- What are cookies?
A cookie is simply a text file containing small pieces of data, stored on your computer or other device when you visit a website. Cookies are used to make it easier for you to navigate the websites you visit, but they do not collect information stored on your computer or in files. Cookies ensure maximum service accuracy and thus facilitate the use of a web browser. To protect your privacy, web browsers allow access to a web page for cookies that have already been placed on your computer.
- Why do we use cookies?
We use cookies to learn more about how users navigate our web pages, which gives us the ability to provide you with better information tailored to your individual needs and to improve your experience on our sites. Cookies remember the type of web browser you are using and other browser add-ons installed on your computer. They also remember the choices you make, such as language or region. They are saved as default settings and are used when you visit the site again. These files also allow Internet users to rate web pages and post comments.
- What types of cookies do we use?
Strictly necessary cookies
These are the essential cookies that allow you to move through our Internet sites and use our features. without them, registration and access services cannot be provided. These cookies do not collect information about you that could be used for marketing or to check where you have browsed on the internet.
Performance cookies
These collect information about how you use a website, for example which pages you visit most often. These cookies do not identify you as an individual. All data is collected and aggregated anonymously. It is only used to help us improve the performance of our websites.
Functionality cookies
These cookies allow us to remember the choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) to provide a more personalised online experience. They remember changes made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages that you can customize. They can also allow visitors to watch videos, play games and engage with social tools such as blogs, chat rooms and forums. The information they collect can be made anonymous. It cannot track other sites you visit.
Targeting/advertising cookies
These deliver advertisements or messages relevant to you and your interests. Sometimes targeting cookies are linked to other sites, for example, social media sites.
Temporary or long-term cookies
Within these four types of cookies, cookies are classified as either temporary (“session” cookies) or long-term (“persistent” cookies). “Session” cookies link your actions in a single session. This “session” starts when the web page is opened and ends when it is closed. The cookie is then deleted forever. “Remaining” cookies remain on a computer or other device for a period of time. They are automatically activated when you visit a particular site.
- How are cookies blocked or deleted?
If you decide you are not happy with the use of cookies on this site, you can easily delete them from your browser’s cookie folder. You can also set your browser to block cookies or to send a warning notification before a cookie is stored on your computer. You can find more information about cookies in your browser menu. When you block cookies, you can still use our websites, but this will have a negative impact on the usability of these websites.