WHAT ARE COOKIES?
Cookies, as described by the relevant legislation, are small text files that websites visited by the user send to their terminal (usually to the browser). Websites store these Cookies on the user’s terminal and then send them back to the same Websites when the same user subsequently revisits them. When browsing a site, the user may also receive third-party Cookies on his terminal. These contain some of the elements (e.g. images, maps, audio, specific links to pages of other domains) displayed on the site that the user is currently visiting. We use Cookies for different purposes: authentication, monitoring of sessions, storing information on specific configurations concerning the users accessing the server, etc.. Please note that, in compliance with the requirements of 2009/136/EC Directive, we will acquire prior informed consent from all users before storing any Cookies other than the essential technical ones. See art. 1, para. 5a of the Italian legislative decree of 28 May 2012, no. 69 (revised version of art. 122 of Italian legislative decree 196/2003 — the «Code» –) and the legislative measure issued on 8 May 2014 by the Italian Data Protection Authority requiring information and consent for the use of cookies. There are, therefore, two broad categories of Cookies: «technical» cookies and «profiling» cookies:
- — technical cookies: strictly used to «perform transmission of communications over an electronic communication network, or to the extent strictly necessary for the supplier of an information service that is explicitly requested by the subscriber or by the user, to supply that service» (art. 122, para. 1 of the Code). Cookies are not used for other purposes and are usually installed directly by the owner or manager of the Website. Websites divide Cookies into navigation or session cookies, allowing standard navigation or use of the Website (e.g. buying online or needing authentication for access to private areas). Analytics Cookies are similar to technical cookies when used directly by the site operator to gather aggregate data on the number of users and their use of the Website. Functionality Cookies allow users to navigate the Website based on a series of selected criteria (e.g. language, products selected for purchase) to improve the service provided to the same. Storage of these cookies does not require prior consent from users, while the obligation to inform them under article 13 of the Code remains unchanged.
- — profiling cookies. The purpose of profiling Cookies is to create profiles on the user. We use them to send advertising messages in line with their web browsing preferences. Since the nature and effects of these Cookies is quite invasive on the user’s privacy, both European and Italian laws want each user to be aware of the aim of Cookies. They also require that user give consent before applying the Cookies to their Browser. Article 122 of the Code requires that «storage of information on a contractor or user’s terminal, or access to information already stored there, be allowed only on the condition that the contractor or user has provided their consent after being informed via simplified methods as per article 13, para. 3» (article 122, para. 1 of the Code).
How to disable Cookies
The most popular browsers provide the possibility to block exclusively third-party cookies, accepting only those issued by the site. Moreover, some companies that generate cookies on third-party sites offer the option to disable them even when these are anonymous. In other words, identifying personal data is not recorded (e.g. IP address).
Those who wish to modify the use of cookies through their browser settings will find some instructions below on how to perform this operation in the four most popular web browsers:
MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER
Click the ‘Tools’ icon in the top right corner of the window and select ‘Internet Options’. Select the ‘Privacy’ tab in the pop-up window. From here, you can change the cookie settings.
GOOGLE CHROME
Click the wrench icon in the top right corner of the window and select ‘Settings’. Click Advanced, and then make the desired changes to the Privacy settings.
MOZILLA FIREFOX
Click on the drop-down menu in the top left corner, and then select ‘Options’. Select ‘Privacy’ in the pop-up window. From here, you can change the cookie settings.
SAFARI
Click on the drop-down menu in the top right corner and choose ‘Preferences’. Click on ‘Security’, and then change the cookie settings.
To learn more about cookies and how to manage or disable third-party or marketing/retargeting cookies, visit WWW.YOURONLINECHOICES.COM.