WHAT ARE COOKIES?
"Cookies" should be understood as IT data, in particular text files, stored on users' end devices intended for using websites. These files allow you to recognize the user's device and properly display a website tailored to his or her individual preferences. "Cookies" usually contain the name of the website they come from, their storage time on the end device and a unique number.
WHAT DO WE USE COOKIES FOR"?
Cookies are used to adapt the content of websites to user preferences and optimize the use of websites. They are also used to create anonymous, aggregated statistics that help understand how the user uses websites, which allows improving their structure and content, excluding personal identification of the user.
WHAT COOKIES DO WE USE?
As a rule, two types of cookies are used - "session" and "persistent". The first of them are temporary files that remain on the user's device until logging out of the website or turning off the software (web browser). "Permanent" files remain on the user's device for the time specified in the "cookie" file parameters or until they are manually deleted by the user. Cookies used by the website operator's partners, including in particular website users, are subject to their own privacy policies.
There is a detailed division of cookies according to:
A. Types of cookies due to their necessity to provide the service
Type Description
Necessary are absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the website or functionality that the user wants to use
Functional are important for the operation of the website:
– they are used to enrich the functionality of the website, without them the website will function properly, but will not be adapted to the user's preferences,
– they are used to ensure a high level of functionality of the website, without the settings saved in the cookie the level of functionality of the website may be reduced, but it should not prevent its complete use,
– they serve very important functionalities of the website, blocking them will prevent selected functions from working properly.
Business cookies enable the implementation of the business model based on which the website is made available; blocking them will not result in the unavailability of the entire functionality of the website, but may reduce the level of service provision due to the inability of the website owner to generate revenues that subsidize the operation of the website. This category includes, for example, advertising cookies.
B. Due to the time for which the cookie will be placed on the user's end device:
Type Description
Temporary cookies (session cookies) - cookies placed for the duration of use of the browser (session), are deleted after closing the browser
Persistent cookies are not deleted after closing the browser and remain on the user's device for a specified period of time or without a validity period, depending on the settings of the website owner.
C. Due to origin - the website administrator who manages cookies:
Type Description
Own cookie (first party cookie) cookie placed directly by the owner of the website you visited
External cookies (third-party cookies) cookies placed by external entities whose website components were launched by the website owner
Note: cookies may be triggered by the administrator using scripts or components that are located on the partner's servers, located in a different location - another country or even a completely different legal system. If the website administrator calls website components from outside the administrator's system, standard cookie policy rules other than the website administrator's privacy/cookies policy may apply.
D. Due to the purpose they serve:
Type Description
Website configuration allows you to set functions and services on the website
The security and reliability of the website enable verification of authenticity and optimization of website performance
Authentications let you know when you're logged in, so your website can show you the right information and features
Session states allow you to record information about how users use your site. These may concern the most frequently visited pages or possible error messages displayed on certain pages. Cookies used to save the so-called "session state" help improve services and increase the comfort of browsing websites.
Processes enable the smooth operation of the website itself and the functions available on it
Ads allow you to display ads that are more interesting to users and at the same time more valuable to publishers and advertisers, personalize ads, can also be used to display ads outside of your website pages (domains)
Location allows you to adjust the displayed information to the user's location
Analyzes and research, and audience audit enable website owners to better understand the preferences of their users and, through analysis, improve and develop products and services. Typically, the website owner or research company collects information anonymously and processes trend data without identifying the personal data of individual users
E. Types of cookies due to interference with user privacy:
Type Description
Harmless includes cookies:
– necessary for the proper functioning of the website
– necessary to enable the functionality of the website, but their operation has nothing to do with user tracking
However, the data used to track users does not include information that identifies a specific user
DO COOKIES CONTAIN PERSONAL DATA
Personal data collected using cookies may be collected only to perform specific functions for the user. Such data is encrypted in a way that prevents access to it by unauthorized persons.
DELETING COOKIES
By default, software used to browse websites allows cookies to be placed on the end device. These settings can be changed in such a way as to block the automatic handling of cookies in the web browser settings or to inform each time they are sent to the user's device. Detailed information about the possibilities and methods of handling cookies is available in the software (web browser) settings. Restricting the use of cookies may affect some of the functionalities available on the website.