Cookie Policy
Cookie Policy
Last Updated: 01.01.2026
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, tablet, or mobile device when you visit a website.
They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
This Cookie Policy explains how Hungarian Academy uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our platform.
Types of Cookies We Use
1.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
Purpose: Essential for platform functionality
These cookies are required for the website to work properly. Without them, you cannot use basic features.
Duration: Session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or up to 1 year
Can you disable them? No – these are essential.
- Session cookies: Keep you logged in as you navigate
- Security cookies: Prevent unauthorized access
- Load balancing: Distribute traffic across servers
- Authentication tokens: Verify your identity
Duration: Session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or up to 1 year
Can you disable them? No – these are essential.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| ha_session | Maintains login session | Session |
| ha_csrf_token | Security protection | Session |
| ha_auth | Authentication status | 30 days |
| ha_user_id | User identification | 1 year |
1.2 Functional Cookies
Purpose: Remember your preferences and choices
Duration: 1 month to 1 year
Can you disable them? Yes – some features may not work as expected.
- Language preference
- Video playback speed and quality
- Theme selection (dark/light mode)
- Content and course preferences
Duration: 1 month to 1 year
Can you disable them? Yes – some features may not work as expected.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| ha_language | Interface language | 1 year |
| ha_playback_speed | Video playback preference | 6 months |
| ha_theme | Dark/light mode | 1 year |
| ha_volume | Video volume level | 6 months |
1.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies
Purpose: Understand how users interact with our platform
Tools used: Google Analytics, heatmap tools (e.g. Hotjar), video analytics (Vimeo)
Duration: Up to 2 years
Can you disable them? Yes – via the cookie banner or browser settings.
Privacy note: Analytics cookies collect anonymized data and cannot identify you personally.
The only exceptions to this policy are outlined explicitly in Section: Technical Issues – Limited Exception.
- Pages visited and time spent
- Navigation paths
- Course completion rates
- Features used most or least
- Device and browser information
Tools used: Google Analytics, heatmap tools (e.g. Hotjar), video analytics (Vimeo)
Duration: Up to 2 years
Can you disable them? Yes – via the cookie banner or browser settings.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics ID | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics session | 24 hours |
| _gat | Analytics throttling | 1 minute |
| ha_analytics_id | Internal analytics | 2 years |
1.4 Marketing and Advertising Cookies
Purpose: Deliver relevant advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness
Third parties: Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, Twitter
Duration: Up to 2 years
Can you disable them? Yes – optional cookies.
- Track visits and ad clicks
- Measure conversions
- Deliver targeted content
- Limit ad repetition (frequency capping)
Third parties: Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, Twitter
Duration: Up to 2 years
Can you disable them? Yes – optional cookies.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Facebook Pixel | 3 months |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads conversion | 3 months |
| ha_referral | Referral tracking | 30 days |
| ha_campaign | Marketing campaign ID | 30 days |
Similar Technologies
2.1 Local Storage
What it is: Data stored in your browser (similar to cookies but can store more information)
How we use it:
Can you clear it? Yes – through browser settings (Clear Browsing Data)
How we use it:
- Save draft course notes
- Store video progress locally
- Cache course materials for offline access
- Improve loading speed
Can you clear it? Yes – through browser settings (Clear Browsing Data)
2.2 Web Beacons (Pixels)
What they are: Tiny invisible images embedded in emails or web pages
How we use them:
Found in:
How we use them:
- Track email open rates
- Measure engagement with newsletters
- Verify ad delivery
Found in:
- Marketing emails
- Course completion emails
- Platform pages
2.3 Third-Party Embeds
Third-party services may set their own cookies:
Vimeo (Video Hosting):
- Tracks video views and interactions
- See Vimeo’s Cookie Policy: https://vimeo.com/cookie_policy
Payment Processors (Stripe, PayPal):
- Set cookies for fraud prevention and security
- See their respective privacy policies
Social Media Plugins:
- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn share buttons may set cookies
- Even if you don’t interact with them
You can control these through browser settings or third-party opt-outs. Tools used: Google Analytics, heatmap tools (e.g. Hotjar), video analytics (Vimeo) Duration: Up to 2 years Can you disable them? Yes – via the cookie banner or browser settings.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics ID | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics session | 24 hours |
| _gat | Analytics throttling | 1 minute |
| ha_analytics_id | Internal analytics | 2 years |
Privacy note: Analytics cookies collect anonymized data and cannot identify you personally.
The only exceptions to this policy are outlined explicitly in Section: Technical Issues – Limited Exception.
Why We Use Cookies
3.1 Essential Functions
✓ Keep you logged in
✓ Remember your cart items
✓ Secure your account
✓ Provide core platform features
✓ Remember your cart items
✓ Secure your account
✓ Provide core platform features
3.2 Improve User Experience
✓ Remember your preferences
✓ Personalize content recommendations
✓ Resume videos where you left off
✓ Show relevant course suggestions
✓ Personalize content recommendations
✓ Resume videos where you left off
✓ Show relevant course suggestions
3.3 Analyze and Improve
✓ Understand which courses are popular
✓ Identify technical problems
✓ Optimize platform performance
✓ Test new features (A/B testing)
✓ Identify technical problems
✓ Optimize platform performance
✓ Test new features (A/B testing)
3.4 Marketing and Growth
✓ Show relevant advertisements
✓ Measure campaign success
✓ Understand how people find us
✓ Prevent fraud and invalid clicks
✓ Measure campaign success
✓ Understand how people find us
✓ Prevent fraud and invalid clicks
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
4.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit: You’ll see a cookie consent banner with options:
You can change your mind anytime.
- Accept All: Allow all cookies
- Reject Non-Essential: Only essential cookies
- Customize: Choose which cookie categories to allow
You can change your mind anytime.
4.2 Cookie Preference Center
To update your choices:
Your choices are saved and apply across all devices where you’re logged in.
- Click “Cookie Settings” in the website footer
- Toggle categories on/off
- Save your preferences
Your choices are saved and apply across all devices where you’re logged in.
4.3 Browser Controls
Most browsers let you control cookies through settings:
Chrome:
Firefox:
Safari:
Edge:
Mobile browsers: Check your browser’s privacy settings
- Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and site data
- Options: Block all, block third-party, allow all
Firefox:
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Standard, Strict, or Custom tracking protection
Safari:
- Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Block all cookies or selectively remove
Edge:
- Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Cookies
- Block trackers and manage cookies
Mobile browsers: Check your browser’s privacy settings
4.4 Opt-Out Tools
Third-Party Opt-Outs:
Google Analytics Opt-Out: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Network Advertising Initiative: https://optout.networkadvertising.org
Digital Advertising Alliance: https://optout.aboutads.info
European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu
Note: Opt-outs may require cookies themselves to function.
Impact of Disabling Cookies
5.1 If You Disable All Cookies
You may experience:
- Cannot log into your account
- Platform features may not work
- Preferences not saved
- Videos may not load properly
- Course progress not tracked
Essentially, the platform becomes unusable without essential cookies.
5.2 If You Disable Non-Essential Cookies
What still works:
✓ Login and authentication
✓ Course access and video playback
✓ Progress tracking
✓ Core learning features
What doesn’t work:
✗ Personalized recommendations
✗ Analytics to improve platform
✗ Customized ad experiences
✗ Some third-party integrations
Recommendation:
Keep functional and essential cookies enabled for best experience.
✓ Login and authentication
✓ Course access and video playback
✓ Progress tracking
✓ Core learning features
What doesn’t work:
✗ Personalized recommendations
✗ Analytics to improve platform
✗ Customized ad experiences
✗ Some third-party integrations
Recommendation:
Keep functional and essential cookies enabled for best experience.
Mobile Apps
6.1 If you use our mobile app (if applicable):
- Apps use device identifiers instead of cookies
- Similar technologies track usage and preferences
- Managed through your device’s app settings
iOS: Settings → Privacy → Tracking → Toggle per app
Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Opt out of personalization
Do Not Track (DNT)
7.1 Do Not Track Signals
- Do Not Track signals: Some browsers send “Do Not Track” signals to websites.
Our approach:- We respect DNT signals for marketing cookies
- Essential cookies still function (required for platform)
- Analytics may be limited but not completely disabled
How to enable DNT:- Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Send “Do Not Track”
- Firefox: Options → Privacy → Enable DNT
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Ask websites not to track
Children’s Privacy and Cookies
8.1 Children's Privacy and Cookies
Users under 16:
If you’re a parent:
- Parental consent is required
- We do not knowingly collect data from children
- Parents can request deletion of child’s data
If you’re a parent:
- You can manage cookie settings on your child’s account
- Contact us to review or delete data
- See our Privacy Policy for more informationv
International Users and GDPR
9.1 EU/EEA Users (GDPR)
Your rights:
Legal basis for cookies:
- Consent: We ask for consent before non-essential cookies
- Withdraw consent: You can change preferences anytime
- Data access: Request what data we collect via cookies
- Data deletion: Request deletion of cookie data
Legal basis for cookies:
- Essential cookies: Legitimate interest (required for service)
- Analytics cookies: Consent or legitimate interest
- Marketing cookies: Consent only
9.2 Cookie Consent Record
We keep a record of your consent choices:
This record helps us comply with GDPR requirements.
- Date and time of consent
- Which cookies you accepted/rejected
- IP address (for verification)
- Consent version
This record helps us comply with GDPR requirements.
Third-Party Websites
10.1 Third-Party Websites
When you click external links on our platform:
Always check privacy policies of websites you visit.
- You leave Hungarian Academy
- Third-party sites have their own cookie policies
- We’re not responsible for their practices
Always check privacy policies of websites you visit.
Updates to This Cookie Policy
11.1 Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this policy when:
When we update:
- We add new cookies or tracking technologies
- Cookie regulations change
- We change service providers
- We improve transparency
When we update:
- “Last Updated” date changes
- We may notify you via email or platform banner
- Continued use means acceptance
Questions and Contact
12.1 Summary: Cookie Quick Reference
Cookie Type | Purpose | Required? | Duration | Examples |
Strictly Necessary | Login, security | YES | Session-1yr | Session, Auth |
Functional | Preferences | NO | 1mo-1yr | Language, Theme |
Analytics | Usage tracking | NO | Up to 2yrs | Google Analytics |
Marketing | Advertising | NO | Up to 2yrs | Facebook Pixel |
12.2 How to Manage Cookies - Quick Guide
- Accept/Reject on first visit via cookie banner
- Change anytime in Cookie Settings (footer link)
- Browser settings to block/delete cookies
- Third-party opt-outs for advertising cookies
Your privacy matters to us. We use cookies responsibly to provide the best learning experience while respecting your choices.