The following information is provided to inform users about the use of cookies on our website and on our partners’ websites.
This website uses both first-party and third-party cookies to provide visitors with a significantly improved browsing experience and services tailored to each user’s needs and interests.
In what is commonly referred to as the “Web 2.0” environment, cookies play an important role in facilitating access to and the delivery of the numerous services that users enjoy on the Internet. These include personalizing certain settings, such as the language in which a website is displayed, the currency in which prices or fees are shown, retaining product preferences (sizes, specifications, and other details) in a shopping cart, and remembering those preferences, thereby providing shopping cart functionality and allowing users to return to previously selected options using the browser’s “Back” and “Forward” buttons.
Cookies provide website owners with valuable feedback regarding how users interact with their websites, enabling them to improve efficiency, usability, and accessibility. They also allow multimedia applications and content from other websites to be integrated into a website, creating a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience. Furthermore, cookies contribute to improving the effectiveness of online advertising.
What is a Cookie?
An Internet Cookie (also known as a browser cookie, HTTP cookie, or simply a cookie) is a small text file consisting of letters and numbers that is stored on a user’s computer, mobile device, or other equipment used to access the Internet.
A cookie is installed by a request issued by a web server to a browser (such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari). Cookies are completely passive: they do not contain software programs, viruses, or spyware, nor can they access information stored on a user’s hard drive.
A cookie consists of two parts:
- the cookie name; and
- the cookie content or value.
Each cookie has a predefined lifespan. Technically, only the web server that issued the cookie can access it again when the user returns to the website associated with that server.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information to function and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.
Types of Cookies
There are two main categories of cookies:
Session Cookies
Session cookies are temporarily stored in the browser’s cookie folder and remain there until the user leaves the website or closes the browser window (for example, when logging in or out of a webmail account or a social media platform).
Persistent Cookies
Persistent cookies are stored on a computer or device for a predefined period, depending on the lifespan established for each cookie. These cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one currently being visited by the user, commonly known as third-party cookies. Third-party cookies may be used anonymously to remember a user’s interests and to display advertising that is more relevant to that user.
What Are the Benefits of Cookies?
A cookie contains information that creates a connection between a web browser (the user) and a specific web server (the website). If the browser accesses that web server again, it can read the previously stored information and respond accordingly.
Cookies provide users with a smooth and personalized browsing experience while supporting the efforts of many websites to deliver convenient services, including:
- remembering online privacy preferences;
- saving website language settings;
- maintaining shopping cart contents;
- displaying relevant advertising.
What Is the Lifespan of a Cookie?
Cookies are managed by web servers. Their lifespan varies significantly depending on the purpose for which they are used.
Some cookies are used exclusively during a single browsing session (session cookies) and are deleted once the user leaves the website.
Others are retained and reused every time the user revisits the website (persistent cookies). However, users may delete cookies at any time through their browser settings.
What Are Third-Party Cookies?
Certain sections of content on a website may be provided by third parties, such as news feeds, embedded videos, or advertisements. These third parties may also place cookies through the website. These are known as third-party cookies because they are not placed by the owner of the website being visited.
Third-party providers are also required to comply with applicable data protection laws and their own privacy policies.
How Are Cookies Used by This Website?
A visit to this website may place cookies for the following purposes:
- Website performance cookies
- Visitor analytics cookies
- Geotargeting cookies
- Registration cookies
- Advertising cookies
- Third-party advertising cookies
Website Performance Cookies
These cookies remember the user’s preferences while browsing the website, so they do not need to be configured each time the website is visited.
Examples include:
- video player volume settings;
- video streaming quality compatible with the user’s browser;
- other website personalization preferences.
Visitor Analytics Cookies
Each time a user visits this website, analytics software provided by a third party generates an analytics cookie.
This cookie indicates whether the user has previously visited the website. The browser informs us whether such a cookie already exists; if not, a new one is created.
These cookies allow us to:
- count unique visitors;
- measure how frequently users visit the website;
- analyze website performance and improve user experience.
As long as the user is not registered on the website, these cookies cannot be used to personally identify individuals and are used exclusively for statistical purposes.
Geotargeting Cookies
These cookies are used by software that determines the country from which a visitor accesses the website.
This process is completely anonymous and is used solely to display content appropriate for the visitor’s geographical location. The same content or advertisements may be displayed regardless of whether the website is viewed in Romanian or another available language.
Registration Cookies
When users register on this website, a cookie is created to indicate whether they are currently logged in.
Our servers use these cookies to:
- identify the registered account;
- determine whether the user has permission to access specific services;
- associate comments posted on the website with the user’s account.
If the user does not select the “Remember Me” option, this cookie will be automatically deleted when the browser or computer is closed.
Advertising Cookies
These cookies allow us to determine:
- whether an online advertisement has been viewed;
- which advertisement was viewed;
- how much time has passed since it was displayed.
They are also used to deliver advertising that is more relevant to users.
We may also use third-party cookies to improve advertising personalization. For example, if a user has recently viewed articles related to travel, advertisements for travel-related services may be displayed.
These cookies are anonymous. They store information about the content viewed rather than personal information about the user.
