Legal
Cookie Policy
How dbask.ai and the other VLDB Solutions sites use cookies and similar technologies, and how you can control them.
1.What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website puts on your device. They make websites work, remember your choices, and tell the site owner how a site is used.
We also use similar technologies: your browser's local storage, small scripts, and tiny images (pixels) in emails. In this policy, "cookies" means all of these.
This policy covers vldbsolutions.com, vldb.uk, dbask.ai and sovereigndb.com. It should be read with our Privacy Policy.
2.How we ask for your consent
Each of our sites shows a cookie banner the first time you visit. It has two buttons: Accept and Decline.
- Necessary cookies are always on. They keep the site secure and remember your choice.
- Everything else, such as analytics, stays off unless you click Accept.
- Declining does not stop you reading a site.
Your choice is stored in your browser. The four sites are separate, so you are asked once on each. You can change your mind at any time (see section 5).
3.What happens before you choose, or if you decline
Until you click Accept, and if you click Decline, only necessary cookies are used and our analytics cookies are not set. How this works differs a little by site:
- vldbsolutions.com, vldb.uk and sovereigndb.com: Google's tag is on the page, but it is told by default not to store anything on your device. This is Google's Consent Mode. While it is switched off, Google may still receive limited signals from your browser, such as that a page was opened, your IP address and your browser details. Google uses these to model overall traffic. We do not use them to identify you. On vldbsolutions.com, the Ahrefs analytics script does not load until you accept.
- dbask.ai: Neither Google Analytics nor our HubSpot tracking script loads until you accept. Both are switched on together, by the same consent check.
If you accept, the tools in the tables in section 4 are switched on.
When you click from one of our sites to another, Google Analytics may add a short code (called _gl) to the link, so that we can count it as one visit.
4.The cookies and tools each site uses
"Necessary" cookies are always on. "Analytics" cookies and tools are used only if you click Accept. How long is the longest time a cookie stays on your device.
vldbsolutions.com
| Cookie or tool | Provider | What it does | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Your cookie choice (vldb_cookie_consent) | VLDB Solutions | Remembers whether you accepted or declined. Kept in your browser's local storage, not as a cookie, so it has no fixed expiry: it stays until you clear this site's data in your browser. | Necessary |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Tells visitors apart so we can count them | Analytics |
| _ga_KTCY0NQS9C | Google Analytics | Keeps track of one visit | Analytics |
Our enquiry form also uses a hidden anti-spam field that only automated bots fill in. It does not set a cookie and does not send any data to a third party.
vldb.uk (our blog)
| Cookie or tool | Provider | What it does | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Your cookie choice (vldb_cookie_consent) | VLDB Solutions | Remembers whether you accepted or declined. Kept as a cookie for 180 days. | Necessary |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Tells visitors apart so we can count them | Analytics |
| Jetpack Stats | Automattic | Counts visits and page views. | Analytics |
| Performance monitoring | Automattic (WordPress.com) | Measures how fast pages load. | Analytics |
| Accessibility widget | Elementor | Remembers the accessibility settings you choose, such as larger text or higher contrast. Runs regardless of your analytics choice, because it does not track you. | Functional |
sovereigndb.com
| Cookie or tool | Provider | What it does | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your cookie choice | VLDB Solutions | Remembers whether you accepted or declined. Kept in your browser's local storage. | Necessary |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Tells visitors apart so we can count them | Analytics |
We do not use HubSpot's website tracking code on this site. Enquiries sent through the contact form are saved in HubSpot, as our Privacy Policy explains. Our contact form also uses a hidden anti-spam field that only automated bots fill in; it does not set a cookie.
dbask.ai
| Cookie or tool | Provider | What it does | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your cookie choice | VLDB Solutions | Remembers whether you accepted or declined. Kept in your browser's local storage. | Necessary |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Tells visitors apart so we can count them | Analytics |
| hubspotutk, __hstc, __hssc, __hssrc | HubSpot | Tell visitors apart, link a form you send to your earlier visits, and measure visits. | Analytics |
Our contact form also uses a hidden anti-spam field that only automated bots fill in; it does not set a cookie.
Emails we send through HubSpot contain a tiny image and tracked links, which tell us whether you opened the email and clicked a link. You can stop this by blocking images in your email program, or by unsubscribing.
5.How to control cookies
Change your choice on our sites. Clear this site's cookies and site data in your browser (see "Use your browser settings" below) and reload the page. The banner will appear again and you can make a new choice.
Use your browser settings. You can block or delete cookies in your browser. Blocking all cookies may stop parts of a site working. For guidance:
Opt out of Google Analytics. Google offers a browser add-on that stops Google Analytics collecting data about you on any website: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
6.Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The "last updated" date at the top shows when. If we start using a new kind of cookie, we will ask for your consent again before we do.
7.Contact us
If you have a question about our use of cookies, email info@vldbsolutions.com.
VLDB Solutions Limited, The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, England, L3 9QJ, Company number 06680502
Questions about this policy?
Contact VLDB Solutions Limited at info@vldbsolutions.com. We aim to respond to all enquiries within five working days.