Policy in regard to cookies

Cookies are IT data, text files in particular, that are stored on an end device and assigned to the use of websites (including the web pages of our service). Cookies usually contain the name of the page they originate from, a time over which they will be retained on the end device, and a unique number.

In the case of our service, the retention time for cookies is no longer than the duration of a given session, i.e. the time of the visit made to us.

Types of cookie

Session cookies are temporary files that remain on the user’s device until the time of logout from the website, or the switching-off of programming (the browser).

Persistent cookies remain on the user’s device for a defined period of time determined in the cookie parameters – until they are removed manually by the user.

Necessary cookies are the ones that allow services made available online to actually be used. Authentication cookies are used where services require such authentication; but there are also cookies helping to ensure security.

Performance cookies allow information to be collected in regard to ways the different pages of a service are being used.

Functional cookies allow for the ”remembering” of settings chosen by the user, as well as for the personalisation of the user interface, e.g. as regards a selected language or region of origin of the user, font size, appearance of the page, and so on.

Why cookies are used

Cookies are used where there is a need to:

  • adapt web-page content to user preferences, and optimise the use of web-pages,
  • generate aggregate, anonymous statistics facilitating understanding of how a page or site is actually being used – with this helping to improve structure and content, even as personal identification of the user is precluded.

Third-party cookies are used for the following purposes:

  • the gathering of statistical data on the popularity or utility of a site or its elements;
  • the gathering of statistical data on users, e.g. as regards age, gender, demographic information, or interests, with the aid of a code from Google Analytics (for more on this, see: https://support.google.com/analytics#topic=1008008);
  • efficacy measurement (tracking) as regards activity being pursued, e.g. in Google’s advertising network, partner programmes and affiliated networks;
  • recalling previous lack of consent when it comes to the future display of certain content.

In our service, the advertising functions from Google Analytics that are in use encompass:

  • Google Display Network Impression reporting,
  • Google Analytics Interest and Demographics reporting,
  • integrated services that require Google Analytics to collect data using cookies relating to advertising and anonymous identifiers.

Information is collected on how a website is looked at and how popular different pages might be, along with data helping to personalise advertising, e.g. on the basis of age, gender and interests. Interest reports are compiled on this basis, as are demographic data. While these reports may be made public in statistical form, neither the data nor the reports allow for specific users to be identified.

Google Analytics advertising features can be blocked at any time by using Ads Settings – a tool designed to block the Google Analytics function, which is accessible at: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/

Cookie settings

It is standard for the programming allowing web-pages to be looked at to engage in the default permitting of cookies being placed on the user’s end device. However, settings of this kind can be altered by the user, so as to block the automatic handling of cookies in the web browser settings, or to require that the user be informed each time cookies are sent on to a device.

Detailed information on possibilities and means by which to service cookies is available in program settings (of browsers). Where a user makes no changes to the browser settings concerning cookies, these files will be brought down on to the user’s end device. Equally, any disabling or changing of default cookie settings may give rise to difficulties with using certain pages.

Cookie settings within browsers: