Cookies are short text fragments (letters and/or numbers) that the web server to store on the client (the browser) information to be reused during the same visit to the site (session cookies) or later, even days later (persistent cookies). Cookies are stored, based on user preferences, by the individual browser on the specific device being used (computer, tablet, smartphone).
Similar technologies, such as, for example, web beacons, transparent GIFs, and all forms of local storage introduced with HTML5, can be used to collect information about user behavior and service usage.
In the remainder of this document we will refer to cookies and all similar technologies by simply using the term “cookies.”
Types of cookies
Based on the characteristics and use of cookies, we can distinguish different categories:
Technical, or strictly necessary, cookies. These are cookies that are essential for the proper functioning of the site. The duration of the cookies is usually limited to the work session (closed the browser they are deleted).
Analytics and performance cookies. These are cookies used to anonymously collect and analyze site traffic and usage. These cookies, while not identifying the user, allow, for example, detection of whether the same user returns to log on at different times. They also allow the system to be monitored and improve its performance and usability.
Profiling cookies. These are persistent cookies used to identify (anonymously and non-anonymously) your preferences and improve your browsing experience.
Third-party cookies
By visiting a website, you may receive cookies either from the site you visit (“owners”) or from sites operated by other organizations (“third parties”). A notable example is the presence of “social plugins” for Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn. These are parts of the visited page generated directly from the aforementioned sites and integrated into the page of the host site. The most common use of social plugins is for the purpose of sharing content on social networks. The presence of these plugins results in the transmission of cookies to and from all sites operated by third parties. The management of information collected by “third parties” is governed by the relevant disclosures to which please refer.