What are cookies?

Cookies are IT data, in particular text files, stored on the users’ devices for the use of websites. These data allow the website to recognise the user’s device and display a website tailored to the user’s individual preferences accordingly. “Cookies” usually contain the name of the website from which they originate, the length of time they are stored on the device and a unique number.

What do we use cookies for?

Cookies are used to adapt the content of websites to the user’s preferences and to optimise the use of websites. They are also used to compile anonymous, aggregated statistics that help us understand how the user uses the websites, which enables us to improve their structure and content, excluding the personal identification of the user.

What cookies do we use?

In principle, two types of cookies are used – “session” and “permanent” cookies. The first are temporary files that remain on the user’s device until the user logs out of the website or shuts down the software (web browser). “Permanent” files remain on the user’s device for the time specified in the parameters of the “cookies” or until they are manually deleted by the user.
Cookies used by the website operator’s partners are subject to their own privacy policies.

There is a detailed breakdown of cookies, in terms of:

Due to the necessity for the service:

Necessary – absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the site or the functionality the user wishes to use

Functional – These are important for the operation of the service:

• They are used to enrich the functionality of the website, without them the website will work correctly, but will not be adapted to the user’s preferences,
• they serve to ensure a high level of functionality of the website, without the settings stored in the cookies, the level of functionality of the website may be reduced, but should not prevent the user from using it completely,
• serve very important functionalities of the website, their blocking will result in the selected functions not working properly.

Business – Enable the business model based on which the site is provided, their blocking will not make the entire functionality of the site unavailable but may reduce the level of service provision due to the site owner’s inability to realise revenue to subsidise the operation of the site. Advertising cookies, for example, fall into this category.

Due to the length of time cookies will be stored on the user’s terminal equipment.

Session cookies – cookies which are placed for the duration of the browser (session) and are deleted when the browser is closed
Persistent cookies – are not deleted when the browser is closed, and remain on the user’s device for a limited or unlimited period of time, depending on the site owner’s settings.

By origin – the service administrator who manages the cookies.

First party cookies – cookies placed directly by the owner of a website which has been visited.
Third-party cookies – cookies placed by external parties whose website components have been called up by the website owner.

Please note: cookies can be triggered by the administrator using scripts, components that are located on the partner’s servers, located in a different location – a different country or even a completely different jurisdiction. If the site administrator calls up components of the website from outside the administrator’s system, a different standard cookie policy than the privacy / cookie policy of the site administrator may apply.

Purpose
Website configuration – to set up the functions and services on the website
Site security and reliability – to verify the authenticity and optimise site performance
Authentication – to inform you when you are logged in so that the website can display relevant information and functions
Session status – to record information about how users use the site. These may relate to the most frequently visited pages or possible error messages displayed on certain pages. Cookies for storing so-called “session status” help to improve services and enhance the browsing experience.
Processes – enable the website itself and the functions available on it to operate smoothly
Ads – display ads that are more interesting to users and more valuable to publishers and advertisers, personalise ads, may also be used to display ads outside of the website pages (domains)
Location – allows the information displayed to be tailored to the user’s location
Analysis and research, audience auditing – allow site owners to better understand their users’ preferences and, through analysis, improve and develop products and services. Typically, the website owner or research company collects information anonymously and processes trend data without identifying the personal data of individual users.

Due to the intrusion into the user’s privacy

Harmless – Includes cookies:

• necessary for the proper functioning of the website
• needed to enable the functionality of the website, but which has nothing to do with tracking the user

Research – used to track users, but does not include information to identify a specific user

Do cookies contain personal data?

Personal data collected using cookies may only be collected for the purpose of performing certain functions for user. Such data is encrypted to prevent unauthorised access.

Deletion of cookies

By default, web browsing software allows cookies to be placed on the device. These settings can be changed to block the automatic handling of cookies in the browser settings or to inform the user each time they are sent to the device. Detailed information on the possibility and handling of cookies is available in the settings of the software (web browser).
Restricting the use of cookies, may affect some of the functionality available on the website.