Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Advantage Online ("we," "us," or "our"), operating the Karibisha platform at karibisha.events, uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit and interact with our platform.

By continuing to use Karibisha, you consent to the use of cookies as described in this policy. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through your browser settings.

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and supply information to website owners.

Cookies allow a website to recognize your device, remember your preferences, and understand how you interact with the site. They can be set by the website you are visiting ("first-party cookies") or by third-party services that operate on that website ("third-party cookies").

2. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

2.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of the Karibisha platform. They enable core functionality such as:

• Authentication: Keeping you signed in as you navigate between pages
• Security: Protecting your account from unauthorized access and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks
• Session Management: Maintaining your session state, including items in your cart or registration progress

These cookies cannot be disabled, as the platform cannot function properly without them.

2.2 Analytics Cookies

We use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with Karibisha. These cookies help us:

• Measure the number of visitors and how they navigate the platform
• Identify which pages and features are most popular
• Understand how users arrive at our platform (referral sources)
• Detect and diagnose technical issues

2.3 Preference Cookies

Preference cookies allow the platform to remember choices you make, such as:

• Your language and region settings
• Display preferences (such as layout or theme)
• Previously viewed events or saved searches

2.4 Marketing Cookies

Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites and display relevant advertisements. These cookies may be set by our advertising partners and help us:

• Deliver targeted advertisements based on your interests
• Measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns
• Limit the number of times you see a particular advertisement

3. Types of Cookies We Use

Cookies on Karibisha can be classified by their duration and origin:

3.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary and are deleted from your device when you close your browser. We use session cookies to maintain your login state and preserve information as you navigate between pages during a single visit.

3.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time or until you manually delete them. We use persistent cookies to remember your preferences, recognize returning visitors, and support analytics tracking across multiple visits.

3.3 First-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set directly by Karibisha (karibisha.events). These include our session cookies, authentication cookies, and preference cookies. We have full control over these cookies and the data they collect.

3.4 Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are set by external services that operate on our platform, such as analytics providers and payment processors. These cookies are governed by the respective third party's privacy and cookie policies.

4. Specific Cookies Used on Karibisha

Below is a detailed list of the cookies used on the Karibisha platform:

4.1 Platform Session Cookies

• laravel_session: Maintains your authenticated session and stores temporary data as you navigate the platform. This is a first-party session cookie that expires when your session ends or after a period of inactivity.
• XSRF-TOKEN: Protects against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks by verifying that form submissions originate from the Karibisha platform. This is an essential security cookie.
• remember_web_*: Stores your "remember me" preference so you remain signed in across browser sessions. This is a persistent first-party cookie.

4.2 Analytics Cookies

• _ga: A Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated identifier. Persistent cookie with a two-year expiry.
• _ga_*: Used by Google Analytics to maintain session state across page requests. Persistent cookie with a two-year expiry.
• _gid: A Google Analytics cookie used to distinguish users. Expires after 24 hours.
• _gat: Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate. Expires after one minute.

4.3 Payment Provider Cookies

• Stripe cookies (__stripe_mid, __stripe_sid): Set by Stripe during the payment process to detect and prevent fraud, manage payment sessions, and process transactions securely. These cookies are essential when making card payments.
• Paystack cookies: Set by Paystack when processing payments through their gateway. These cookies support transaction security, fraud detection, and session management during the checkout process.

5. Managing Cookies

5.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:

• View and delete existing cookies
• Block all cookies or only third-party cookies
• Set preferences for specific websites
• Configure notifications when cookies are being set

To manage cookies, refer to the help section of your browser. Common browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, each with their own cookie management settings.

5.2 Opting Out of Analytics

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. This add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript from sharing visit information with Google Analytics.

5.3 Consequences of Disabling Cookies

Please be aware that disabling or blocking certain cookies may affect your experience on Karibisha:

• Essential cookies: Disabling these will prevent you from signing in, registering for events, or completing purchases. The platform will not function correctly without them.
• Analytics cookies: Disabling these will not affect your use of the platform, but it will limit our ability to improve the service based on usage data.
• Preference cookies: Disabling these means your settings and preferences will not be remembered between visits.
• Payment provider cookies: Disabling these may prevent you from completing transactions through Stripe or Paystack, as these cookies are required for secure payment processing.

6. Third-Party Cookies

Certain third-party services integrated into Karibisha may set their own cookies on your device. We do not control these cookies, and their use is governed by the respective third party's own policies.

6.1 Payment Processors

When you make a payment on Karibisha, the following payment processors may set cookies on your device:

• Stripe: Used for international card payments. Stripe uses cookies for fraud prevention and to manage the payment session. See Stripe's Privacy Policy for details.
• Paystack: Used for payments within Africa. Paystack sets cookies to secure transactions and detect fraud. See Paystack's Privacy Policy for details.
• M-Pesa: Used for mobile money payments in Kenya. M-Pesa transactions are processed via API and generally do not set browser cookies.

6.2 Analytics Providers

We use the following analytics services, which may set cookies on your device:

• Google Analytics: Provides insights into website traffic and user behavior. Google Analytics cookies collect anonymized data about your visits. See Google's Privacy Policy for details.

7. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. When we make changes, we will:

• Post the revised policy on this page
• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify you of material changes via email or a prominent notice on the platform

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

8. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies on the Karibisha platform, please contact us: