What is a Cookie Module?
A cookie is a small data file that the site associates with visitors to facilitate optimal functioning, efficiency and security. Cookies are installed by requests sent by a server to an Internet browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome). These files do not contain software, viruses or spyware and cannot access the information stored on your hard drive. Cookie files do not require personal information in order to be used and in most cases do not personally identify Internet users. The length of time cookies exist can vary significantly depending on the purpose for which they are placed. Cookie files can be deleted by the user at any time via browser settings.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.
There are 2 broad categories of cookies:
- Session cookies - they are temporarily stored in the web browser's cookie folder so that the browser remembers them until the User exits the website or closes the browser window (e.g. when logging in/out of a webmail or social networking account).
- Persistent cookies - they are stored on the hard drive of a computer or equipment (and generally depends on the default lifetime of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the User is currently visiting - known as 'third party cookies' - which can be used anonymously to remember a User's interests so that advertising can be delivered as relevant to the User as possible.
Cahat are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web-browser (the User) to a specific webserver (the Website). If a browser accesses that webserver again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly. Cookies provide Users with a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to provide convenient services to Users: examples - online privacy preferences, site language choices, shopping carts or relevant advertising.
What is the lifetime of a cookie?
Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifetime of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session (session cookies) and are no longer retained once the User has left the website and some cookies are retained and reused each time the User returns to that website (permanent cookies). However, cookies can be deleted by a User at any time via browser settings.
What are third-party cookies?
Certain sections of content on some sites may be provided through third party/suppliers (e.g. a news box, a video or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the site and they are called "third party cookies‿ because they are not placed by the owner of that website. Third party providers must also comply with applicable law and the site owner's Privacy Policy.
How are cookies used by this site?
A visit to this site may place cookies for purposes of:
Site performance cookies;
This type of cookie retains the User's preferences on this site, so there is no need to set them each time you visit the site. Examples: - video player volume settings - video streaming speed that the browser supports.
CooKS visitor analytics;
Each time a User visits this site the analytics software provided by a third party generates a User analytics cookie. This cookie tells us whether you have visited this site before. Your browser will tell us if you have this cookie, and if not, we will generate one. It allows us to track unique Users who visit us and how often they do so.
As long as you are not registered on this site, this cookie cannot be used to identify individuals, they are only used for statistical purposes. If you are registered we may also know the details you have provided to us, such as your email address and username - these are subject to privacy and the provisions of the Privacy Policy as well as the provisions of current legislation on the protection of personal data.
Cookies for geotargeting;
These cookies are used by software that determines which country you are from. It is completely anonymous and is only used to target content - even when you are on our English page or in another language you receive the same ad.
Registration cookies;
When you register on a site, a cookie is generated to let you know whether you are registered or not. Our servers use these cookies to show which account you are registered with and whether you have permission for a particular service. It also allows us to associate any comments you post on the site with your username. If you have not selected "keep me logged in‿, this cookie will be deleted automatically when you close your browser or computer.
Advertising cookies;
These cookies allow us to find out whether or not you have viewed an online advertisement, what type of advertisement it is and how long it has been since you saw the advertisement. These cookies are also used to target online advertising. Cookies belonging to a third party may also be used for better targeting of advertising, for example to show advertisements about holidays, if the User has recently visited an article on the site about holidays. These cookies are anonymous, they store information about the content viewed, not about users.
Other third party cookies
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies in order to track the success of an application or to customize an application. Due to the way we use it, this site cannot access these cookies, just as third parties cannot access cookies held by this site. For example, when you share an article using the social media button on this site, that social network will record your activity.
What kind of information is stored and accessed through cookies?
Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognise a browser. The webserver will recognise the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted. The cookie stores important information that enhances the web browsing experience (e.g. settings of the language in which you want to access a site, keeping a user logged into a webmail account, online banking security, keeping products in your shopping cart).
Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies are at the heart of the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience tailored to the preferences and interests of each User. Refusing or disabling cookies may make some sites unusable. Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising - just that it will no longer be able to take into account your preferences and interests as evidenced by your browsing behaviour.
Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require a user to log in via an account):
Content and services tailored to User preferences - news categories, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment sites and travel services.
Offers tailored to Users' interests - password retention, language preferences (e.g. displaying search results in Romanian).
Retain child protection filters on Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions).
Limiting how often ads are shown - limiting the number of times an ad is shown to a particular User on a site.
Provide more relevant advertising to the User.
Measurement, optimization and analytics features - such as confirming a certain level of traffic to a website, what type of content is being viewed and how a User arrives at a website (e.g. via search engines, directly, from other websites, etc.) Websites run these analytics on their usage to improve websites for the benefit of Users.
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 or run themselves. Consequently, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks to run or replicate themselves again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses. Cookies can however be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about Users' browsing preferences and history, both on a particular site and on several other sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this fact and consistently flag cookies for deletion as part of anti-virus/anti-spyware deletion/scanning procedures. Generally browsers have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a particular site.
Other security issues related to cookies
As identity protection is very valuable and is the right of every Internet User, it is advisable to know what possible problems cookies can create. Because cookies constantly transmit information back and forth between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorised person intervenes in the data transmission path, the information contained in the cookie can be intercepted. Although very rare, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g. an unsecured WiFi network).
Other cookie-based attacks involve wrong cookie settings on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information to gain unauthorised access to certain websites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate method of protecting 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 sites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable. Disabling cookies will not allow the User access to the most popular and used sites including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.
Here are a few tips to make sure you're browsing worry-free but with cookies:
Customise your browser's cookie settings to reflect a level of cookie security that is comfortable for you.
If you don't mind cookies and you are the only person using your computer, you can set long expiry times for storing browsing history and personal access data.
If you share access to your computer, you may consider setting your browser to delete individual browsing data each time you close the browser. This is a variant of accessing sites that place cookies and deleting any visit data when you close your browsing session.
Install and constantly update your anti-spyware applications.
Many spyware detection and prevention applications include detection of attacks on websites. This prevents the browser from accessing websites that could 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 can't be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and biggest sites on the Internet - local or international. With a clear understanding of how they work and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures so you can surf the internet with confidence.
How can I stop cookies?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies may make certain sites unusable 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 your browser to stop accepting cookies or you can set your browser to accept cookies from a specific site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments. All modern browsers offer the possibility 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, otherwise you can use the browser's "help‿ option for more details.
Cookiesettings in Internet Explorerhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/delete-manage-cookies#ie=ie-11
Cookiesettings in Mozillahttps://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences
Cookiesettings in Chromehttps://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en
Cookiesettings in Safarihttps://support.apple.com/kb/ph17191?locale=en_US
Useful links:
If you want to find out more about cookies and what they are used for, we recommend the following links:
Microsoft Cookies guide (http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.mspx)
All About Cookies (http://www.allaboutcookies.org/)
