What Is a Cookie?
A cookie is a small data file that a website associates with its visitors to ensure optimal operation, efficiency and security. Cookies are installed through requests sent by a server to an Internet browser, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
These files do not contain software programs, viruses or spyware and cannot access information stored on the device’s hard drive. Cookies do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.
The lifespan of cookies can vary significantly depending on the purpose for which they are placed. Users can delete cookies at any time through their browser settings.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.
There are two main categories of cookies:
Session cookies – These are temporarily stored in the web browser’s cookie folder until the User leaves the respective website or closes the browser window, for example when logging in to or out of a webmail or social media account.
Persistent cookies – These are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device, generally for a predefined period. Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the User is currently visiting. These are known as “third-party cookies” and may be used anonymously to remember a User’s interests so that more relevant advertising can be displayed.
What Are the Benefits of Cookies?
A cookie contains information that connects a web browser—the User—to a specific web server—the Website. If the browser accesses that web server again, the server can read the information already stored and respond accordingly.
Cookies provide Users with a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to offer convenient services. Examples include online privacy preferences, website language settings, shopping carts and relevant advertising.
How Long Does a Cookie Remain Active?
Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifespan 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 leaves the website. Other cookies are stored and reused every time the User returns to that website—persistent cookies.
However, Users can delete cookies at any time through their browser settings.
What Are Third-Party Cookies?
Certain sections of content on some websites may be provided through third parties or external providers, such as a news box, video or advertisement.
These third parties may also place cookies through the website. They are called “third-party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of the website being visited.
Third-party providers must also comply with applicable legislation and the website owner’s Privacy Policies.
How Does This Website Use Cookies?
A visit to this website may result in cookies being placed for the following purposes:
Website Performance Cookies
This type of cookie remembers the User’s preferences on this website, so they do not need to be configured again on every visit.
Examples include:
Video player volume settings;
The video streaming speed supported by the browser.
Visitor Analytics Cookies
Whenever a User visits this website, third-party analytics software generates a User analytics cookie. This cookie tells us whether you have visited the website before.
Your browser will inform us whether this cookie is present. If it is not present, we will generate one. This allows us to monitor the number of unique Users visiting the website and how often they visit.
As long as you are not registered on this website, this cookie cannot be used to identify you personally and is used only for statistical purposes.
If you are registered, we may also have access to the information you have provided, such as your email address and username. This information is subject to confidentiality requirements, the provisions of our Privacy Policy and applicable personal data protection legislation.
Geotargeting Cookies
These cookies are used by software that determines the country from which you are accessing the website.
They are completely anonymous and are used only to target content. Even when you browse our website in Romanian or another language, you will receive the same advertisement.
Registration Cookies
When you register on a website, a cookie is generated to indicate whether you are registered.
Our servers use these cookies to identify the account with which you are registered and determine whether you have permission to access a particular service. They also allow us to associate any comment you post on the website with your username.
If you have not selected the “Keep me logged in” option, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close your browser or shut down your computer.
Advertising Cookies
These cookies make it possible to determine whether you have viewed an online advertisement, what type of advertisement it was and how much time has passed since you viewed it.
These cookies are also used to target online advertising. We may use third-party cookies to improve advertising relevance. For example, advertisements about holidays may be displayed if the User has recently viewed an article about holidays on the website.
These cookies are anonymous. They store information about the content viewed rather than information about individual Users.
Other Third-Party Cookies
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies to monitor the performance of an application or customise it.
Due to the way they operate, this website cannot access these cookies, just as third parties cannot access the cookies owned by this website.
For example, when you share an article using a social media button available on this website, the respective social network will record your activity.
What Information Is Stored and Accessed Through Cookies?
Cookies store information in a small text file that enables a website to recognise a browser. The web server will recognise the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.
Cookies store important information that improves the Internet browsing experience, such as:
Website language preferences;
Keeping a User logged in to a webmail account;
Online banking security;
Keeping products in a shopping cart.
Why Are Cookies Important for the Internet?
