Cookies Guide
What is a Cookie?
At Ford, we use technologies like cookies, pixels, and local storage to make our websites easier to use and to tailor content to be more relevant for you. This guide is designed to explain what cookies are; the purpose of those used on Ford websites; and what options you have to control or delete them – if you decide you want to.
What is a Cookie?
Almost every website uses cookie technology. A cookie is a small file which a server downloads to your personal computer (PC) or mobile when you visit a website. When you next return to the site using the same device, your PC checks to see if it has a cookie that the website recognises. If it has such a cookie, it communicates with the website and enables the website to read the information held in that. This allows the site to recognise that the browser has been visited before and, in some cases, may alter the content shown to reflect this.
You can find more information about cookies at:
What Cookies do we use?
The cookies used on this website have been categorised below.
Category 1 – ‘Strictly Necessary’ Cookies
Essential for the website to function properly, these cookies enable core features such as security, page navigation, and access to secure areas. They cannot be disabled.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
| Cookie | Cookie's Description |
|---|---|
| cookieconsent_status | This cookie is associated with the Consentmo GDPR Compliance app and is used to store the customer's consent. |
| cookieconsent_preferences_disabled | This cookie is associated with the Consentmo GDPR Compliance app and is used to store the customer's consent. |
| _abv | Stores the collapsed state of the admin bar. |
| _checkout_queue_token | Used when there is a queue during the checkout process. |
| _master_udr | Permanent device identifier. |
| _merchant_essential | Contains essential information for the correct functioning of merchant surfaces such as the admin area. |
| _pay_session | The Rails session cookie for Shopify Pay. |
| _shopify_essential | Contains essential information for the correct functioning of a shop, such as session and checkout information and anti-tampering data. |
| _shopify_essential_ | Contains an opaque token used to identify a device for essential purposes. |
| auth_state_* | Stores the authentication state before customers are redirected to a third party for authentication. |
| checkout | Used by checkout to identify the user. |
| in_checkout_profile_preview | Used to determine whether the merchant is in a checkout customer profile preview. |
| order | Used to allow access to the buyer's order details page. |
| skip_shop_pay | Disables Shop Pay as a payment method during checkout. |
| user | Used in connection with Shop login. |
| user_cross_site | Used in connection with Shop login. |
Category 2 – ‘Performance’ Cookies
By collecting anonymous data, these cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the website, allowing us to improve performance and user experience.
Performance Cookies
| Cookie | Cookie's Description |
|---|---|
| _shopify_s | Shopify analytics. |
| _shopify_y | Shopify analytics. |
| shop_analytics | Shopify analytics. |
| _shopify_ga | Shopify and Google Analytics. |
| _merchant_analytics | Contains analytics data for the merchant session. |
| _shopify_analytics | Contains analytics data for buyer surfaces such as the storefront or checkout. |
Category 3 – ‘Marketing’ Cookies
These cookies track your activity across websites to deliver personalized ads and relevant content. They also help measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
Marketing Cookies
| Cookie | Cookie's Description |
|---|---|
| _tracking_consent | Tracking preferences. |
| _landing_page | Track landing pages. |
| _orig_referrer | Track landing pages. |
| _identity_session | Merchant authentication: Main session cookie for Identity authentication. This is the underlying Rails session cookie. It contains the SID. |
| _shopify_marketing | Contains marketing data for buyer surfaces such as the storefront or checkout. |
| shopify_override_user_locale | Used as a mechanism to set User locale in admin. |
Category 4 – ‘Functionality’ Cookies
These cookies remember your choices - such as language preferences or login details - to provide a more personalized experience.
Functionality Cookies
| Cookie | Cookie's Description |
|---|---|
| _ab | Used in connection with access to admin. |
| Cart | Used in connection with shopping cart. |
| checkout_token | Used in connection with checkout. |
| storefront_digest | Used in connection with customer login. |
| shopify_pay_redirect | Used in connection with checkout. |
| cart_currency | Set after a checkout is completed to ensure that new carts are in the same currency as the last checkout. |
| keep_alive | Used in connection with buyer localization. |
| localization | Used in connection with checkout. |
| _shopify_country | For shops where pricing currency/country set from GeoIP, that cookie stores the country we've detected. This cookie helps avoid doing GeoIP lookups after the first request. |
| _storefront_u | Used to facilitate updating customer account information. |
| customer_account_locale | Used in connection with new customer accounts |
| hide_shopify_pay_for_checkout | Used in connection with checkout. |
| master_device_id | Used in connection with merchant login. |
| discount_code | Used in connection with checkout. |
| shopify_pay | Used in connection with checkout. |
| shop_pay_accelerated | Used in connection with checkout. |
| identity-state | Used in connection with customer authentication |
| identity_customer_account_number | Used in connection with customer authentication |
| profile_preview_token | Used in connection with checkout. |
| login_with_shop_finalize | Used in connection with customer authentication |
| theme | Used to determine the theme of the storefront. |