Politica cookies
This website uses cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services adapted to everyone's needs and interests.
Cookies provide site owners with valuable feedback on how their sites are used by users, so that they can make them more efficient and accessible for them; Allow multimedia applications or applications of a different type from other sites to be included in a certain site to create a more valuable, useful and pleasant browsing experience; Improve the effectiveness of online advertising.
What is a "cookie"?
An "Internet Cookie" (term also known as "browser cookie" or "HTTP cookie" or, simply, "cookie") is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers that will be stored on the computer, mobile terminal or on other equipment of a user from which the Internet is accessed. The cookie is installed by the request issued by a web-server to a browser (for example, Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely "passive" (it does not contain software programs, viruses or spyware and cannot access the information on the hard drive- the user).
A cookie consists of two parts: the name and the content (value) of the cookie. Moreover, the duration of existence of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again, when a user returns to the web site associated with the respective web server.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.
Session cookies - these are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser so that it remembers them until the user leaves the respective website or closes the browser window (for example, in the moment of logging in/out on a webmail account or on social networks);
Permanent cookies - these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or on a device (and, in general, depend on the lifetime of the cookie).
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that connects a web browser (the user) and a specific web server (the website). If a browser accesses that web-server again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly. Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to offer comfortable services to users (preferences in terms of online privacy, website language options, shopping baskets or relevant advertising).
What is the lifetime of a cookie?
Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifetime of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session (session cookies) and are no longer retained after the user has left the website, and other cookies are retained and reused every time the user returns to that website. site (permanent cookies). However, cookies can be deleted by the user at any time through the browser settings.
How are cookies used by this site?
A visit to this website may place cookies for the purposes of:
- Site performance;
- Analysis of visitors;
- Targeting;
- User registration and authentication;
- Keeping the products in the shopping cart;
- Save user preferences.
Why are cookies important to the Internet?
Cookies represent the central point of the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience adapted to the preferences and interests of each user. Refusing or disabling cookies may make some sites unusable.
Rejecting or deactivating cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising, but only that it will no longer be able to take into account your preferences and interests, highlighted by your browsing behavior.
Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require the authentication of a user through an account):
- Content and services adapted to the user's preferences;
- Offers tailored to users' interests - password retention, language preferences (for example, displaying search results in Romanian);
- Retention of child protection filters regarding internet content ("family mode" options, "safe search" functions).
Measurement, optimization and analytics features - such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed and how a user arrives at a website (via search engines, directly, from other websites etc). The websites run these usage analyzes to improve the websites for the benefit of the users.
Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses. They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed or auto-run. Consequently, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks to run or replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about the preferences and browsing history of users both on a specific site and on other sites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this fact and constantly mark cookies to be deleted during anti-virus/anti-spyware deletion/scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a certain site.
Other security aspects related to cookies
Since identity protection is very valuable and represents the right of every internet user, it is advisable to know what possible problems cookies can create. Because through them information is transmitted between the browser and the website, constantly and in both directions, if an attacker or an unauthorized person intervenes during data transmission, the information contained in cookies can be intercepted. Although in practice it occurs very rarely, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (an unsecured WiFi network).
Other cookie-based attacks involve missetting cookies on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. The attackers then use the information to access certain websites without authorization. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate method of protecting personal information.
Tips for safe and responsible browsing, based on cookies
Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest sites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable. Deactivating cookies will not allow the user access to the most widespread and used sites: YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook and others. Here are some tips that if you apply, you can be sure that you browse without worries, but with the help of cookies:
Customize your browser settings regarding cookies according to your level of comfort regarding the security of their use.
If you don't mind cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration dates for storing browsing history and personal access data. But if you share access to the computer, you can consider setting your browser to delete individual browsing data every time you close the browser. This is an option to access the sites that place cookies and to delete any visit information when the browsing session is closed.
Install and constantly update antispyware applications.
Many of the spyware detection and prevention applications include detection of attacks on websites. Thus, they prevent the browser from accessing web-sites that could exploit the vulnerabilities of the browser or download dangerous software. Make sure your browser is always updated. Many of the cookie-based attacks are made by exploiting the weak points of old versions of browsers.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and biggest sites on the Internet - local or international. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures so that you can surf the Internet with confidence.
How can cookies be turned off?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
It is possible to set the browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted or you can set the browser to accept cookies from a specific site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.
All modern browsers offer the possibility to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in the "options" or "preferences" menu of your browser.
To understand these settings, the following links may be useful. You can use the "help" option of the browser for more details.
Cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Cookie settings in Firefox
Cookie settings in Chrome
Cookie settings in Safari