1. What is a cookie

Cookies are usually small text files, given ID tags that are stored on your computer’s browser directory or program data subfolders. Cookies are created when you use your browser to visit a website that uses cookies to keep track of your movements within the site, help you resume where you left off, remember your registered login, theme selection, preferences, and other customization functions.The website stores a corresponding file(with same ID tag)to the one they set in your browser and in this file they can track and keep information on your movements within the site and any information you may have voluntarily given while visiting the website, such as email address.

Cookies are often indispensable for websites that have huge databases, need logins, have customizable themes, other advanced features.

Cookies usually don’t contain much information except for the url of the website that created the cookie, the duration of the cookie’s abilities and effects, and a random number. Due to the little amount of information a cookie contains, it usually cannot be used to reveal your identity or personally identifying information.However, marketing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and cookies in some cases can be agressively used to create a profile of your surfing habits.

 

2. What are the types of cookies and what are they used for

Session cookies
They are used for example on e-commerce websites so you can continue browsing without losing what you put in your cart. Session cookies also help to improve site load time. They expire when you close your browser.

Permanent cookies
They persist even when the browser is closed. They have an expiration date though and by law, you can’t make them last more than 6 months. They’re used to remember your passwords and login info so you don’t have to re-enter them every time. Furthermore, it can be used for personalization and to store the preferences of visitors, such as selected language or currency.

Third-party cookies
Cookies attributes usually corresponds to the website domain they are on. Not for third-party cookies, they are installed by third-party websites, such as advertisers. They gather data about your browsing habits, and allow them to track you across multiple websites and they can track you through different websites. Through them it is possible to determine which pages you visit, in what order and how long you stay in them. Most often used to analyze the visits and the interests of consumers on a particular topic.

 

We use services from the following partners:

Google Analytics
We use the service Google Analytics, property of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA („Google“),  through which we collect and process information about your physical location and other technical information about your visit to the Website. The information, collected by Google in relation to the use of the Website includes the Internet Protocol (IP) address, used to connect your computer or device to the Internet, the “clicks” to, through and from our Website (including their date and time), information about the interaction with the Website (like possible views, clicks and mouse movements) Google Analytics uses different technologies to determine the location, including the IP address, GPS and other sensors, which could, for example, supply Google with information about devices in close proximity, Wi-Fi hotspots and charging status. This information will be transferred to a Google server in the USA, where it will be stored and analyzed. The results will be transferred to us in anonymous form. In this process, the data collected from you will not be associated with your full IP address. We have activated the IP Anonymization of Google Analytics, offered by Google on our website, so that the last 8 bits (IPv4) or the last 80 bits (IPv6) of your IP address will be erased. For more information, see the General Conditions and Privacy Policy of Google LLC. Please, consult Google’s page periodically about all changes or updates to these conditions and to the information, gathered through Google Analytics.

Facebook Pixel
We use Facebook Pixel – a tool operated by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA, or, if you are in the EU, by Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbor, Dublin 2, Ireland (Facebook), on our website for the purpose of analyzing, optimizing and economically operating the Website. With the help of Facebook Pixel, Facebook has the ability to identify visitors to our site as a target group for displaying ads on Facebook. Accordingly, we use Facebook Pixel to display ads that we post on Facebook to social network users who are interested in our website. That means that with the help of Facebook Pixel, we want to make sure that our Facebook ads are relevant to the potential interest of users and that they are not annoying. We may also use Facebook Pixel to track the effectiveness of the ads on Facebook for statistical and market research purposes, following if users have been redirected to our page after clicking on a Facebook ad (so-called \”conversion\” or \”visitor’s interaction\” \”). In this case, the processing is with a legal basis of Art. 6, para 1, sentence 1, letter a) of the GDPR. Facebook Pixel is triggered directly by Facebook when you visit our website and may store a cookie on your device. If, after that, you log in to Facebook or visit Facebook, your visit to our page will be recorded while logged in. The information collected for you is anonymous to us, so we are not provided with any user identity information. However, Facebook stores and processes the data so that it can be linked to the corresponding user profile. That means that user profiles can be created from the processed data. Facebook processes the data in accordance with Facebook\’s Privacy Policy. You can find more information about how Facebook Pixel works and how in general ads are displayed on Facebook in Facebook Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy. If you do not want to participate in the tracking process, you can reject the cookie settings required for this purpose by using your browser settings and disable the automatic cookie saving completely.

 

3. How do we use cookies

We offer certain site features, services, applications, and tools that are available only through the use of cookies. You’re always free to block, delete, or disable them if your browser, installed application, or device so permits. However, if you decline cookies or other similar technologies, you may not be able to take advantage of certain site features, services, applications, or tools. You may also be required to re-enter your password more frequently during your browsing session.

 

4. What can not cookies do

Cookies are plain text files. They are not compiled so they cannot execute functions or make copies of themselves. They cannot browse through or scan your computer or otherwise snoop on you or dig for private information on your hard disk.

Because cookies are just harmless files, or keys, they cannot look into your computer and find out information about you, your family, or read any material kept on your hard-drive. Cookies simply unlock a computer’s memory and allow a website to recognise users when they return to a site by opening doors to different content or services.

 

5. What can I do to manage cookies stored on my computer

Cookies can be disabled or removed by tools that are available in most commercial browsers. The preferences for each browser you use will need to be set separately and different browsers offer different functionality and options. For more information on how you can block, delete, or disable cookies, please review your browser or device settings.

Cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Cookie settings in Firefox
Cookie settings in Chrome
Cookie settings in Safari web and iOS.

If you are most concerned about third-party ad cookies generated by advertisers, you can exclude them from here: Your Online Choices site.
Please remember that if you choose to block or disable cookies, some sections of our site may not work properly.

 

Last update: 08.05.2020