Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how Bridgenetic Modern Payment Infrastructure ("Bridgenetic," "we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our website, access our merchant dashboard, or interact with our payment infrastructure platform (collectively, the "Platform"). This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which provides comprehensive information about how we handle your personal data.

This Cookie Policy is drafted in compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, and applicable international best practices for transparency in data collection.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better user experience, and supply information to website operators. Cookies can be "persistent" (remaining on your device until deleted or expired) or "session-based" (deleted when you close your browser).

Similar technologies include web beacons, pixels, local storage, and session storage, which serve comparable purposes in tracking and functionality.

3. How We Use Cookies

Bridgenetic uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

• Authentication and Security: To verify your identity, maintain your login session, and protect against unauthorized access to your merchant account.
• Platform Functionality: To remember your preferences, settings, and configurations across sessions.
• Performance and Analytics: To understand how users interact with our platform, identify performance issues, and improve our services.
• Fraud Prevention: To detect and prevent fraudulent activity, suspicious login attempts, and unauthorized API usage.

4. Types of Cookies We Use

4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the Platform to function properly. They enable core features such as authentication, session management, and security. Without these cookies, the Platform cannot operate as intended. These cookies do not require your consent as they are necessary for service delivery.

• Session Cookies: Maintain your authenticated session while you use the merchant dashboard or admin panel.
• CSRF Tokens: Protect against cross-site request forgery attacks on form submissions and API calls.
• Security Cookies: Detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts and suspicious activity.
• Load Balancing: Distribute traffic across our servers to ensure optimal performance and availability.

4.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization. They remember choices you make (such as language preferences, timezone settings, or dashboard layout) and provide improved, personalized features.

• Preference Cookies: Store your dashboard display preferences, notification settings, and UI configurations.
• Language Cookies: Remember your preferred language for platform communications.
• Feature Cookies: Track which features you have accessed to provide contextual help and onboarding guidance.

4.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies

These cookies collect information about how you use our Platform, including which pages you visit most often, how you navigate between features, and whether you encounter any errors. This information helps us improve the Platform's performance and user experience.

• Page View Tracking: Monitor which pages and features are most frequently accessed.
• Error Monitoring: Detect and log client-side errors to improve platform stability.
• Performance Metrics: Measure page load times, API response times, and overall platform responsiveness.
• Usage Patterns: Understand user workflows to optimize navigation and feature placement.

4.4 Security and Fraud Detection Cookies

Given the financial nature of our services, we employ specialized cookies for security purposes:

• Device Fingerprinting: Identify trusted devices and flag unrecognized access attempts.
• Rate Limiting: Track request patterns to prevent abuse and denial-of-service attacks.
• Anomaly Detection: Monitor for unusual account activity that may indicate compromise.

5. Third-Party Cookies

We may allow limited third-party services to place cookies on your device when you use our Platform. These third parties include:

• Analytics Providers: To help us understand platform usage and improve our services.
• Security Services: To provide additional layers of fraud detection and bot protection.
• Infrastructure Providers: Content delivery networks (CDNs) that optimize platform performance.

We do not allow third-party advertising cookies on our Platform. We do not sell or share cookie data with advertisers or data brokers.

6. Cookie Retention Periods

The retention period for cookies varies based on their purpose:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser or after your session expires (typically 2 hours of inactivity).
• Authentication Cookies: Retained for up to 30 days if you select "Remember Me" during login.
• Preference Cookies: Retained for up to 12 months or until you clear your browser data.
• Analytics Cookies: Retained for up to 24 months from your last interaction.
• Security Cookies: Retained for up to 6 months to maintain device trust records.

7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for managing cookies:

7.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:

• View and delete existing cookies stored on your device.
• Block all cookies or only third-party cookies.
• Set your browser to notify you when a cookie is being placed.
• Configure exceptions for specific websites.

Please note that blocking essential cookies will prevent you from accessing the merchant dashboard and using our payment services.

7.2 Platform Settings

Where applicable, you can manage certain cookie preferences through your account settings in the merchant dashboard.

8. Impact of Disabling Cookies

If you choose to disable or block cookies, please be aware that:

• You will not be able to log in to your merchant dashboard or access authenticated features.
• API key management and webhook configuration may not function correctly.
• Your preferences and settings will not be remembered between sessions.
• Some security features may be impaired, potentially increasing risk to your account.

9. Cookies and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA)

Under the NDPA 2023 and NDPR, the use of cookies constitutes processing of personal data where the cookies collect or store information that can identify you. We process cookie data based on the following legal grounds:

• Legitimate Interest: For strictly necessary and security cookies that are essential to platform operation.
• Consent: For analytics and non-essential functional cookies, where required.
• Contractual Necessity: For cookies required to deliver the services you have requested.

10. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not wish to be tracked. As there is no universally accepted standard for how to respond to DNT signals, our Platform does not currently respond to DNT browser signals. However, you can manage your tracking preferences using the cookie controls described in this policy.

11. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will notify you through a prominent notice on our Platform or via email. The "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this policy indicates when it was last revised.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://bridgenetic.com

You may also contact the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) if you have concerns about how we handle your data through cookies.

Last updated: May 2026