Cookies Policy
Our website uses cookies. Our cookies do not contain any information that personally identifies you but are essential for helping us deliver a high quality website. By using our website you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with the terms outlined on this page.
What are cookies?
A cookie is a file containing an identifier that is sent by a web server to a web browser and stored by the browser when you access a website. A browser is the program you use to access a website (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari for example). The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a web page from the server.
Cookies can be used by web servers to identity and track users as they navigate to different pages on a website. These are called session cookies and they expire after a browser session (when browser is closed). They are not stored long-term. Cookies can also be used to identify users returning to a website. These are called persistent (tracking) cookies and they are stored between browser sessions. They are useful for example to remember user preferences or to target advertising in a later session.
Session and persistent cookies may be set by the website itself (first-party cookies) or by a third party operating through that website (Google Analytics for example). In any case, you can check client-side cookies easily using the Firefox browser (example for Firefox, version 15.0.1). For this purpose select from menu Tools/Page Info/Security/View Cookies. You can then see a list of all the cookies installed by the website.
Cookies on our website
We use session cookies and persistent cookies on this website.
The cookies listed below might be sent to your browser.
First-party cookies
- PHPSESSID: Session cookie that allows to measure if certain users are logged in. This normally does not apply to you as a standard web user. However PHPSESSID still needs to be set, so the function is enabled for other users.
Third-party cookies
Google Analytics
- _utma: Persistent cookie that identifies user each time he/she visits a site. The cookie expires after two years.
- _utmb: Persistent cookie that identifies session start (when you enter website). The cookie expires after 30 minutes of inactivity.
- _utmc: Session cookie that identifies session end (when you leave website). The cookie expires when you close the browser.
- _utmz: Persistent cookie that stores whether the visitor came from a search engine, search keyword, or a link. The cookie expires after six months.
For more in depth information about Google's use of cookies, please refer to the following page http://www.google.com/policies/privacy.
How we use cookies
Cookies do not contain any information that personally identifies you. However, we might link cookie information to personal information that we store about you. We might do this for the following reasons:
- To recognise your computer when you visit our website.
- To track you as you navigate our website and to enable the use of the specific features on our website.
- To improve the website's usability.
- To analyse the use of our website.
- To administrate this website.
- To prevent fraud and improve the security of the website.
- To personalise our website for you (advertisements which may be of particular interest to you etc.).
How third parties might use cookies
When you use our website third party cookies might also be stored in your browser. Third parties may use the information they obtain from use of their cookies for:
- To generate statistical and other information about a website's use.
- Create reports of statistical data obtained.
- To track your browser across multiple websites.
- To build a profile of your web use.
- To target advertisements which may be of particular interest to you.
Blocking cookies
Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies.
- In Firefox (version 15.0.1) select from menu Tools/Options/Privacy. Under 'History' select 'Use custom settings for history' from drop-down and disable 'Accept cookies from sites' before pressing 'OK'.
- In Internet Explorer (version 9) you can refuse all cookies selecting from menu Tools/Internet Options/Privacy. Then use sliding selector to either 'Block all cookies' or to choose a different privacy option.
Beware that blocking cookies may have a negative impact on the usability of a website.
Deleting cookies
You can also delete cookies already stored on your computer.
- In Firefox (version 15.0.1) select from menu Tools/Page Info/Security/View Cookies. You can then see a list of all the cookies installed by the website and either select on to be deleted or delete all cookies in one go.
- In Internet Explorer (version 9 on a PC with Windows 7) click onto computer's Start Menu/Control Panel/Network and Internet/Internet Options. Under 'Browsing history' click onto 'Delete'. Tick 'Cookies' and press again 'Delete'.
Beware that deleting cookies may have a negative impact on the usability of a website.
Questions/concerns?
If you have any questions and/or concerns about our cookies or this cookies policy, please contact us.