Cookie Policy

SEARCHES (“we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure, and improve its website and business-to-business (B2B) platform.

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies are, why we use them, what categories may be used on SEARCHES, how third-party technologies may operate, and how you can manage your preferences.

This Policy applies to visitors, registered users, buyers, suppliers, manufacturers, exporters, importers, corporate clients, and other individuals accessing https://searches.ltd.

We aim to use these technologies transparently, proportionately, and in accordance with applicable privacy and electronic communications laws.

This Cookie Policy supplements our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. It does not replace any consent, notice, or other requirement imposed by applicable law.

Cookies are small data files that a website may store on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device when you visit the website.

Cookies can help a website recognize a browser, maintain a login session, remember preferences, protect accounts, and understand how visitors use its services.

Cookies may be:

• First-party cookies: Set by the website you are visiting.
• Third-party cookies: Set by another service or domain integrated into the website.
• Session cookies: Generally designed to expire when the browsing session ends.
• Persistent cookies: Remain on your device for a defined period or until deleted, depending on their settings.

The actual duration and behaviour of a cookie depend on how it is configured and how the relevant browser or technology operates.

In addition to conventional cookies, SEARCHES and its service providers may use similar technologies, where appropriate and legally permitted, including:

• Local storage and session storage.
• Tracking pixels and web beacons.
• Scripts and tags.
• Device or browser identifiers.
• Technologies used to maintain authentication or protect account security.
• Analytics and advertising technologies.

These technologies may store information on your device, access information already stored there, or collect information about interactions with the website.

Where applicable law treats these technologies similarly to cookies, we will apply the relevant transparency, consent, and user-control requirements.

The technologies used on SEARCHES will depend on the features and services actually implemented on the website.

4.1Strictly Necessary Cookies

These technologies support essential website functions, such as:

• Maintaining secure login sessions.
• Authenticating users.
• Protecting against unauthorized access.
• Supporting essential security controls.
• Maintaining essential application state.
• Remembering cookie-consent choices.
• Supporting reliable website operation.

Where a technology is strictly necessary to provide a service explicitly requested by a user, applicable law may permit its use without consent.

Strictly necessary technologies will not be used to justify unrelated tracking or advertising.

You may be able to block some cookies through your browser settings. However, blocking essential cookies may prevent login, account security, or other necessary features from functioning properly.

4.2Functional and Preference Cookies

Where implemented, these technologies may help SEARCHES remember choices such as:

• Preferred language.
• Display preferences.
• Selected website settings.
• Previously saved interface choices.
• Other preferences intended to improve usability.

Where consent is legally required, these technologies will remain disabled until the necessary consent has been obtained.

4.3Analytics and Performance Cookies

Where implemented, analytics technologies may help us understand:

• Which pages visitors view.
• How users navigate the website.
• Which search and discovery features are used.
• Whether pages or features experience technical problems.
• How the website performs across devices.
• Which improvements may be useful to users.

Analytics information may include page views, session events, device information, browser details, approximate location, or online identifiers, depending on the tool.

Where required by applicable law, analytics technologies will be activated only after valid consent.

We will seek to use proportionate analytics practices and avoid collecting information that is unnecessary for the relevant purpose.

4.4Advertising and Marketing Technologies

If SEARCHES introduces advertising, sponsored business listings, promotional campaigns, or advertising measurement, we may consider using technologies to:

• Measure campaign performance.
• Understand engagement with advertisements.
• Limit repetitive advertisements where supported.
• Measure visits or conversions associated with campaigns.
• Support relevant business promotions.

These technologies may involve third-party advertising or analytics providers.

Where consent or another specific legal requirement applies, the relevant technology will not be activated until the applicable requirements are satisfied.

Users will be given the choices required by applicable law.

SEARCHES will not treat consent to advertising cookies as a condition of accepting the general Terms of Service where separate consent is legally required.

4.5Security and Fraud Prevention Technologies

We may use appropriate technologies to detect suspicious activity, protect user accounts, prevent abuse, and maintain the integrity of the Platform.

These technologies may help identify abnormal login attempts, automated abuse, malicious activity, or technical security threats.

Where these technologies are strictly necessary for a service requested by the user or otherwise permitted by applicable law, they may operate without separate cookie consent where legally justified.

Technologies that go beyond the applicable exemption will be handled according to the relevant consent requirements.

Depending on the technologies actually deployed, SEARCHES may use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

• To keep the website and essential features operational.
• To maintain authentication and account security.
• To remember valid privacy and cookie preferences.
• To improve website usability and performance.
• To understand the use of business search, profile, and inquiry features.
• To investigate technical problems and prevent abuse.
• To measure advertising or promotional performance, where implemented and legally permitted.

We will not use a cookie category as a blanket authorization for unrelated processing.

Where information collected through cookies constitutes personal data, the relevant processing will also be subject to our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection laws.

When you first visit SEARCHES, we may display a cookie banner or preference interface explaining the available categories of cookies and similar technologies.

Where consent is required, non-essential technologies will remain disabled until the required consent is obtained.

