What are cookies?
This is small information, called cookies (cookie), sent by the website that we visit and save on the end device (computer, laptop, smartphone) that we use when browsing websites.
“Cookies”, consisting of a number of letters and numbers, contain various information necessary for the proper functioning of websites, e.g. those requiring authorization – including when logging into an e-mail account or online store.
All websites – search engines, information and news sites, online stores, websites of state offices and other public institutions – can work properly by using cookies.
Cookies also allow, among others remembering our preferences and personalizing websites in terms of displayed content and matching ads. Thanks to “cookies” it is also possible to register products and services or vote in online surveys.
Personal data collected using “cookies” can be collected only for the purpose of performing specific functions for the user, i.e., remembering logging in to the website or remembering goods added to the basket in the online store. Such data is encrypted in a way that prevents access by unauthorized persons.
What do cookies give us?
Thanks to “cookies”, the use of websites is easier and more pleasant and their content – texts, photos, surveys, polls, but also advertising – is better suited to the expectations and preferences of every internet user.
“Cookies”:
- they enable us to remember our visits to the site and our preferences regarding this site (e.g. the language of the site, its color, layout, content arrangement);
- allow online stores to recommend us products related to those we usually choose that may potentially interest us;
- help store the goods we put in the shopping cart in online stores;
- enable the use of accounts on websites;
- allow you to be logged in to the site on each of the subpages available on the site;
- prevent us from seeing the same advertisement or survey to be completed over and over again;
- they allow us to present ads in a way that takes into account our interests or place of residence – in this way ads, thanks to which the use of many websites can be free, can inform us about products and services of interest to us;
- allow you to create anonymous statistics of website visits.
Thanks to cookies, website owners and publishers are able to assess real interest in their websites, can better understand users’ expectations and preferences, understand the way users use their websites and, using the latest technological solutions, can constantly improve their websites by making even friendlier and better suited to our needs.
What should we know about “cookies”?
They are not used to identify users and on their basis no identity is established in any way;
- “Cookies” identify computer and browser data used to browse websites – they allow, for example, to find out whether a given computer has already visited a website;
- data obtained from “cookies” are in no way combined with personal data of users obtained, e.g. during registration on websites;
- they are not harmful to us or to our computers or smartphones – they do not affect the way they work;
- they do not cause configuration changes in end devices or in the software installed on these devices;
- default parameters of “cookies” allow you to read the information contained therein only to the server that created them;
- on the basis of our behavior on websites visited, they transmit information to servers, thanks to which the displayed page is better suited to individual preferences.
Basic types of cookies
Session cookies – these are temporary information stored in the browser’s memory until the end of the browser session, i.e. until it is closed. These cookies are mandatory for some applications or functionalities to work properly.
Permanent “cookies” – thanks to them, the use of frequently visited pages is easier (e.g. they provide optimal navigation, remember the selected resolution, content layout, etc.). This information remains in the browser’s memory for a longer period. This time depends on the choice you can make in your browser settings. This type of cookie allows the transmission of information to the server each time a page is visited. Persistent cookies are also called so-called tracking cookies.
“Third Party Cookies”– (called third parties cookies) – this is information originating, e.g. from advertising servers, company servers and service providers (e.g. search or maps placed on the website) cooperating with the owner of a given website. This type of cookie allows you to customize ads – so that the use of websites can be free – to the preferences and habits of their users. They also allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising activities (e.g. by counting how many people clicked on a given ad and went to the advertiser’s website). Based on the information obtained from these cookies, you can create so-called general user profiles, thanks to which men interested in finances and cars (visitors to websites on this topic) will see ads tailored to their potential interests, and not e.g. advertising of women’s cosmetics.
Cookies management
Remember that you have the ability to independently manage “cookies”. This is enabled, for example, by web browsers that you use. In the most popular browsers you have the option of:
- accepting cookies, which will allow you to take full advantage of the options offered by websites;
- cookie management at the level of individual websites selected by you;
- specify settings for various types of “cookies”, for example accepting persistent files as session, etc .;
- blocking or deleting cookies.
The effect of changing the settings in your browser, depending on the selected option, may be the loss of the ability to use some websites and services or some of the functions available in them.
Policy from wszytskoociasteczkach.pl