What is a cookie
Cookies are small text files that are downloaded to a user's device when they visit a website. They allow the recognition of the user's device and can remember their settings or past actions. For example, cookies enable an online store to remember previous purchases or language settings of the website, thereby contributing to a more user-friendly browsing experience.
Privacy and Cookies
Cookies can also be used to analyze website traffic, perform advanced advertising techniques, and track individual users across different websites to create a profile that may reveal intimate details of their life. In practice, this often happens covertly, which is why cookies can be considered an invasion of privacy. For this reason, new legislation restricts the use of cookies. They are not banned but are subject to stricter usage rules. The key point is that website users must be informed about cookies and offered a choice on whether they want the site to track their online activity in this way.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Below is a list of all cookies that may (but not necessarily will) appear on websites. These cookies are automatically allowed because websites cannot function without them. They are essential for navigation and ensure the basic functionality of the website.
| Cookies | Lifetime | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID, PHPSESSIONID, ASPSESSIONID, etc. | While you are on the website. Deleted upon exit or logout. | Session cookies track your activity on the website. They ensure the site remembers what you entered or which subpages you visited. Without them, each subpage would treat you as a new visitor. These cookies do not collect personal data, do not identify you, and are not linked to any other information stored about you. |
Analytics Cookies
To improve website content and services, tools may be used to monitor users' browsing behavior during their visit—e.g., Google Analytics. These cookies collect anonymous data, which is analyzed together with data from other visitors and used to understand how the website is being used.
| Group | Cookies | Lifetime | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | _ga | 2 years | Used by Google Analytics to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. |
| Google Analytics | ga* | 1 year | Used to maintain session state, meaning to preserve or remember certain user data. |
| Google Analytics | _gid | 1 day | Used by Google Analytics to store and update a unique value for each visited page. |
| Google Analytics | gat_gtag_UA* | 1 minute | Set by Google Analytics to store a unique user ID. |
Advertising Cookies
Advertising cookies play an important role in digital marketing by tracking user behavior and delivering personalized ads via the user’s web browser. These are classified as first-party or third-party cookies, each serving a specific purpose for online advertisers.
| Group | Cookies | Lifetime | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| _fbp | 3 months | This cookie tracks visits across different websites and reports back to Facebook. Facebook can then use this data to better understand the user and display more relevant ads. The _fbp cookie does not collect personally identifiable data and is only set by Facebook to send data back to itself. |
The cookies we use on our website do not collect additional personal information you have not consented to, nor any data that could personally identify you. Cookies cannot damage your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. They enable our websites to function and help us understand which information is most useful to our visitors.
Consent
The requirements for valid consent are governed by general data protection laws, which also apply when assessing the validity of a user’s or subscriber’s consent to the installation of cookies on their device. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) defines consent as a freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes, by which they, through a statement or a clear affirmative action, agree to the processing of their personal data.
Managing and Deleting Cookies
If you want to change how cookies are used in your browser—including blocking or deleting them—you can do so by changing the browser settings accordingly. Most browsers allow you to accept or reject all cookies, accept only certain types, or notify you when a website wants to store a cookie. You can also easily delete the cookies already saved by your browser.
If you change or delete your browser’s cookie file, upgrade or change your browser or device, you may need to disable cookies again. The procedure for managing and deleting cookies varies from browser to browser. If you need help, check your browser’s user help documentation.