Cookie policy

What are Cookies?

A cookie is a small file made up of letters and numbers that is stored on the computer, mobile device or other equipment of a user from which the internet is accessed. The cookie is installed at the request of a web server to a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely passive (it does not contain software programs, viruses or spyware and cannot access information from the user’s hard drive).

What are Cookies used for?

These files make it possible to recognise the user’s device and display content in a relevant way, adapted to the user’s preferences. Cookies ensure users a pleasant browsing experience and support our efforts to provide comfortable services to users.

What Cookies do we use?

We use two types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are temporary files that remain on the user’s device until the session ends or the application (web browser) is closed. Persistent cookies remain on the user’s device for a period set in the cookie parameters or until they are manually deleted by the user.

Examples of cookies used by www [site]

COOKIE	PROVIDER	GENERAL PURPOSE	COOKIE LIFETIME
_gat_gtag_UA_	Google Analytics	This cookie collects information about how users use the website.	1 minute
_ga	Google Analytics	This cookie is used to distinguish users. It is updated each time data is sent to Google Analytics.	2 years
_gid	Google Analytics	This cookie is used to distinguish users. It is updated each time data is sent to Google Analytics.	24 hours

For complete information about cookies, you can visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

For what purposes are cookies used through our web pages?

Cookies are used to provide users of these websites with a better browsing experience and services tailored to the needs and interests of each user, such as:

– Customising certain settings such as the language in which a site is displayed, the currency in which prices and fees are shown, keeping options for various products / services in the shopping cart / forms.

– Improving the use of the websites, including by identifying certain errors that occur during their visit / use by users.

– Providing anonymous statistics on how these web pages are used by [site], as their owner.

– Anticipating certain goods / services that will be offered to users in the future through these websites.

How are these cookies used by our Websites?

By using / visiting the website, the following types of cookies can be placed:

– Necessary cookies or website performance cookies

– User analytics / statistics cookies

– Geotargeting cookies

– Registration cookies

– Marketing / advertising cookies

Necessary cookies or website performance cookies

These cookies store the preferences of users of these web pages so that they do not have to be set each time the site is visited.

User analytics / statistics cookies

These cookies let us know whether a user of our web pages has visited the site before. These cookies are used only for statistical purposes.

If you have registered before, we may know the details you have provided such as your email address or username – these are subject to confidentiality and the provisions of the Privacy Policy as well as the applicable legal provisions on the protection of personal data.

Geotargeting cookies

These are used by software that determines the country of origin of the user of the web pages. You will receive the same ads regardless of the selected language.

Registration cookies

When you register on our websites, we generate a cookie that tells us whether you are registered or not. Our servers use these cookies to show us the account you are logged in with and whether you have permission to access a particular service.

They also allow us to associate any comment you post on our websites with your username.

If you did not select “Keep me logged in”, this cookie will be deleted automatically when you close the browser or the computer.

Marketing / advertising cookies

These cookies allow us to know whether you have seen an online ad or not, what type of ad it was and how long it has been since you saw the advertising message.

They are therefore also used to target online advertising. We may also use third-party cookies for better targeting of advertising.

These cookies are anonymous, they do not store information about the user, only about the content viewed.

Do Cookies contain personal data?

Cookies themselves do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify internet users. Personal data collected through the use of Cookies may only be collected to facilitate certain functionalities for the user. Such data is encrypted in a way that prevents unauthorised access to it.

Deleting Cookies

In general, an application used to access web pages allows cookies to be saved to the device by default. These settings can be changed so that the automatic management of cookies is blocked by the web browser, or the user is informed each time cookies are sent to their device. Detailed information about the options and ways of managing cookies can be found in the settings area of the application (web browser). Limiting the use of cookies may affect certain functionalities of the web page.

All modern browsers offer the option to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in the “options” or “preferences” menu of your browser.

Since the installation of cookies and other tracking systems by third-party services cannot be technically controlled by the owner (———-), any specific reference to these cookies or tracking systems installed by third parties is indicative.

Why are cookies important for the Internet?

Cookies are central to the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a user-friendly browsing experience tailored to the preferences and interests of each user. Refusing or disabling cookies may make some websites unusable. Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising, only that it will no longer take into account your preferences and interests as reflected by your browsing behaviour.

Security and privacy issues

Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed and cannot auto-run. Consequently, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks to run or replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses. However, cookies can be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a specific site and on multiple other sites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many antispyware products are aware of this and consistently flag cookies to be deleted during anti-virus/anti-spyware scanning and cleaning procedures.

In general, browsers have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, cookie lifetime and automatic deletion after the user has visited a certain site. Other security issues related to cookies:

Because protecting identity is very valuable and represents the right of every internet user, it is important to know what potential problems cookies can create. Since information is constantly exchanged in both directions between the browser and the website through them, if an attacker or unauthorised person intervenes during the data transfer, the information contained in the cookie can be intercepted.

Although this is rare, it can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (for example, an unsecured WiFi network). Other attacks based on cookies involve incorrect cookie settings on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can exploit this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information over unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information to gain unauthorised access to certain websites. It is very important to choose the most appropriate way to protect your personal information.

Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies

Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest websites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user to access the most popular and widely used sites, including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.

Here are some tips to help you browse worry-free while still using cookies:

Adjust your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect a level of security that you are comfortable with for cookie use.

If you are not bothered by cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration times for storing your browsing history and personal access data.

If you share access to your computer, you may want to set your browser to delete individual browsing data every time you close the browser. This is a way to access sites that place cookies and to delete any visiting information when you close the browsing session.

Install and constantly update antispyware applications.

Many antispyware detection and prevention applications include site attack detection. This prevents the browser from accessing websites that might exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software. Make sure your browser is always up to date. Many cookie-based attacks exploit weaknesses in older browser versions.

Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest local or international websites. With a clear understanding of how they work and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures so that you can browse the internet with confidence.

Disabling and refusing to receive cookies may make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive/see online advertising.

It is possible to set the browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted, or you can set the browser to accept cookies from a particular site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.

All modern browsers allow you to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in the options or preferences menu of your browser. To understand these settings, the following links may be useful, or you can use the help option of your browser for more details.

Useful links

If you want to find out more about cookies and how they are used, we recommend the following links:

Microsoft Cookies guide

All About Cookies

http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ro/

For any additional questions regarding how cookies are used through our web pages, please send us an email at [email]