The following information is given in order to inform the user on the use of “cookies” on our site or on our partner sites.
This website uses its own cookies and third party cookies to provide users with a much better navigation experience and services adapted to everyone’s needs and interest.
In what we call “web 2.0”, “cookies” play an important role in facilitating the access and delivery of the multiple services which the user enjoys on the internet, such as the personalization of certain setting like: the language in which a site is viewed, the coin in which certain tariffs and prices are expressed, keeping the options for various products (measures, other details, etc) in the shopping cart (and the storage of those options) – thus generating the flexibility of the “shopping cart” (accessing old preferences by pushing the button “forward” and “back”)
Cookies offer site owners a valuable feedback on the manner in which their site is used by users so that they may make them more efficient and more accessible for the said users. They allow multimedia or any other type of applications to be included into a certain site in order to create a more valuable, more useful and pleasant navigation experience; They improve the efficiency of online advertising.
What is a “cookie”? An “Internet Cookie” (term also known as “browser cookie” or “HTTP cookie” or just “cookie” ) is a small file composed of letters and numbers which will be stored on a user’s computer, mobile terminal or other gear and on which the Internet is accessed. The Cookie is placed through the request issued by a web-server to a browser (e.g.: Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (it does not contain software programs, viruses or spyware and it cannot access the information on the user’s hard drive). A cookie is composed of two parts: the name and contents and the value of the cookie. Furthermore, a cookie’s lifespan is determined; technically, only the web server which sent the cookie may access it again the moment in which a user returns to the website associated to the respective web server.
The Cookies as such do not request information of a personal character in order to use such information and do not identify internet users in person.
There are 2 great categories of cookies:
Session Cookies – these are temporarily stored in the cookie file of the web browser so that the said browser memorizes them until the user leaves the respective website or closes the browser window (e.g.: the login/logout moment on a webmail account or on social networks).
Persistent Cookies – They are stored on a computer or equipment hard-drive (and, in general, it depends on the cookie preset lifespan). Persistent Cookies also include those placed by another website than that the user visits at the respective moment – known as “third party cookies” (cookies placed by thirds) – which may be used anonymously in order to memorize a user’s interests so that relevant advertising may be delivered to the users.
Which are the cookies’ advantages? A cookie contains information which makes the connection between a web-browser (the user) and a certain web-server (the website). If a browser accesses that web-server again, it may read the information already stored and may react consequently. Cookies provide users with a pleasant navigation experience and support the efforts of many websites to offer comfortable services to the users: e.g. – preferences in what concerns the online confidentiality, options related to the site language, shopping accounts or relevant advertising.
Which is the lifespan of a cookie? Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifespan of a cookie may significantly vary, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used for a single session (session cookies) and are not stored by the user who left the website and some cookies are stored and reused any time the user returns to that website (“permanent cookies “). Nevertheless, cookies may be deleted by a user at any moment through the browser settings.
What are cookies placed by third parties ? Certain content sections on certain sites may be supplied through third parties/suppliers (e.g: news box, a video or an advert). 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 the respective website. Third suppliers also have to observe the law in force and the site owner’s confidentiality policies.
How are the cookies used by this site?
A visit on this site may place cookies on purposes related to:
– Site performance cookies
– Visitors analysis cookies
– Geo-targeting Cookies
– Registration Cookies
– Advertising Cookies
– Cookies belonging to the advertising suppliers
Performance Cookies
This type of cookie remembers the user’s preferences on this site so that their setting is no longer needed upon each visit on the site. Examples: video player volume settings, video streaming speed with which the browser is compatible
Visitors analysis Cookies
Each time a user visits this site, the analytics software supplied by a third party generates a cookie for the user’s analysis. This cookie tells us whether you have visited this site until now. The browser will tell us if you have that cookie and if not, we will generate one. It allows for the monitoring of the unique visitors who visit us and how often they do that. As long as you are not registered on this site, that cookie cannot be used to identify natural persons, they are use just for statistics related purposes.
Geo targeting Cookies
These cookies are used by a soft which establishes the country you come from. They are completely anonymous and used only to target the contents – even when you are on our Romanian or other language page, you receive the same advertising.
Registration Cookies
When you register on this site, we generate a cookie which lets us know whether you are registered or not. Our servers use these cookies to show us the account with which you are registered and if you have permission for a certain service. Also, it allows us to associate any comment you post on our site with your username. If you did not select “keep me logged in”, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close the browser or the computer.
Advertising Cookies
These cookies allow us to learn if you visualized or not an online advertising, which is its type and the time passed since you have seen that advertising message. Also, we use those cookies to target the online advertising. We can also use cookies belonging to a third party, for a better targeting of the advertising, to show, for example, ads on holidays if the user recently visited an article about holidays on the site. These cookies are anonymous, they store information about the visualized content, not about the users. Also, we set anonymous cookies on other sites on which we have advertising. Accepting them, we may use them to recognize you as visitor of that site if you , at a later time, will visit our site, we may deliver to you the advertising based on this information.