The cookie interface should provide the following choices:

• Accept All: Accept the categories of non-essential cookies presented in the consent interface.
• Reject Non-Essential: Reject non-essential cookies and similar technologies while allowing technologies that may lawfully operate without consent.
• Customize Preferences: Select or deselect available categories according to the options presented.

The choice to reject non-essential cookies should be reasonably accessible and should not be made unnecessarily difficult compared with accepting them.

Consent will not be inferred solely from continued browsing, scrolling, or failure to respond to a cookie banner where applicable law requires affirmative consent.

The categories and descriptions shown in the consent interface will correspond to the technologies actually used by SEARCHES and its integrated service providers.

You can review or change your cookie preferences at any time through the website's Cookie Settings or Cookie Preferences link.

Depending on the available controls, you may be able to:

• Enable or disable functional cookies.
• Enable or disable analytics cookies.
• Enable or disable advertising and marketing cookies.
• Review relevant cookie information.
• Withdraw previously provided consent.
• Save updated preferences.

Strictly necessary technologies may not have an ordinary off switch within the preference interface where they are essential to a requested service or otherwise lawfully exempt from consent requirements.

If you withdraw consent, SEARCHES will stop the relevant non-essential processing and prevent further setting or access where required, subject to applicable law and technical limitations.

Withdrawal of consent does not invalidate processing that was lawful before the withdrawal.

Changes may not immediately remove information already collected or cookies already stored on your device. We will implement appropriate measures to stop further use and, where applicable, arrange deletion or other treatment of previously collected data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable law.

SEARCHES may integrate third-party services to support hosting, analytics, authentication, embedded media, advertising, customer support, or other website functions.

Depending on the services actually implemented, these providers may include website analytics services, social media platforms, video providers, mapping services, security providers, or other technology partners.

A third-party service may collect information directly through its own technologies when it is activated.

The identity, purpose, and behaviour of third-party technologies depend on the specific provider and configuration.

We will maintain appropriate records of the third-party services integrated into SEARCHES and provide relevant information through the cookie-preference interface or other applicable notices.

Where applicable law requires prior consent, third-party technologies that require consent will not be activated before that consent is obtained.

Third-party providers may process information under their own terms and privacy policies, subject to any applicable contract with SEARCHES.

We do not claim to control independent third-party practices beyond the control and obligations available to us under applicable law and contract.

The actual cookies and similar technologies used on SEARCHES will be documented in a cookie inventory maintained by the Platform operator.

The inventory should identify, where applicable:

• Cookie or technology name.
• Provider or domain.
• First-party or third-party status.
• Purpose and category.
• Information collected or accessed.
• Session or persistent status.
• Duration or expiry.
• Whether consent is required.
• Relevant third-party documentation.

The exact inventory must be based on a technical audit of the live website and its integrations.

We will not represent a cookie as being used, or state a specific retention period, unless that information has been confirmed for the relevant technology.

Cookies may expire automatically after a defined period, be deleted when a session ends, or remain until removed by the user, depending on their configuration.

We will seek to retain cookie-related information only for as long as reasonably necessary for its stated purpose and applicable legal requirements.

Where appropriate or required by applicable law, SEARCHES may maintain records of users' cookie choices.

These records may include:

• The consent or preference status.
• The date and time of the choice.
• The applicable consent notice or policy version.
• The categories selected.
• A limited technical identifier necessary to maintain or demonstrate the choice.

Such records will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy, appropriate security measures, and applicable retention requirements.

We will seek to avoid collecting unnecessary personal data merely to record a cookie preference.

Most modern browsers allow users to manage, block, or delete cookies.

You may be able to:

• View cookies stored by websites.
• Delete cookies.
• Block certain cookies.
• Block third-party cookies.
• Configure browser privacy settings.
• Clear browsing history and website storage.

The precise controls depend on your browser and device.

Please note that blocking or deleting essential cookies may prevent some features from working properly, including login, session management, saved preferences, or account-security functions.

Browser-level controls do not necessarily replace a consent mechanism required by applicable law.

SEARCHES may serve users and businesses in multiple countries. Cookie and similar-technology rules may differ according to the user's location, the technology involved, and the purpose of processing.

Where applicable law requires clear notice, prior consent, specific preference controls, or another lawful basis, SEARCHES will implement the relevant requirements.

For example, certain storage and access technologies used in the United Kingdom are subject to the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The UK's Information Commissioner's Office explains that consent is generally required for technologies within the rules unless an applicable exception applies.

EU/EEA requirements may also apply depending on the relevant service, user, and technology.

The fact that a technology is described as analytics, security, or advertising does not by itself determine whether consent is required. Its actual purpose, operation, and applicable legal rules must be assessed.

This Policy does not exclude or reduce any mandatory rights available under applicable law.

SEARCHES may update this Cookie Policy when:

• New website features are introduced.
• New cookies or similar technologies are deployed.
• Existing technologies are removed or changed.
• Third-party service providers change.
• Applicable legal or regulatory requirements change.
• Our cookie-preference system is updated.

The current version will be published on https://searches.ltd with the effective date or last-updated date.

Where a material change requires renewed consent or additional notice, SEARCHES will take the steps required by applicable law.

Updating this Policy alone will not replace a legally required consent request.

We encourage users to review this Policy periodically.