These detailed documents are available in English and Chinese.
THE RIVER MATRIX · 河洛观象
Cookies & storage
Updated and effective:
River Matrix uses browser storage for access and preferences. This notice covers the application's own storage, not every storage item that a browser, hosting provider or payment service may create independently.
Essential access cookies
The __Host-river_visitor cookie links a guest browser to its readings and checkout. The __Host-river_session cookie maintains verified email sign-in. Both normally last 30 days. They are Secure and HttpOnly, use SameSite=Lax, and are sent only under the site's host restrictions. Clearing the guest cookie can make a guest purchase inaccessible unless it has already been securely saved to a verified account.
The __Host-river_challenge cookie binds a sign-in attempt to the browser that requested it. It lasts up to 30 minutes and is cleared after successful verification; the code itself expires after 10 minutes. Signing out revokes the current login session. The application may also recognise a legacy river_visitor cookie to retrieve eligible older free readings.
Language and temporary files
When you choose a language, localStorage stores river-language-english-primary so the next visit can use that choice. It has no automatic expiry and remains until you change it or clear site storage. Artwork downloads and previews use temporary browser files and object URLs. Optional daylight coordinates remain in browser memory; they are not saved as a location-history cookie.
Tracking and other services
The current application does not deploy advertising pixels or behavioural analytics cookies. Essential access and user-requested preference storage serve the functions described here. If non-essential tracking is introduced, the required choices must be provided before it is activated. PayPal may use its own cookies when you open checkout, and hosting providers may use security storage under their own terms. Social sharing buttons are links and device sharing controls, not embedded social tracking widgets.
Your controls
You can inspect, block or remove cookies and site storage through your browser settings. Blocking essential storage can interrupt sign-in, checkout or access recovery. Clearing browser data does not delete information already stored on our servers, cancel a subscription or withdraw email preferences. For those requests, use your member settings or contact yuanqitmas@gmail.com. Read the Privacy Notice for server records, retention and your rights.