What this policy covers
Cookies are small files a website stores in your browser. Similar browser technologies include local storage and IndexedDB. This policy explains how Sherlock Search uses them on sherlocksearch.net.
Essential storage
Sherlock Search uses strictly necessary cookies or browser storage to:
- remember security and interface settings, such as your color theme;
- maintain the guest order, checkout, and payment-return state;
- temporarily keep the photo you selected on your device while checkout is in progress;
- restore a paid search after you return from Stripe; and
- prevent fraud, duplicate processing, and unauthorized result access.
The pending photo may be stored in your browser's IndexedDB and is not submitted to the search provider before payment is confirmed. Pending browser data and search media are intended for a window of up to 24 hours.
Blocking essential storage may prevent checkout, payment return, photo recovery, preferences, or the search flow from working.
Analytics and advertising
At launch, Sherlock Search does not enable advertising cookies or optional product-analytics cookies. If we add non-essential analytics or advertising technology later, we will update this policy and request consent where required.
Third-party services
When you use a third-party feature, that provider may set its own cookies under its own domain:
- Stripe may use cookies during hosted checkout, payment, and fraud prevention.
- Cloudflare may use essential security or bot-management cookies to protect the site.
Please review those providers' privacy and cookie notices for details about their own practices.
Your controls
You can inspect, block, or delete cookies and site data in your browser settings. Deleting site data may reset your theme, remove a pending photo, or interrupt a checkout return. If you already paid, use the recovery link sent to your checkout email.
Changes and contact
We may update this policy when our use of browser storage changes. The date above shows the latest version.
Questions can be sent to support@sherlocksearch.net or through our contact page.