Privacy policy
This website uses its own cookies and third-party cookies to provide visitors with a better browsing experience and services tailored to each user’s needs and interests.
In what we call “web 2.0”, cookies play an important role in facilitating access to and delivery of the many services users enjoy on the internet, such as:
• Customizing certain settings such as: the language in which a site is displayed, the currency used to show certain prices or fees, saving options for various products (sizes, other details, etc.) in the shopping cart (and remembering these options) – thus creating the flexibility of the “shopping cart” (accessing previous preferences using the “back” and “forward” buttons)
• Cookies provide website owners with valuable feedback on how their sites are used by visitors, so they can make them even more efficient and accessible.
• They allow multimedia or other types of applications from other websites to be included within a certain site to create a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience;
• They improve the efficiency of online advertising.
What is a “cookie”?
An “Internet Cookie” (also known as a “browser cookie”, “HTTP cookie”, or simply “cookie”) is a small file made up of letters and numbers that will be stored on a user’s computer, mobile device, or other equipment used to access the Internet.
The cookie is installed by a request issued by a web server to a browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (it does not contain software programs, viruses, or spyware and cannot access information on the user’s hard drive).
A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and the content or value of the cookie. Moreover, the lifetime of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that web server.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify internet users.
There are 2 major categories of cookies:
Session cookies – these are stored temporarily in the browser’s cookie folder so it remembers them until the user leaves the website or closes the browser window (e.g., when logging in/out of a webmail account or social networks).
Persistent cookies – these are stored on a computer or device’s hard drive (and generally depend on the preset lifetime of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a different website than the one the user is visiting at that time – known as ‘third-party cookies’ – which can be used anonymously to remember a user’s interests so that the most relevant advertising can be delivered.
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web browser (the user) to a particular web server (the website). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the already stored information and react accordingly. Cookies ensure users have a pleasant browsing experience and support many websites’ efforts to provide convenient services: e.g., online privacy preferences, site language options, shopping carts, or relevant advertising.
What is the lifetime of a cookie?
Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifetime of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session (session cookies) and are not retained once the user leaves the website, while others are retained and reused each time the user returns to that website (‘persistent cookies’). However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time via the browser settings.
What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies?
Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognize a browser. The web server will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.
The cookie stores important information that improves the Internet browsing experience (e.g., language settings for accessing a website; keeping a user logged into a webmail account; online banking security; keeping products in the shopping cart)
Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed or run automatically. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks to run or replicate again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Here are a few tips that can help you browse worry-free while still using cookies:
• Customize your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect a comfortable level of cookie security for you.
• If cookies don’t bother you and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration periods for storing browsing history and personal access data.
• If you share access to the computer, you may consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data each time you close the browser. This is a way to access sites that place cookies and delete any visit information when ending the browsing session.
• Install and constantly update antispyware applications.
Many spyware detection and prevention applications include detection of attacks on websites. This prevents the browser from accessing websites that might exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software.
How can I stop cookies?
Disabling and refusing to accept cookies can make certain sites impractical or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean you will no longer receive/see online advertising.
It is possible to set your browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted, or you can set your browser to accept cookies from a specific site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.
All modern browsers offer the ability to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in “options” or in your browser’s “preferences” menu.
To understand these settings, the following links may be helpful; otherwise, you can use your browser’s “help” option for more details.
Cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Cookie settings in Firefox
Cookie settings in Chrome
Cookie settings in Safari
For settings of third-party cookies, you can also consult the website:
About online behavioral advertising
Useful links
If you want to find out more information about cookies and what they are used for, we recommend the following links:
Microsoft Cookies guide
All About Cookies