Cookies belonging to advertising suppliers
A great part of the advertising you find on this site belongs to third parties. Some of these third parties use their own anonymous cookies to analyze how many persons were exposed to an advertising message or to see how many persons were exposed several times to the same advertising. The companies which generate these cookies have their own confidentiality policies and this site does not have access to read or write those cookies. Third party cookies may be used to show advertising on other sites too, based on your navigation on this site.
Other third party cookies
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies in order to follow up on the success of an application or to customize an application. Due to its manner of use, this site cannot access these cookies, just like third parties which may not access cookies owned by this site. For example, when you distribute an article using the button for the social networks on this site, that social network will register your activity.
What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies? Cookies keep information in a small text file which allows a website recognize a browser. The web server will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted. The cookie stores important information which improve the internet navigation experience ( e.g. : the settings of the language in which the access of a site is desired; keeping a user logged in the webmail account; online banking security; keeping the products in the shopping cart).
Why are cookies important to the Internet? Cookies represent the central point of the internet efficient functioning, helping the generation of a friendly navigation experience adapted to the preferences and interests of each user. Cookies denial or clearing may render certain site impossible to use. Cookies denial or clearing does not mean you will no longer receive online advertising – but just that the said advertising will not take into account your preferences and interests highlighted by your navigation behavior. Examples of cookies important uses (which do not require the user’s authentication through an account): Content and services adapted to the user’s preferences – news categories, weather, sports, maps, public and governmental services, entertainment sites and travel services. Offers adapted to the users’ interests – passwords remembered, language preferences (e.g.: display of the search results in Romanian). Keeping the children protection filters related to the internet content (family mode options, safe search functions). Limitation of the ads broadcast frequency – limitation of the number of displays of an ad for a certain user on a site. Supply of more relevant advertising for the user. Measure, optimizing and the analytics features – like the confirmation of a certain traffic level on a website, what type of content is visualized and the manner in which the user reaches a website (e.g. through search engines, directly, from other websites etc). Websites operate such analyses of their use to improve the sites to the benefit of the users.
Security and confidentiality related matters
Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text type formats. They are not made up of code pieces so that they cannot be executed and they cannot auto-run themselves. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks in order to run or replicate again. Because they cannot fulfill these functions they may not be considered viruses. Nevertheless, cookies may be used for negative purposes. As they store information on the users’ preferences and navigation background, both on a certain site and on several other sites, cookies may be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti-spyware products conscious of this fact and constantly mark cookies to be deleted with their anti-virus/anti-spyware delete/scan procedures. Generally, browsers have integrated confidentiality settings which supply different cookie acceptance levels, the period of validity and automatic delete after the user visited a certain site. Other cookie related security aspects: As identity protection is very valuable and represents the right of every internet user, it is indicated to know what eventual problems cookies may create. Because through them information is constantly sent both ways between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorized person intervenes on the data transmission pathway, the information contained by the cookies may be intercepted. Though very rarely, this may happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g.: an unsecured WiFi network). Other attacks based on cookies imply wrong settings of the cookies and servers. If a website does not require the browser to use just encrypted channels, the attackers may use this vulnerability to trick browsers to sending information through unsecured channels . Then the attackers use the information for unauthorized access on certain sites. It is very important that you be careful in choosing the most adequate protection method of your personal information. Advice for a safe and responsible navigation based on cookies. Due to their flexibility and to the fact that the majority of the most visited and the greatest sites use cookies, they are almost inevitable. Cookies clearing will not allow the user’s access on the most current and used sites such as Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.
Some advice which may assure you that you navigate safely with the help of cookies
Customize your browser settings in what concerns the cookies in order to reflect a comfortable level for you in terms of safe use of cookies. If cookies do not disturb you and you are the only person using the computer, you may set long expiry terms for the storage of the navigation background and of the access personal data. If you share the access to the computer, you may consider setting the browser to delete the navigation individual data each time you close the browser. This is a variant to access sites which place cookies and to delete any visit related information when closing the navigation session. Install and constantly update antispyware applications. Many of the spyware detection and prevention include the detection of site attacks. Thus, they prevent the browser from accessing websites which may exploit the browser vulnerabilities or to unload dangerous software. Make sure you have your browser always updated. Many of the attacks based on cookies are done exploiting weak point of browsers old versions. Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you wish to enjoy access on the best and greatest internet sites – local or international. With a clear understanding of the operation manner and of the benefits they bring, you may take the necessary security measures so that you navigate on the internet in the strictest confidence.
How can I stop cookies? Cookies clearing and denial may render certain sites impracticable or difficult to visit and use. Also, the denial to accept cookies means that you will not receive/see online advertising anymore. It is possible the browser setting so that those cookies will not longer be accepted or you may set your browser to accept cookies from a certain site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies you may not leave comments. All the modern browsers offer the possibility to change cookie settings. These settings may be found usually in the “options” or in the “preferences” menu of your browser.