Cookies are essential to the efficient operation of the Internet, helping to provide a user-friendly browsing experience adapted to each User’s preferences and interests.
Refusing or disabling cookies may make certain websites impossible to use.
Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising. It only means that advertisements will no longer be able to take account of your preferences and interests as indicated by your browsing behaviour.
Examples of important uses of cookies that do not require a User to log in through an account include:
Content and services adapted to the User’s preferences, such as news, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment websites and travel services;
Offers adapted to Users’ interests, including remembering passwords and language preferences, such as displaying search results in Romanian;
Remembering child-protection filters for online content, such as family mode options and safe-search features;
Limiting how often advertisements are displayed to a particular User on a website;
Providing advertising that is more relevant to the User;
Measurement, optimisation and analytics features, such as confirming website traffic levels, identifying the type of content being viewed and determining how a User reaches a website—for example, through search engines, direct access or other websites. Websites perform these analyses to improve their services for Users.
Security and Privacy Concerns
Cookies are not viruses. They use plain-text formats and do not consist of executable code. Therefore, they cannot run or start automatically.
Consequently, cookies cannot duplicate themselves or replicate across other networks in order to run again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
However, cookies may still be used for harmful purposes. Because they store information about Users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a particular website and across multiple websites, cookies may be used as a form of spyware.
Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and regularly identify cookies for deletion during antivirus and anti-spyware scans.
Browsers generally include privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity periods and automatic deletion after the User visits a particular website.
Other Cookie-Related Security Concerns
Identity protection is extremely important and is the right of every Internet User. Therefore, Users should understand the potential problems that cookies may create.
Cookies continuously transmit information in both directions between the browser and the website. If an attacker or unauthorised person interferes with the data transmission process, the information contained in cookies may be intercepted.
Although this occurs very rarely, it may happen if the browser connects to the server through an unencrypted network, such as an unsecured Wi-Fi network.
Other cookie-based attacks involve incorrectly configured cookie settings on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use encrypted channels exclusively, attackers may exploit this vulnerability and trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels.
Attackers may then use that information to gain unauthorised access to certain websites. It is very important to carefully select the most appropriate method of protecting your personal information.
Tips for Safe and Responsible Cookie-Based Browsing
Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the largest and most frequently visited websites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable.
Disabling cookies may prevent Users from accessing widely used websites and services, including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.
The following recommendations can help you browse safely while using cookies:
Customise your browser’s cookie settings to reflect your preferred level of security.
If cookies do not concern you and you are the only person using the computer, you can set longer expiry periods for storing browsing history and personal login information.
If you share your computer with other people, consider configuring your browser to delete browsing data whenever you close it. This allows you to access websites that place cookies while deleting browsing information at the end of each session.
Install anti-spyware applications and keep them regularly updated.
Many spyware detection and prevention applications include protection against website-based attacks. These prevent the browser from accessing websites that may exploit browser vulnerabilities or download malicious software.
Make sure your browser is always up to date. Many cookie-based attacks exploit weaknesses found in older browser versions.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to access the largest and most popular websites on the Internet, whether local or international.
By clearly understanding how cookies work and the benefits they provide, you can take the necessary security measures to browse the Internet with confidence.
How Can I Disable Cookies?
Disabling or refusing cookies may make certain websites impractical or difficult to access and use.
Refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive or see online advertising.
You can configure your browser so that cookies are no longer accepted, or you can set it to accept cookies only from a particular website. However, for example, if you are not registered through the use of cookies, you may not be able to leave comments.
All modern browsers allow you to change cookie settings. These settings can usually be found under “Options” or in your browser’s “Preferences” menu.
The following links may help you understand these settings. Alternatively, you can use your browser’s Help section for further details:
Cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Cookie settings in Mozilla Firefox
Cookie settings in Google Chrome
Cookie settings in Safari
Useful Links
If you would like to learn more about cookies and how they are used, we recommend the following resources:
Microsoft Cookies Guide
All About Cookies