This policy explains which cookies and similar technologies the penkovstudio.eu website uses, what they do and how you can manage your choices. It forms part of our Privacy Policy.
1. What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a website stores in your browser. Similar technologies include entries in your browser's local storage (localStorage and sessionStorage), pixels and third-party scripts. In this policy we refer to all of them as "cookies".
Some cookies contain unique identifiers or allow data such as your IP address and device details to be processed. In those cases they may qualify as personal data, and we process them in line with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Bulgarian Personal Data Protection Act.
2. Legal basis
Under Art. 4a of the Bulgarian Electronic Communications Act (which transposes Directive 2002/58/EC), storing information on your device or accessing it is permitted without consent only where it is strictly necessary to provide a service you have requested. For all other cookies (functional, analytics and marketing), we ask for your prior, explicit and informed consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
Simply visiting, scrolling or using the website does not count as consent. Until you make a choice, the website uses only necessary cookies and all optional technologies stay blocked.
3. How our consent tool works
We use our own consent management tool, which runs entirely on our domain and does not load any third-party services. On your first visit you will see a banner with three buttons:
- "Accept all": allows all cookie categories;
- "Reject non-essential": keeps only the necessary cookies;
- "Settings": lets you switch each optional category on or off individually.
All optional categories are off by default. Rejecting is just as easy as accepting.
4. Cookie categories
4.1. Necessary (always active)
These keep the website working and secure, remember your cookie choice and store the draft of the project inquiry form in your browser. They cannot be switched off in the banner, but you can block them in your browser settings (some features may then stop working). Admin login cookies are set only for the administrator, never for visitors.
4.2. Functional (off by default)
These allow embedded third-party content to load. The interactive Google Maps map on the Contact page loads only after you consent. Until then, a static image is shown in its place.
4.3. Analytics (off by default)
These help us understand how the website is used so we can improve it. We use Google Analytics 4 only with your consent and only if the administrator has enabled it. Google's script does not load before you consent. We use Google Consent Mode v2, with every consent signal set to "denied" by default and changed only once you make a choice. User-level data is kept for no longer than 14 months.
4.4. Marketing (off by default)
These are used to measure advertising campaigns and show more relevant ads (for example, Google Ads or Meta Pixel). The website does not currently use any marketing cookies. If a marketing tool is added in the future, we will update this policy and the banner first, and the tool will only be activated with your explicit consent.
5. Technologies we use
| Name | Provider | Category | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ps_consent | penkovstudio.eu | Necessary | Remembers your cookie choice and the policy version it applies to. | 6 months | Cookie (first party), mirrored in localStorage |
__Host-ps_admin | penkovstudio.eu | Necessary | Keeps the administrator signed in to the admin area. Never set for visitors. | Session, up to 3 days | Cookie (first party) |
__Host-ps_csrf | penkovstudio.eu | Necessary | Protects actions in the admin area against cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Never set for visitors. | Session, up to 3 days | Cookie (first party) |
ps_theme | penkovstudio.eu | Necessary | Remembers that you chose the dark theme. It is set only when you press the theme button; nothing is stored for the light theme (the default). | Until you clear it or switch back to the light theme | localStorage |
ps_inquiry_draft | penkovstudio.eu | Necessary | Keeps a draft of the project inquiry form (without contact details) in your browser only, so you do not lose your progress. | Up to 7 days, or until the form is submitted or cleared | localStorage |
NID and other Google cookies | Google Ireland Ltd. (Google Maps) | Functional | Displays the interactive map on the Contact page. Google may also use these cookies for its own purposes under its own policy. | Up to 6 months | Cookie (third party) |
_ga | Google Ireland Ltd. (Google Analytics 4) | Analytics | Distinguishes individual visitors for statistical purposes. | 2 years | Cookie (first party, set by Google) |
_ga_<ID> | Google Ireland Ltd. (Google Analytics 4) | Analytics | Stores the session state. | 2 years | Cookie (first party, set by Google) |
No marketing technologies are currently in use. This list reflects the technologies in use as of the date this policy was last updated.
6. Third-party cookies and transfers outside the EU
Google Ireland Ltd. belongs to a group headquartered in the United States, and data collected through Google Maps and Google Analytics may be transferred to Google LLC. Such transfers rely on the European Commission's adequacy decision under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and/or on standard contractual clauses. More information: Google Privacy Policy. The website hosting, database and files are located in the EU (Frankfurt, Germany).
7. How to give, change or withdraw your consent
- You can change or withdraw your consent at any time using the floating "Cookie settings" button on the website.
- Withdrawing consent is as easy as giving it and does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal. Once you withdraw, the relevant technologies stop loading and their cookies are deleted as far as your browser allows.
- Your choice is stored in the
ps_consentcookie for 6 months, after which we will ask you again. We will also ask again whenever we publish a new version of this policy. - So that we can demonstrate that consent was given, we keep a pseudonymous record on our server: a random ID, the policy version, the categories you selected, a timestamp and your browser family, with no IP address. The record is kept for as long as needed for that purpose, but no longer than 3 years.
- You can also delete or block cookies in your browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
8. Changes to this policy
When the technologies we use change, we will update this policy and its last updated date. If a change affects the optional categories, we will ask for your consent again.
9. Contact
For questions about cookies and personal data: support@penkovstudio.eu. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Commission for Personal Data Protection (www.cpdp.bg), 2 Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov Blvd., Sofia 1592, Bulgaria.