What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file placed on a visitor's device by a website. The file contains a unique identifier and optional preference data, which the browser sends back to the site on subsequent visits. Cookies allow a site to recognise a returning visitor, remember preferences, deliver consistent experiences across pages, and measure aggregate traffic patterns. Cookies cannot execute code on the visitor's device, access files outside their own scope, or transfer malware.
Types of cookies used
thekillers.co.uk uses four categories of cookies. Each category serves a distinct purpose and has a defined lifespan.
The first category is essential cookies. These are strictly necessary for the site to function — they preserve session state, remember consent choices, and enable basic security measures such as cross-site request forgery protection. Essential cookies do not require consent under UK law because they are necessary for the service the visitor has explicitly requested. They expire when the browser session ends or after a short defined lifespan, typically 24 hours to 30 days depending on the specific cookie.
The second category is session cookies. These remember temporary state during a single visit, such as which articles a reader has opened in a multi-tab session and which filter selections are active on a comparison page. Session cookies expire when the browser is closed.
The third category is persistent cookies. These remember preferences across visits — language preference, content density preference, and stored consent choices. Persistent cookies have lifespans ranging from 30 days to 12 months, depending on the specific cookie's purpose. They are reset if the visitor clears browser cookies or chooses to revoke consent.
The fourth category is analytical cookies. These collect aggregate data about which pages are read, how long visitors spend on each page, and how navigation flows through the site. The data is aggregated and stripped of direct identifiers before analysis. Analytical cookies require consent under UK regulations, and the consent state is captured through the cookie banner displayed on first visit.
Third-party cookies
We use a small number of third-party services that may set their own cookies through the site. These include analytics providers and content-delivery infrastructure. Each third-party processor is bound by a data processing agreement that requires UK GDPR-equivalent protection. Third-party cookies are described in the cookie banner and can be controlled separately through the consent interface.
We do not set advertising cookies, social-media tracking cookies or cross-site behavioural profiling cookies. The site does not run third-party advertising networks.
Legal basis
Essential and session cookies are placed under the legal basis of legitimate interest, because they are necessary to provide the service the visitor has requested. Persistent preference cookies and all analytical cookies require consent, captured through the cookie banner. Visitors can withdraw consent at any time by adjusting their browser cookie settings or by re-opening the consent banner via the link in the site footer.
Managing cookies
Visitors have full control over cookies through two channels. The first is browser settings. All modern browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — allow visitors to view stored cookies, delete them, block them by category, or block third-party cookies entirely. The exact location of these controls varies by browser; the help documentation for each browser describes the relevant settings.
The second channel is the on-site consent banner. The banner appears on first visit and can be re-opened at any time via the footer link. The banner allows visitors to accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or configure specific categories individually.
Disabling essential cookies will affect site functionality and may prevent the site from working correctly. Disabling analytical or preference cookies has no impact on site functionality.
Do Not Track signals
Modern browsers can send a Do Not Track signal in their HTTP request headers. thekillers.co.uk respects this signal where technically practical, defaulting analytical cookies to off for visitors transmitting the signal. The signal does not override an active opt-in recorded through the cookie banner.
Children
The site is not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly set cookies on devices identified as belonging to children under 18. If a parent or guardian believes a child has set cookies through the site, write to the contact address below for assistance.
Updates
This cookie policy is updated when cookie usage or legal obligations change. The version published on the site supersedes any previously published version. This policy takes effect from the date of publication on the site. For any question about cookies, write to [email protected].
