Legal Document

Cookie Policy

How and why AsterStream uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on the platform and website.

Effective: 1 January 2025 Last Updated: 14 April 2025 asterstreambuild.com

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website or use a web application. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give website owners useful information about how their sites are being used.

In addition to cookies, we may also use similar technologies such as local storage, session storage, and authentication tokens (JWT) to maintain your login session. These are essential for the platform to function correctly.

Platform vs. Website

This policy covers both the AsterStream marketing website (asterstreambuild.com) and the web application platform used after login. The types and purposes of cookies differ between these two contexts.

2. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies for the following core purposes:

  • Authentication: To keep you logged in securely as you navigate the platform
  • Security: To detect and prevent fraudulent activity and protect against CSRF attacks
  • Preferences: To remember your settings such as language, dashboard layout, and notification preferences
  • Analytics: To understand how the platform is used so we can improve it (with your consent)
  • Payments: Stripe uses cookies to process payments securely and detect fraud

3. Types of Cookies We Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies
Always Active

These cookies are essential for the AsterStream platform to function. They enable core features such as user authentication, session management, and CSRF protection. Without these cookies, the platform cannot operate. You cannot opt out of these cookies.

Always enabled — cannot be disabled
Functional Cookies
Optional

These cookies allow the platform to remember your preferences and personalisation choices. For example, your preferred dashboard view, language settings, time zone display, and notification preferences. Disabling these will not prevent you from using the platform, but some features may not work as expected.

Enabled by default
Analytics Cookies
Optional

These cookies help us understand how users interact with the AsterStream platform by collecting anonymised usage data. This includes which features are used most, page load times, and error rates. This data helps us improve the platform for all users. All analytics data is aggregated and does not identify individual users.

Disabled by default — requires your consent
Marketing Cookies
Optional

AsterStream does not currently use marketing or advertising cookies on the platform itself. On the marketing website (asterstreambuild.com), we may use anonymised tracking for marketing attribution purposes. We will always request your explicit consent before placing any marketing cookies.

Not currently in use

5. Third-party Cookies

Some cookies on our platform are set by trusted third-party services:

  • Stripe (stripe.com/privacy) — Payment processing cookies for fraud detection and checkout session management. These are essential for subscription payments.
  • Google Analytics (optional, consent required) — If you consent to analytics cookies, we may use Google Analytics to understand platform usage. All IP addresses are anonymised. You can opt out via Google's opt-out tool.
  • Google Fonts — We load fonts from Google Fonts CDN. Google may set a session cookie for font delivery. No personal data is transmitted.

We do not allow any third-party advertising networks or social media tracking cookies on the platform.

6. Your Cookie Choices

6.1 Platform Cookie Settings

When you first access the AsterStream platform, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner. You can choose to accept all cookies, reject optional cookies, or customise your preferences. You can change your cookie preferences at any time via the cookie settings link in the platform footer.

6.2 Browser Controls

You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

  • View and delete cookies stored by specific websites
  • Block all cookies (note: this will prevent you from logging in to the platform)
  • Block third-party cookies while allowing first-party cookies
  • Be notified when a new cookie is placed
Important: If you disable the strictly necessary authentication cookies (.AsterStream.Auth and __RequestVerificationToken), you will not be able to log in to the AsterStream platform.

6.3 Browser Cookie Management Links

Chrome Firefox Safari Edge

Visit your browser's "Settings" → "Privacy & Security" → "Cookies and other site data" to manage your cookie preferences.

7. Do Not Track

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not wish to be tracked. AsterStream honours DNT signals — when a DNT signal is detected, we will not set optional analytics or functional cookies beyond what is strictly necessary for the platform to operate.