EnAptoide Connect Cookies Policy
Last updated: May 2023
Aptoide Connect is a software developed by Aptoide S.A. (“Aptoide”), a company with ID 509987184 and principal place of business is at Rua Soeiro Pereira Gomes, Lote 1, 3D, 1649-031 Lisboa, and its registered office is at Rua Fernanda Seno n. 6, 7005-484, Évora, Portugal which allows the distribution of products in the Aptoide App Store and other Apps distribution channels.
Aptoide respects your privacy and is committed to be clear and transparent about the way it processes information about you while you’re using Aptoide Connect Services (Aptoide Connect Website, Aptoide Connect Software and Aptoide Connect Blog).
In this document we will explain what cookies are, which cookies we use and why we use them.
At any moment, you can set your browser to accept or reject new cookies or to deactivate cookies already installed in your computer or mobile device. This action could retrieve on an unsatisfying use of the websites.
1. What is a cookie
A cookie is a small file placed onto your device that enables Aptoide features and functionality. For example, cookies enable us to make the websites work as you expect it; to identify your device; secure your access to your Aptoide account, and our sites generally, and even help us know if someone attempts to access your account from a different device. Cookies also enable you to easily share content.
2. When does Aptoide place cookies?
We use cookies on our websites (such as connect.aptoide.com). Any browser visiting these sites will receive cookies from us.
3. How Aptoide uses cookies
Cookies can be used to recognize you when you use Aptoide Connect Services, remember your preferences, and give you a personalized experience that’s in line with your settings. Cookies also make your interactions with Aptoide faster and more secure.
4. Types of cookies used by Aptoide Connect
We use different types of cookies:
- First Party Cookies: Cookies placed by Aptoide. These cookies may be session cookies and persistent cookies.
- Third Party Cookies: Cookies placed by a third party (including, for example, providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) in Aptoide Connect websites, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies. These cookies may be session cookies and persistent cookies.
- Session Cookies: These cookies only last for as long as the session (usually the current visit to a website or a browser session) and are used by the server to store information about user page activities so users can easily pick up where they left off on the server's pages. These cookies tell the server what pages to show the user so the user doesn't have to remember or start navigating the site all over again. This type of cookie act as a sort of “bookmark” within the site.
- Persistent Cookies: These cookies are employed to store your preferences (for example, the language you prefer) and to help us recognize you as an existing user, so it’s easier to return to Aptoide Connect or interact with our services without signing in again. After you sign in, a persistent cookie stays in your browser and will be read by Aptoide when you return to one of our sites or a partner site that uses our services.
You can find more information about the individual cookies we use and the purposes for which we use them in the table below:
a) Aptoide Cookies
| Cookie Name | Provider | Description | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
APTOIDE-CONNECT-TOKEN | Aptoide Connect | Token that authenticates an Aptoide Connect user and validates the current session. | Session |
APTOIDE-CONNECT-ACCEPTED-COOKIES | Aptoide Connect | Determines whether the user has accepted the usage of cookies. | 1 month |
b) Third Party Cookies
| Cookie Name | Provider | Description | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
_hj* | Hotjar | Hotjar cookies that are set when the user first lands on a page with the Hotjar script. They are used to persist Hotjar user details, unique to that site on the browser. This ensures that behaviour in subsequent visits to the same site will be attributed to the same user. | 8 months to 11 months |
g_state | Used to manage the state of the authentication flow. This includes tracking the state during OAuth redirects to prevent CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attacks and ensure proper session handling. | Session | |
NID | Contains a unique ID Google uses to remember user preferences and other information. | 6 months | |
SID | Main session cookie used for user authentication, including signing and verification of the user. | 2 years | |
SIDCC | Provides additional security to protect user accounts from unauthorized access. | 1 year | |
SSID, APISID, HSID, SAPISID | Secure cookies storing encrypted user authentication data and preferences to protect against unauthorized access. | 2 years | |
AEC | Ensures that requests within a browsing session are made by the user and not other sites, preventing CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attacks and maintaining secure user interactions with Google services. | 6 months | |
SEARCH_SAMESITE | Used to prevent the browser from sending the cookie with cross-site requests, enforcing the SameSite attribute. This improves security by mitigating the risk of cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks. | 6 months to 1 year | |
__Secure-* | Cookies with the __Secure- prefix are used to enhance security, ensure encrypted sessions, manage user authentication, and deliver secure personalized services, such as ads and content. They are only transmitted over HTTPS, use attributes like HttpOnly and SameSite, and play a key role in protecting against XSS and CSRF attacks. | Typically 1–2 years | |
__Host-3PLSID, __Host-1PLSID | Google Accounts | Secure session cookies used for managing login sessions and interactions with third-party services. Only accessible over HTTPS with enhanced security features. | 2 years |
ACCOUNT_CHOOSER | Google Accounts | Manages and remembers the user's account preferences for account selection when interacting with Google services. | 1 year |
OTZ | Google Accounts | Tracks user interactions for analytics and personalization, often used in conjunction with Google Ads and other services. | 1 month |
__Host-GAPS | Google Accounts | Maintains the user's session state across multiple devices or accounts, ensuring a seamless login experience. | 2 years |
SMSV | Google Accounts | Used for secure identity verification and protecting user session integrity. | 6 months |
LSID | Google Accounts | Stores encrypted session data for authenticated Google accounts, facilitating secure interactions. | 2 years |
DV | Google Accounts | A short-lived cookie used for personalization and targeting of ads or session-specific data. | 7 minutes |
intercom-id*, intercom-device-id* | Intercom Messenger | Anonymous visitor identifier cookies. As people visit the site they get these cookies. | 9 months |
intercom-session* | Intercom Messenger | Identifier for each unique browser session. The users can access their conversations and have data communicated on logged out pages for 1 week, as long as the session isn't intentionally terminated with `Intercom('shutdown');`, which usually happens on logout. | 1 week |
5. Controlling cookies
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. However, if you limit the ability of websites to set cookies, you may worsen your overall user experience, since it will no longer be personalized to you. It may also stop you from saving customized settings like login information.
6. What to do if you don’t want cookies to be set or want them to be removed?
If you do not want to receive cookies, you can change your browser settings on your computer or other device you’re using to access our websites. If you use our websites without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you’re happy to receive all cookies related with Aptoide Connect website. Most browsers also provide functionality that lets you review and erase cookies, including Aptoide Connect cookies. Please note that Aptoide Connect websites will not work properly without cookies.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.wikipedia.org, www.allaboutcookies.org, www.aboutcookies.org.
Browser manufacturers provide help pages relating to cookie management in their products. Please see below for more information.