Cookie information
What are "cookies" and why is it important that you know something about them?
Cookies
A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that a web server sends to a web browser and that is stored by the browser. The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.
Cookies can be either "persistent" cookies or "session" cookies: a persistent cookie is stored in the web browser and remains valid until its set expiry date, unless deleted by the user before the expiry date. Session cookies expire at the end of the user's session, when the web browser is closed.
Cookies usually do not contain any information that personally identifies the user, but the personal information we store may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that the websites you visit store on your computer. On future visits to these websites, these files then allow you to use the same default settings as on your previous visit.
Temporary cookies are deleted immediately after you close the web browser window. These are mainly files used to secure and identify the connection between your computer and the website you visited during a single visit.
Persistent cookies remain stored on the computer even after you close the web browser window. These cookies can then only be read by the server that created them. They are used, for example, to identify you at login (you can stay permanently logged in), to identify the default language a visitor set on a previous visit, to display prices in the currency chosen on a previous visit, to personalise advertising, to track user activity on the website or to pre-fill forms.
Cookies can contain your name or e-mail address only if you have previously provided this information to the relevant website!
Most browsers are set by default to accept cookies automatically. If you do not want any information to be collected about you, you can disable the acceptance of cookies in your browser. If you do not want a particular website to store cookies on your device, we recommend visiting it in your browser's "incognito mode" (Incognito, InPrivate, Private Window, etc.). In this mode the browser does support cookies, but as soon as you close it, all created cookies are deleted. You can also control or delete cookies created in the past at your own discretion.
You can disable the automatic acceptance of cookies in your browser. Instructions on how to refuse the storage of cookies can be found in the help section on your internet browser's settings.
Changing the cookie settings may, however, affect the functionality and smooth loading of the websites you visit. In such a case you will probably have to manually adjust some settings on every visit to a given website, and some services or functions may not work correctly.
How do we use cookies?
These websites use cookies to remember user settings, to better tailor advertising to visitors' interests and for the essential functionality of the websites.
How to control cookies
You can control or delete cookies at your discretion - for details see aboutcookies.org. You can delete all cookies stored on your computer, and you can set most browsers to prevent cookies from being stored. In such a case, however, you will probably have to manually adjust some settings on every visit to a website, and some services and functions will not work.
How to refuse the use of cookies
The use of cookies can be configured using your internet browser. Most browsers accept cookies automatically in their default settings.
You can find current information on blocking and deleting cookies via the following links:
- https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647 (Chrome)
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences (Firefox)
- https://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/cookies/ (Opera)
- https://support.microsoft.com/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies (Internet Explorer)
- https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411 (Safari)
- https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy (Edge)