Cookies kept simple.
No ads, and nothing optional without your OK. Here is every cookie and bit of browser storage we use, and why.
Last updated 18 October 2026
Your choice, any time. When you first visit we ask before using anything that isn't strictly necessary. You can accept, reject or pick categories, and change your mind whenever you like. Your choice is kept for 6 months, then we ask again.
Strictly necessary
Needed for the site to work or for things you ask it to do. These are always on and don't need your consent.
| Name | Type | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
ms_consent | Cookie | Remembers your cookie choices, so we don't ask on every page. | 6 months |
ms_member_session | Cookie | Keeps you signed in to your account (only set when you sign in). | Until you sign out, at most 30 days |
ms_member | Cookie | Tells the page you're signed in so it can show your account button. Contains no personal data. | Same as your sign-in |
brightside-challenge, brightside-challenge-notes, brightside-challenge-id | Browser storage | Saves your 7-day challenge ticks and notes on this device when you use the challenge. | Until you clear it or start over |
brightside-book-ideas | Browser storage | Remembers which key ideas you ticked on a book page. | Until you clear it |
ms-guest-habits | Browser storage | Saves the habits and check-ins you track without an account (only when you choose to try the tracker that way). | Until you move them to an account or clear them |
ms-offline (service worker) | Browser storage | Keeps a small "you're offline" page so the installed habit tracker can open without a connection, and shows the reminders you turned on. | Until you clear site data |
Preferences
Small conveniences. Only saved if you allow them, and removed if you change your mind.
| Name | Type | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
brightside-recent-searches | Browser storage | Shows your recent searches on the search page. | Until you clear it |
brightside-subscribed | Browser storage | Hides newsletter sign-up boxes after you've signed up on this device. | Until you clear it |
ms-habits-compact | Browser storage | Remembers if you chose the compact view of your habits. | Until you clear it |
brightside-contact-draft | Browser storage | Keeps what you typed in the contact form if you leave the page before sending. | Until you send or clear it |
External media
Talks are played by YouTube (in its privacy-enhanced mode). When a video plays, YouTube may set its own cookies and receive your IP address, under Google's privacy policy.
| Name | Type | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
YouTube (youtube-nocookie.com) | Third-party | Plays talk videos on talk pages. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. | Set by YouTube |
Analytics
Only if you allow it. Google Analytics counts visits and which pages are read, so we can see what helps. We see totals, not who you are. Google receives your IP address and handles this data under its own privacy policy.
| Name | Type | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Third-party | Google Analytics: tells one visitor's visits apart from another's, so visits can be counted. | 2 years |
_ga_<ID> | Third-party | Google Analytics: keeps track of the current visit. | 2 years |
Pictures from other sites
Book covers come from Open Library and talk thumbnails from YouTube's image servers. These are plain pictures and set no cookies, but like any website they see your IP address when your browser loads them.
Questions
See our privacy policy for how we handle personal information, or contact us. You can also clear cookies and site data in your browser settings at any time.