Cookie preferences

Last updated: June 10, 2026

This page describes how the Benchmarq application (app.benchmarq.io) uses browser cookies and session storage. We do not use analytics, advertising, or third-party tracking cookies in the app. The marketing website (www.benchmarq.io) has its own cookie consent banner.

1. Essential & Authentication Cookies

These cookies are strictly required to provide the service you request (sign-in, scans, billing):

Clerk Authentication Session: Cookies set by Clerk to handle user login, active sessions, and identity authorization.
Account Authorization: Secure server-side identity assertions (X-User-Id) link audit scans directly to your user account without requiring per-scan browser cookies.

2. Strictly Necessary Preference Cookies

These remember UI and locale choices required to operate the dashboard. They are not used for tracking or profiling:

bq_sidebar_collapsed: Whether the navigation sidebar is expanded or collapsed.
bq_active_domain: The website profile selected in your dashboard (tracked domains come from the server).
bq_theme: Light, dark, or system colour scheme.
NEXT_LOCALE: Your chosen language (en, en-us, nl).

3. Session Storage

LocaleSync uses a per-tab sessionStorage flag so your Clerk locale preference is applied once after sign-in. It is not shared across sites and is cleared when the browser tab closes.

4. Managing Preferences

Because the app uses only strictly necessary cookies and storage for authentication and core functionality, no opt-in consent banner is shown on app.benchmarq.io. You can block cookies in your browser settings, but sign-in and scans will not work. For marketing-site cookies, use the consent controls on www.benchmarq.io.