For the proper functioning and improvement of any website, including this one, a small amount of information, known as “cookies,” is stored on your computer. In order to enhance your user experience, most websites use this practice. We are obligated to inform you about this and request your consent. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies. Blocking cookies will still allow you to use the site, but some of its features may be disabled.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are pieces of information that are stored on your computer when you visit websites. They typically store your preferences, website settings, such as preferred language or address. When you revisit the same website, your web browser sends back the cookies belonging to that site. This allows the site to display information tailored to your needs.
Cookies can store various information, including personal data such as your name and/or email address, but only if you enable it. Websites cannot access information or files on your computer without your permission. You can change your Internet browser settings – you choose whether to accept the storage of cookies, delete saved cookies automatically upon closing the Internet browser, etc.
Types of Cookies
Duration:
- Temporary cookies – These cookies have a short lifespan and are deleted when you close the browser (or after the session ends).
- Persistent cookies – This category includes all cookies that remain on your device until you delete them or until your browser does, depending on the cookie expiration date (e.g., language settings, username and password, or cookie settings), so you don’t have to re-select them on each subsequent visit.
Origin:
- First-party cookies – These cookies are directly placed on your device by the website you are visiting. Only that website can read them.
- Third-party cookies – These are cookies that are not placed on your device by the website you are visiting, but by a third party such as advertisers or analytical services (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google Analytics).
Purpose:
- Mandatory cookies – These cookies are essential for browsing the website and using its basic features, such as accessing secure parts of the website. Since these cookies are necessary for the website to function, website owners do not need user consent to place necessary cookies on their devices.
- Preference cookies – Also known as “functional cookies,” these cookies allow the website to remember choices you have made in the past, such as your preferred language, region for receiving weather forecasts, or your username and password so that you can automatically log in.
- Statistical cookies – Also known as “performance cookies,” these cookies collect information about how you use the website, such as pages you have visited and links you have clicked. None of this data can be used to identify you. All such data is aggregated and, therefore, anonymized. Their sole purpose is to improve website functionality. This includes third-party analytical service cookies, as long as the cookies are exclusively for the use of the owner of the visited website.
- Marketing cookies – These cookies track your online activity to help advertisers provide more relevant advertising or limit how many times you see a particular ad. These cookies may share this information with other organizations or advertisers.
Managing and Deleting Cookies
You can configure your web browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies (except necessary cookies), or notify you when a cookie arrives on your device. Each web browser is different, so use the “Help” menu of your browser to change cookie settings. For the most commonly used browsers, the cookie management menu items are as follows:
Google Analytics provides additional options to opt-out of Google Analytics: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en-GB.
