Definition
“Cookie” is a term used to refer to cookie modules and similar technologies through which information can be collected and stored.
An “Internet Cookie” (also known as “browser cookie” or simply “cookie”) is a small text file that contains alphanumerical data and is stored in the memory of computers, smartphones and other Internet-enabled devices. A cookie has two components: the name and the content.
Cookies are installed (set) through instructions sent by a web server to a web browser (the application used to access a web site, such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome) or by using a client-side scripting language (such as Javascript). Cookies are “passive” by nature, meaning they cannot contain software applications, cannot contain malware and cannot themselves access information from the device they are stored on.
Cookie usage purposes
- Registering a user account
- Saving user preferences
- Anonymous web traffic statistics to the Website (this allows us to see how we are doing and which areas of the Website can be improved)
- Delivery of online advertisements (since all Website services are free, this is how we are able to stay in business)
Cookie lifetime
- Session cookies: stored temporary, deleted automatically when the web browser is closed
- Persistent cookies: stored on the user’s device until a specific time (which can be minutes, days, or years in the future) or until deleted manually through web browser settings or specialized computer software
Third-party cookies
- YouTube: embedded videos (using youtube-nocookie for improved privacy)
- Google Analytics: anonymous web traffic statistics (we use the following settings: anonymizeIP ON, Remarketing OFF, User-ID OFF)
- Google Adsense/Doubleclick/AdManager: online advertisements
- Disqus Privacy Policy
- Facebook Privacy Policy
Cookie management information
Disabling cookies makes the Website harder to use. Some features will be degraded while others will not work at all. For example, it is impossible to register or log in without cookies. This way, using the download basket or the watchlist features is no longer possible.