Privacy/Cookie Policy

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 27th July 2026

Cold Case Whisperer (“we,” “us,” “our,” “this site”) operates coldcasewhisperer.com. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using this site, you agree to the practices described below.

Who We Are

Our website address is: https://coldcasewhisperer.com. You can contact us at [INSERT CONTACT EMAIL].

Information We Collect

Comments

When you leave a comment, we collect the content of the comment, your name, email address, and website (if provided), along with your IP address and browser user agent string to help with spam detection.

An anonymized string created from your email address (a “hash”) may be sent to the Gravatar service to check whether you use it. Gravatar’s privacy policy is available at https://automattic.com/privacy/. Once your comment is approved, your profile picture is visible to the public alongside your comment.

Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely so that follow-up comments from you can be recognized and approved automatically instead of held for manual review.

Newsletter Sign-Up

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address (and name, if requested) through our email service provider, [INSERT PROVIDER, e.g., Mailchimp/ConvertKit], to send you updates about new cases and content.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly. We do not sell or rent your email address to third parties.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use this site — pages visited, time on site, general location (city/country level), device and browser type, and referral source. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect this information.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. See Google’s privacy practices at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Media

If you upload images to this site (e.g., through a comment or contact form, where applicable), avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors can download and extract location data from any images published on this site.

Embedded Content

Articles on this site may include embedded content from other websites — for example, YouTube videos from our companion channel, or embeds from news sources and public agencies (such as NamUs).

Embedded content behaves exactly as if you had visited the source website directly: the source site may collect data about you, set its own cookies, use third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that content, including tracking you if you’re logged into an account on that site.

Advertising and Cookies

This site is monetized through third-party advertising networks, including Google AdSense and Adsterra. These partners may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.

  • Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to this and other sites. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings and, for the EU/UK, reviewing options via www.aboutads.info.
  • Adsterra may also use cookies for ad delivery and measurement. Refer to Adsterra’s own privacy policy for details on their data practices.
  • We do not control the cookies set by these third-party ad networks, and their use of your data is governed by their own privacy policies, not this one.

Cookie Consent

We use CookieYes to manage cookie consent on this site. When you first visit, you’ll be asked to accept or customize which categories of cookies (necessary, analytics, advertising) you allow.

You can change your preferences at any time via the cookie settings icon/link on the site.

Login and Editing Cookies (for site administrators)

If you visit our login page, a temporary cookie is set to check whether your browser accepts cookies; it contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser. Upon logging in, cookies are set to store your login information and screen display choices — login cookies last two days (or two weeks with “Remember Me”), and screen options cookies last one year. Editing or publishing an article sets an additional cookie containing only the post ID, which expires after one day.

How We Share Your Data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share limited data with:

  • Service providers who help us operate the site (hosting, email delivery, analytics, advertising), each bound by their own privacy practices.
  • Legal authorities, if required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of this site, our users, or the public.

If you request a password reset (administrators only), your IP address is included in the reset email.

Data Retention

  • Comments and their metadata are kept indefinitely for spam-recognition purposes.
  • Newsletter subscriber data is kept until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
  • Analytics data is retained according to Google Analytics’ default retention settings, which we may configure to a shorter period.

Your Rights

For all visitors: You can request an export of the personal data we hold about you (comments, newsletter subscription), and request that we erase it, except where we’re legally required to retain it. Contact us at [INSERT CONTACT EMAIL] to make a request.

California residents (CCPA/CPRA): You have the right to know what personal information is collected, to request deletion, and to opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising (which includes standard ad-network cookies like those used here). You can exercise these rights by contacting us or by adjusting your cookie preferences via CookieYes.

UK/EU visitors (UK GDPR/GDPR): You have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal data, and to object to processing based on legitimate interest (including advertising). Contact us to exercise these rights.

Children’s Privacy

This site is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the UK/EU), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us, and we will delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will reflect the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

Questions about this policy or your data can be sent to: coldcasewhisperer247@gmail.com