Privacy Policy
Last updated: February 22, 2026
1. Introduction
Welcome to Lynkd ("we", "our", or "us"). We operate the URL shortening platform available at lynkd.ink. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services. Please read this policy carefully. If you disagree with its terms, please discontinue use of the platform.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
2.1 Information You Provide
When you create an account via Google Sign-In, we receive your name, email address, and Google profile identifier from Google's OAuth service. When you submit a contact form, we collect your name, email address, and message content.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When a shortened link is clicked, we automatically record analytics data including: the timestamp of the click, the referring URL (where the user came from), the approximate geographic location derived from the IP address (country and city level), the device type (desktop, mobile, tablet), the operating system, and the browser. We do not store full IP addresses — they are anonymised immediately after geo-lookup.
2.3 Cookies and Local Storage
We use cookies and browser local storage to operate the platform and, with your consent, to measure site usage and display relevant advertisements. Full details of every cookie we use are set out in Section 4 below.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide, operate, and maintain the Lynkd platform
- Authenticate you and manage your account
- Provide click analytics and statistics for your shortened links
- Respond to contact form submissions and support requests
- Monitor and prevent abuse, spam, and malicious link creation
- Improve the platform based on usage patterns (only with your analytics consent)
- Display relevant advertisements (only with your advertising consent)
- Comply with legal obligations
4. Cookie Policy
4.1 What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work, to work more efficiently, and to provide information to website owners. We also use browser localStorage — a similar technology that stores data locally on your device without an expiry date unless cleared manually.
4.2 Your Cookie Consent
When you first visit Lynkd, a cookie consent banner appears at the bottom of the screen. You can choose from three options:
- Accept all — enables all cookie categories including analytics and advertising.
- Reject all — only strictly necessary cookies are used; analytics and advertising scripts are not loaded.
- Customise — opens individual toggles so you can enable or disable each non-essential category independently.
Your choice is saved in your browser's localStorage under the key lynkd_cookie_consent. No analytics or advertising scripts are loaded until you explicitly grant consent. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking Cookie Settings in the footer of any page, or by clearing your browser's site data.
4.3 Cookie Categories
We use three categories of cookies, described in detail below.
Necessary Cookies
Always onThese cookies are essential for the website to function. They cannot be disabled. They do not store any personally identifiable information.
| Cookie / Key | Provider | Purpose | Type | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| session | Lynkd | Maintains your authenticated login session after signing in with Google. | HTTP-only cookie | Session (cleared on browser close) |
| lynkd_cookie_consent | Lynkd | Stores your cookie consent preferences so the banner does not reappear on every visit. | localStorage | Persistent (until cleared) |
| lynkd_theme | Lynkd | Remembers your preferred colour theme (dark or light mode). | localStorage | Persistent (until cleared) |
Analytics Cookies
Consent requiredThese cookies are set by Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and help us understand how visitors interact with Lynkd — which pages are most visited, how long users stay, and where they come from. This information is aggregated and anonymous. These cookies are only loaded after you grant analytics consent.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Type | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. | Cookie | 2 years | |
| _ga_* | Used by Google Analytics 4 to persist session state for a specific GA4 property (measurement ID G-4KP1CS0VH1). | Cookie | 2 years | |
| _gid | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. | Cookie | 24 hours | |
| _gat | Used to throttle request rate to Google Analytics. | Cookie | 1 minute |
Google Analytics data is processed under Google's privacy policy. You can learn more at policies.google.com/privacy. You can also opt out of Google Analytics across all websites using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Advertising Cookies
Consent requiredThese cookies are set by Google AdSense and are used to show you advertisements that are relevant to your interests. They may track your browsing activity across websites that use Google's advertising services. These cookies are only loaded after you grant advertising consent.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Type | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDE | Google (doubleclick.net) | Used by Google DoubleClick to register and report the website user's actions after viewing or clicking one of the advertiser's ads, with the purpose of measuring the efficacy of an ad and to present targeted ads to the user. | Cookie | 1 year |
| test_cookie | Google (doubleclick.net) | Used to check if the user's browser supports cookies. | Cookie | 15 minutes |
| ANID | Used for advertising purposes, including ad delivery and reporting, personalisation, and fraud detection. | Cookie | 13 months | |
| AID | Links your activity across devices if you've previously signed in to your Google Account on another device. | Cookie | 13 months | |
| DSID | Used to identify a signed-in user on non-Google sites in order to serve personalised ads. | Cookie | 2 weeks |
You can opt out of personalised advertising at any time by visiting Google Ads Settings or the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page.
To manage your cookie preferences on Lynkd at any time, click the button in the footer of any page.
5. Google AdSense and Advertising
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our platform. Advertising cookies are only loaded after you grant advertising consent via our cookie banner. If you consent, Google AdSense may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the internet. The specific cookies used by AdSense are listed in Section 4.3 above. You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
6. Third-Party Services
We integrate with the following third-party services, each governed by their own privacy policies:
- Google OAuth — for account authentication. Governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
- Google Analytics 4 — for website usage analytics (loaded only with analytics consent).
- Google AdSense — for displaying advertisements (loaded only with advertising consent).
7. Data Retention
We retain your account information and link data for as long as your account is active. Click analytics data is retained for up to 24 months. If you delete a link, its associated analytics data is also deleted. You may request deletion of your account and all associated data by contacting us through the contact form.
8. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption for all data in transit, HTTP-only session cookies to prevent XSS attacks, hashed API keys, and rate limiting to prevent abuse. While we take reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction (including under GDPR for EEA residents and UK GDPR for UK residents), you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your account and associated data (right to erasure)
- Object to or restrict processing of your personal data
- Withdraw cookie consent at any time without affecting prior processing
- Export your link data (data portability)
- Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority
To exercise any of these rights, please use our contact form.
10. Children's Privacy
Lynkd is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes to how we use cookies, we will reset your cookie consent so the banner reappears and you can review and re-confirm your preferences. Your continued use of Lynkd after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our cookie practices, please reach out through our contact form.