but greatly improve your browsing experience. Without them, you would need to reconfigure your preferences on every visit.

15. Third-Party Cookies Information

In addition to our own first-party cookies, PNG Valley allows certain trusted third-party services to set cookies on your device. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies that govern how they use your data.

Third Parties That May Set Cookies:

• Google - Analytics (GA4), AdSense, reCAPTCHA, Fonts
• Cloudflare - Content delivery network and security
• Facebook (Meta) - Social sharing buttons (where applicable)
• Pinterest - Pin It buttons and embedded boards
• YouTube - Embedded video players
• X (Twitter) - Tweet buttons and embedded tweets
• Instagram - Embedded posts and content

16. Cookie Duration

The lifetime of cookies varies depending on their type and purpose. Cookies on PNG Valley typically have one of two durations:

Session Cookies:

• Stored temporarily in your browser’s memory
• Automatically deleted when you close your browser
• Used for essential session-based functionality (login, security)
• Do not persist between visits

Persistent Cookies:

• Stored on your device for a specified period (minutes to years)
• Remain on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
• Used for remembering preferences and analytics
• Can be deleted anytime through browser settings

Specific durations for each cookie are listed in the cookie tables in Sections 4 and 5 above. Most of our cookies expire automatically between 24 hours and 2 years.

17. Managing Your Cookies

You have full control over the cookies on your device. PNG Valley provides several ways to manage your cookie preferences:

Our Cookie Consent Banner:

When you first visit PNG Valley, you will see a cookie consent banner at the bottom of the page. You can:

• Accept All: Allow all cookies for the best experience
• Decline: Reject non-essential cookies
• Learn More: Read this policy for detailed information

Your choice is saved for 12 months. You can change your preferences anytime by clearing cookies and revisiting our site.

Block Cookies Through Browser:

You may block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies), you may not be able to access all or parts of our site.

Online Behavioral Advertising Opt-Out:

You can find more about online behavioral advertising and opting-out from advertising and tracking cookies by visiting:

• www.youronlinechoices.eu (EU)
• www.aboutads.info (US)
• NAI Opt-out (US)

18. Browser Cookie Settings

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Each browser handles cookies differently. Below are links to instructions for popular browsers:

• Google Chrome: Manage Chrome Cookies
• Mozilla Firefox: Manage Firefox Cookies
• Apple Safari: Manage Safari Cookies
• Microsoft Edge: Manage Edge Cookies
• Opera: Manage Opera Cookies
• Brave: Manage Brave Cookies

Common Browser Options:

• Delete all cookies currently stored
• Block all cookies from being set
• Block third-party cookies only
• Allow cookies only from sites you visit
• Get notified before cookies are set
• Enable Do Not Track signals

19. Mobile Device Cookies

If you access PNG Valley through a mobile device (smartphone or tablet), cookies and similar technologies work similarly to desktop browsers, but with some differences:

Mobile-Specific Identifiers:

• Advertising IDs: IDFA (iOS) or Google Advertising ID (Android)
• Mobile App Cookies: If we offer apps in the future
• Mobile Browser Cookies: Work like desktop browser cookies

Managing Mobile Privacy:

• iOS: Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Limit Ad Tracking
• Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Reset advertising ID / Opt out
• Mobile Safari: Settings → Safari → Block All Cookies
• Mobile Chrome: Chrome → Settings → Privacy → Cookies

20. Cross-Device Tracking

PNG Valley may use technologies that allow us to recognize you across different devices to provide a seamless experience. This is called cross-device tracking.

How Cross-Device Tracking Works:

• Deterministic Tracking: If you log in with the same account on multiple devices
• Probabilistic Tracking: Statistical methods to identify likely connections (with consent)
• Google Signals: When enabled, helps Google connect activity across devices

Your Control:

• Opt out of Google Signals in your Google account settings
• Use different browsers/devices without logging in
• Manage ad personalization in Google Ad Settings
• Decline non-essential cookies in our consent banner

21. Do Not Track Signals

Do Not Track (DNT) is a browser feature that allows you to inform websites that you do not want to be tracked. While some browsers offer this option, there is currently no industry standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals.

At this time, PNG Valley does not respond to DNT browser signals because:

• No universal standard exists for DNT implementation
• Different browsers handle DNT differently
• Many essential website features require some form of tracking
• Google Consent Mode v2 and IAB TCF v2.2 provide more effective privacy controls

However, you can still control your privacy through:

• Our cookie consent banner
• Your browser’s cookie settings
• Third-party opt-out tools mentioned in Section 10
• Privacy-focused browser extensions (uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger)

We will update this policy if and when industry standards for DNT signals are established and widely adopted.

22. Legal Basis & Compliance

PNG Valley’s use of cookies complies with applicable privacy laws and regulations worldwide:

GDPR Compliance (European Union):

• We obtain explicit consent for non-essential cookies
• We provide clear information about what cookies we use
• You can withdraw consent at any time
• Essential cookies are exempt from consent requirements
• We implement Google Consent Mode v2 for EEA visitors
• We support IAB TCF v2.2 for advertising consent

CCPA/CPRA Compliance (California):

• We provide transparency about data collection
• We do not sell personal information collected via cookies
• California residents have additional rights under CCPA/CPRA
• “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” option available

LGPD Compliance (Brazil):

• Lawful basis for cookie processing established
• Brazilian users have access and deletion rights

ePrivacy Directive (EU Cookie Law):

• Cookie consent banner displayed to EU visitors
• Clear opt-in and opt-out mechanisms provided
• Detailed cookie information available in this policy

For more information about your rights, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

23. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
• Display a notification on our website for significant changes
• For material changes, re-request your consent through the cookie banner
• Maintain previous versions of the policy upon request

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies. Your continued use of PNG Valley after any modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

24. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, this Cookie Policy, Google Consent Mode v2, IAB TCF v2.2, or wish to exercise your rights regarding cookies, please contact us: