This website uses cookies
The following information is intended to provide the user with more details about the placement, use and management of the “cookies” used by the site. Also present are some useful links related to this topic.
If you need more information and it is not found below, you can contact us at the email address indicated on the Privacy Policy page.
Please read the following information carefully:
This website uses its own and third-party cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services tailored to each individual’s needs and interests.
On the Internet, cookies play an important role in facilitating the access and delivery of the many services that the user enjoys on the Internet, such as:
- Customizing certain settings such as: the language in which a site is viewed, the currency in which certain prices or rates are expressed, keeping options for various products (measurements, other details, etc. and memorizing these options) – thus generating flexibility (accessing old preferences by accessing the “forward” and “back” button)
- Cookies provide site owners with valuable feedback on how their sites are used by users, so that they can make them even more efficient and accessible to users.
- Allow multimedia or other applications from other sites to be included in a particular site to create a more valuable, useful and enjoyable browsing experience;
What is a “cookie”?
An “Internet Cookie” (term also known as “browser cookie” or “HTTP cookie” or simply “cookie”) is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, which will be stored on your computer, mobile terminal or other equipment of a user from which the Internet is accessed.
The cookie is installed through the request issued by a web server to a browser (eg: Firefox, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (it does not contain software, viruses or spyware and cannot access the information on the user’s disk).
A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and the content or value of the cookie. Furthermore, the lifetime of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that web server.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and do not personally identify Internet users.
There are 2 categories of cookies:
- Session cookies – these are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser for it to remember until the user exits that website or closes the browser window.
- Persistent cookies – These are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the lifetime of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the user is visiting at the time – known as ‘third party cookies’ – which can be used anonymously to remember a user’s interests so that the most relevant advertising to users is delivered.
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that connects a web browser (the user) and a specific web server (the website). If a browser accesses that web server 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 comfortable services to users: eg – online privacy preferences, site language options or other options.
What is the lifespan 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 (‘cookie- permanent ures’). However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time through the browser settings.
What are cookies placed by third parties?
Certain sections of content on some sites may be provided by third parties/vendors (eg news, a video or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the website and they are called “third party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of the respective website. Third party providers must also comply with applicable law and the privacy policies of the site owner.
How cookies are used by websites
A visit to a website may place cookies for the purposes of:
- cookies for analyzing the browsing experience of visitors
- account registration cookies
- cookies to save settings
These cookies may come from the following third parties: Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Cookies for the analysis of visitors’ browsing experience
Each time a user visits this site, the Analytics software provided by a third party generates a user analysis cookie. This cookie tells us if you have visited the site before. Your browser will tell us if you have this cookie, and if you don’t, we’ll generate one . It allows tracking of 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 physically identify people, 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 – subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy, as well as the provisions of applicable law .
Cookies for account registration
When you register on this site, 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 registered with and whether you have permission for a particular service. It also allows us to associate any comment or question you post on our site with your username. If you have not selected ‘keep me registered’, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close your browser or the computer.
Cookies to save settings
This cookie is used to keep in the browser’s memory settings such as accepting notifications, using cookies, the language used for browsing the website, etc.
Keeping these settings gives the user a comfortable browsing of the website.
What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies?
Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognize a browser. The web server will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.
The cookie stores important information that improves the Internet browsing experience (eg: language settings in which a site is accessed; keeping an authenticated user; online banking security; keeping configuration options).
Why are cookies important to the Internet?
Cookies are central to the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a user-friendly browsing experience tailored to each user’s preferences and interests. Refusing or disabling cookies may make some sites unusable.
Rejecting or deactivating cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising – but only that it will no longer be able to take into account your preferences and interests, highlighted by your browsing behavior.
Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require the authentication of a user through an account):
- Content and services tailored to the user’s preferences – categories of news, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment sites and travel services.
- Displays tailored to user interests – password retention, language preferences (Ex: display of search results in Romanian).
- Retention of child protection filters on Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions).
- Measurement, optimization and Analytics features – such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed and how a user arrives at a website (eg through search engines, directly, from other websites etc). The websites run these analyzes of their usage in order to improve the websites for the benefit of the 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, nor can they execute themselves. Consequently, they cannot be duplicated or replicated to other networks to run or replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a particular site and across multiple sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this fact and constantly mark cookies for deletion during anti-virus/anti-spyware deletion/scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a certain site.
Other security aspects related to cookies:
Since identity protection is very valuable and is the right of every Internet user, it is advisable to know what potential problems cookies can create. Because through them information is constantly transmitted in both directions between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorized person intervenes during the data transmission, the information contained in the cookie can be intercepted.
Although very rare , this can happen if the browser connects to the web server using an unencrypted network (eg an unsecured WiFi network).
Other cookie-based attacks involve missetting cookies on servers. If a website does not instruct the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information over unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information to gain unauthorized access to certain websites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most suitable method of personal information protection.
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 widespread and used sites including Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.
Here are some tips that can ensure you surf without worries with the help of cookies:
- Customize your browser cookie settings to reflect a comfortable level of cookie security for you.
- If you don’t mind cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration periods for storing your browsing history and personal access data.
- If you share computer access, you may consider setting your browser to delete individual browsing data each time you close the browser. This is an option to access sites that place cookies and delete any visit information when you close your browsing session.
- Always install and update anti-spyware applications.
Many spyware detection and prevention applications include detection of site attacks. Thus, it prevents the browser from accessing websites that might exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software.
Make sure your browser is always updated to the latest version.
Many of the cookie-based attacks are carried out by exploiting the weak points of the old versions of the browsers.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot 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 that you can surf the Internet with confidence.
How can I stop cookies?
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 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 your browser’s “options” or “preferences” menu.
To understand these settings, the following links may be useful, otherwise you can use the “help” option of your browser for more details.