Cookie Policy
Last updated: [June 16, 2026]
This Cookie Policy explains how WhatsUp Germany uses cookies and similar technologies on whatsupgermany.com. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which sets out how we process personal data more broadly.
This policy is provided in accordance with § 25 of the German Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act (TDDDG) and Articles 6 and 13 of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
1. What are cookies
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your device when you visit it. Cookies allow the website to remember information about your visit, such as your language preference, your cookie consent choices, or whether you have completed a particular interaction.
Cookies are categorised in two main ways. By origin, they are either first-party (set by whatsupgermany.com itself) or third-party (set by a service we use, such as Google Analytics). By function, they are either strictly necessary (required for the site to operate) or non-essential (used for analytics, functionality, or other purposes that require your consent).
In addition to cookies, websites can use similar technologies such as local storage and session storage to retain information in your browser. Where such technologies are used in the same way as cookies, the same rules apply, and they are covered by this policy.
2. How we use cookies and how you can control them
WhatsUp Germany uses two categories of cookies: Essential and Analytics. Essential cookies are set automatically and cannot be switched off, because the website cannot operate without them. Analytics cookies are set only if you actively give your consent through our cookie consent banner.
Our cookie consent banner is provided by Cookiebot, a consent management platform operated by Usercentrics A/S, a company headquartered in Denmark. The Cookiebot platform runs on EU-based infrastructure.
When you first visit the site, the consent banner asks you to accept all, reject all, or make a granular selection. You can change your decision at any time by clicking the “Cookie settings” link in the footer, which re-opens the same banner. Withdrawal of consent takes effect immediately. Processing that took place before withdrawal remains lawful.
Legal basis (Essential): Article 6(1)(f) GDPR and § 25(2) TDDDG. Strictly necessary cookies do not require consent.
Legal basis (Analytics): Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG. Analytics cookies are set only with your explicit consent.
3. Essential cookies
These cookies are required for the basic operation of the website. They include the cookie that stores your consent choices, set by our consent management platform, and security cookies set by our content delivery network to protect the site against automated abuse. Essential cookies do not collect data for analytics or marketing purposes.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CookieConsent | Cookiebot (Usercentrics A/S) | Stores your cookie consent decision, including the timestamp and a verification hash, so the banner does not reappear on every page. This record also serves as evidence of consent under Article 7 GDPR. | 1 year | First-party, essential |
| __cf_bm | Cloudflare (via Hostinger CDN) | Distinguishes humans from automated traffic to protect the site against bot abuse. | 30 minutes | Third-party, essential (security) |
4. Analytics cookies (consent required)
If you accept analytics cookies through the consent banner, Google Analytics 4 is loaded. Google Analytics helps us understand how visitors use the site, which articles are read most, and where visitors come from. We use this data for editorial and product improvement only. We do not use Google Analytics for advertising, re marketing, or user profiling.
If you do not consent, no Google Analytics cookies are set and no data is sent to Google. Our consent management integrates with Google Consent Mode v2, which ensures that Google receives a clear signal of your consent state.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google (loaded on whatsupgermany.com) | Distinguishes individual visitors for analytics aggregation. | 2 years | First-party, analytics |
| _ga_[container ID] | Google (loaded on whatsupgermany.com) | Stores session state for Google Analytics 4 measurement. | 2 years | First-party, analytics |
Google Analytics may transmit data to Google LLC in the United States. This transfer is based on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, under which Google LLC is certified, supplemented by Standard Contractual Clauses adopted by the European Commission. Further detail is available in Section 4 of our Privacy Policy.
5. Live cookie inventory
WhatsUp Germany uses Cookiebot’s automated scanning to detect cookies and tracking technologies on the site on a monthly basis. The cookie tables above describe the cookies currently in use. A live, machine-maintained version of the same inventory, generated by Cookiebot, is displayed on this page below the static tables, and is updated each time the site is rescanned.
If there is ever a discrepancy between the static tables and the live inventory, the live inventory reflects the most current state of the site, and we will update the static tables at the next policy revision.
6. Newsletter signup form
The newsletter signup form is provided by our newsletter service, Brevo. The form is loaded only after you actively click to open it. Until that point, no Brevo scripts or cookies are loaded. This approach, known as click-to-load, ensures that no third-party storage is placed on your device unless you have indicated that you want to interact with the signup form.
Once you click to load the form, Brevo may set its own cookies in your browser, as described in Brevo’s own privacy notice at brevo.com/legal/privacypolicy. Submitting the form does not require you to accept those cookies separately, because the act of opening and submitting the form constitutes your informed consent to the data flow it carries out.
7. Third-party content
WhatsUp Germany does not embed third-party players, social media widgets, advertising tags, or tracking pixels. Links to YouTube, Instagram, X, Threads, and Reddit are plain hyperlinks. Clicking them takes you to the relevant platform, where that platform’s own cookie and privacy practices apply, but no data is transmitted while you are on whatsupgermany.com.
8. Managing cookies in your browser
In addition to the cookie consent banner on this site, you can manage and delete cookies directly in your browser. Most browsers allow you to block all cookies, block third-party cookies, delete existing cookies, or be alerted whenever a cookie is set.
Instructions for the most common browsers are available at the following pages:
- Chrome: support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647
- Firefox: support.mozilla.org/kb/clear-cookies-and-site-data-firefox
- Safari: support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-sfri11471
- Edge: support.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge
Please note that disabling essential cookies in your browser may cause parts of the site to malfunction.
9. Changes to this Cookie Policy
This policy may be updated when new tools or services are added to the site, or when the underlying technology changes. The “Last updated” date at the top of this document indicates when the most recent change was made. Material changes will also be flagged in the cookie consent banner so that you have the opportunity to review and re-confirm your preferences.
10. Contact
If you have any questions about how we use cookies, please contact us through our contact form at whatsupgermany.com/contact. For broader privacy questions, please see our Privacy Policy at whatsupgermany.com/privacy-policy.