Anonymous cookies may also be placed through other websites where we advertise. If those cookies are received, they allow us to recognize visitors who subsequently access our website and display advertisements based on their previous browsing activity.
Third-Party Advertising Cookies
Much of the advertising displayed on this website is provided by third parties.
Some advertising providers use their own anonymous cookies to:
- measure how many users viewed an advertisement;
- determine how many users viewed the same advertisement multiple times;
- evaluate the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
The companies that generate these cookies have their own Privacy Policies, and this website has no ability to read or write those cookies.
Third-party cookies may also be used to display advertisements on other websites based on the user’s browsing activity on this website.
Other Third-Party Cookies
On certain pages, third-party service providers may set their own anonymous cookies to:
- measure the success of an application;
- customize application functionality;
- improve user experience.
Because of the way these cookies operate, this website cannot access them, just as third parties cannot access cookies placed by this website.
For example, when a user shares an article using a social media sharing button available on this website, that social media platform may record the user’s interaction in accordance with its own privacy policy.
What Information Is Stored and Accessed Through Cookies?
Cookies store information in small text files that enable a website to recognize a user’s browser.
The web server recognizes the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.
Cookies store important information that improves the Internet browsing experience, such as:
- the preferred language for displaying a website;
- keeping a user logged into a webmail account;
- online banking security;
- retaining products in a shopping cart.
Why Are Cookies Important for the Internet?
Cookies are fundamental to the efficient operation of the Internet. They help create a user-friendly browsing experience tailored to each user’s preferences and interests.
Disabling or refusing cookies may make certain websites impossible or difficult to use.
Rejecting cookies does not mean that users will no longer receive online advertising. Instead, advertisements will no longer be tailored to their browsing preferences and interests.
Examples of important cookie functions that do not require user authentication include:
- delivering content and services tailored to user preferences, such as news categories, weather, sports, maps, public services, entertainment, and travel websites;
- remembering user preferences, including language settings and search result preferences;
- storing parental control settings such as Family Mode or Safe Search;
- limiting the number of times the same advertisement is displayed;
- delivering advertisements that are more relevant to users;
- measuring website traffic, analyzing visitor behavior, identifying the most viewed content, and determining how visitors reach the website (for example, through search engines, direct visits, or referral websites). These analyses help website owners continuously improve their services.
Security and Privacy Considerations
Cookies are not viruses.
They use plain text formats and do not consist of executable code. Consequently, they cannot execute programs, self-replicate, or spread across networks. Therefore, cookies cannot be classified as viruses.
However, cookies may sometimes be used for undesirable purposes.
Because they store information regarding browsing preferences and browsing history, both on a specific website and across multiple websites, cookies may be used as a form of tracking technology.
Many anti-spyware applications recognize this and routinely identify cookies for deletion during antivirus and anti-spyware scans.
Most modern browsers include built-in privacy settings that allow users to manage cookie acceptance levels, define cookie lifetimes, and automatically delete cookies after visiting a website.
Additional Cookie Security Considerations
Since identity protection is a fundamental right of every Internet user, it is important to understand the potential security issues associated with cookies.
Because cookies continuously exchange information between browsers and web servers, data contained within cookies may theoretically be intercepted if an attacker gains unauthorized access to the communication channel. Although this is uncommon, it may occur when a browser connects through an unsecured network, such as an unencrypted public Wi-Fi network.
Other cookie-related attacks involve incorrect server-side cookie configurations. If a website does not require encrypted communication channels, attackers may exploit this vulnerability to trick browsers into transmitting information over unsecured connections. Such information could then be used to gain unauthorized access to certain websites.
For this reason, users should always adopt appropriate methods to protect their personal information.
Tips for Safe and Responsible Browsing Using Cookies
Because cookies are flexible and are used by almost all major websites, they are virtually unavoidable.
Disabling cookies may prevent access to many of the world’s most popular online services, including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo, and many others.
The following recommendations can help users browse safely while continuing to benefit from cookies:
- Configure browser cookie settings according to your preferred level of privacy and security.
- If you are the only person using your computer, you may choose longer cookie retention periods to store browsing history and login information.
- If multiple users share the same computer, consider configuring your browser to delete browsing data automatically whenever it is closed.
- Install and regularly update reputable anti-spyware and anti-malware software.
- Many security applications can detect malicious websites before they exploit browser vulnerabilities or install harmful software.
- Always keep your browser updated to the latest version, as many cookie-related attacks exploit vulnerabilities found in outdated browsers.
With a proper understanding of how cookies function and the benefits they provide, users can enjoy a safer and more secure browsing experience.
How Can You Disable Cookies?
Disabling or refusing cookies may make certain websites difficult or impossible to use.
Rejecting cookies does not mean that online advertisements will disappear; rather, advertisements will no longer be tailored to your interests and browsing behavior.
Most web browsers allow users to configure cookie settings.
You can choose to:
- block all cookies;
- accept cookies only from specific websites;
- delete cookies whenever the browser is closed;
- receive notifications whenever a website attempts to place a cookie.
Please note that if cookies are disabled, certain website features may no longer function correctly. For example, users may not be able to log in, leave comments, or access personalized services.
All modern web browsers allow users to modify cookie settings. These settings are generally available under the Options, Settings, or Preferences menu of the browser.
