Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember your preferences and provide essential functionality.

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies PLOS uses, why we use them, and your choices regarding their use.

2. How We Use Cookies

PLOS uses cookies strictly for essential platform functionality. We take a minimal approach — we only use cookies that are necessary for the service to work properly.

We do not use cookies for:

• Advertising or ad targeting
• Third-party analytics or tracking
• Cross-site tracking
• Behavioral profiling for external parties

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Session Cookie (Essential)

• Name: sessionid
• Purpose: Maintains your authenticated login session
• Duration: Expires when you log out or after session timeout
• Type: Strictly necessary

3.2 CSRF Token (Essential)

• Name: csrftoken
• Purpose: Protects against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks by validating that form submissions originate from our site
• Duration: 1 year
• Type: Strictly necessary (security)

Both cookies are first-party, HTTP-only (where applicable), and are essential for the secure operation of the platform. They cannot be disabled without breaking core functionality.

4. Local Storage

In addition to cookies, PLOS uses your browser's localStorage to remember user interface preferences. Unlike cookies, localStorage data is never sent to our servers — it stays entirely in your browser.

We currently store:

• plos_time_format — Your preferred time display format (12-hour or 24-hour)

You can clear localStorage at any time through your browser's developer tools or settings. Clearing it will reset your display preferences to defaults.

5. Third-Party Cookies

PLOS does not set or allow any third-party cookies. We do not embed third-party tracking scripts, social media widgets, or advertising networks that would set their own cookies.

Any external services we integrate with (AI providers, messaging platforms) are contacted server-side and do not set cookies in your browser.

6. Managing Cookies

Since we only use strictly necessary cookies, disabling them will prevent you from using PLOS effectively. However, you have the following options:

• Browser Settings — Most browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through their settings or privacy preferences
• Log Out — Logging out invalidates your session cookie
• Clear Browser Data — Clearing cookies and site data will remove all PLOS cookies and localStorage items

For instructions on managing cookies in your specific browser, consult your browser's help documentation.

7. Changes to This Policy

If we introduce new types of cookies or change how we use existing ones, we will update this Cookie Policy and the "Last updated" date.

We will always maintain our commitment to minimal, essential-only cookie usage.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@plos.app
• Platform: Use the Contact page