Cookie Policy

Last Updated: December 27, 2025

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They allow the website to remember your actions and preferences over a period of time.

2. How We Use Cookies

Hewa+ uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.

We use the following types of cookies:

A. Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include:

  • Authentication Cookies: Cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website (checking if you are an ESSS member).
  • Security Cookies: To prevent fraudulent use of login credentials.
  • Session Cookies: To maintain your session while browsing.

B. Functionality & Preference Cookies

These cookies are used to recognize you when you return to our website. This enables us to:

  • Persist Logins: To keep you logged in so you don't have to sign in every time you visit.
  • Remember Settings: To remember your display preferences (e.g., Dark Mode vs Light Mode).
  • Language Preference: To remember your preferred language (English or Amharic).

C. Analytical/Performance Cookies

These allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily. These cookies collect anonymous, aggregated data.

3. Data We Collect

πŸ‘€ Guest Visitors (Not Logged In)

  • Theme preference (Dark/Light mode)
  • Language preference
  • Cookie consent preference
  • Anonymous page view counts (for trending articles)

πŸ” Logged-In Members

In addition to guest data, we also collect:

  • Authentication session
  • Reading history (for personalized recommendations)
  • Followed writers (to curate your feed)
  • Saved/bookmarked articles

4. Managing Cookies

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time. When you first visit our site, you'll see a cookie consent banner where you can choose to accept all cookies or only essential cookies.

Most web browsers also allow you to control cookies through their settings: