Cookie Policy
In order to comply with the requirements set out in the EU Directive of May 26, 2012, and the provisions of Law no. 506 of November 17, 2004 regarding the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector, all visitors to the website are required to provide their consent before cookies are transmitted to their devices.
This website uses both its own cookies and third-party cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services tailored to each individual’s needs and interests.
Cookies play an important role in facilitating access to and delivery of the multiple services that users enjoy on the Internet, such as:
- Customizing certain settings, such as the language in which a website is viewed or accessing previous preferences by using the “back” and “forward” buttons.
- Providing website owners with valuable feedback on how their websites are used by users, enabling them to make them more efficient and accessible.
- Allowing multimedia or other applications from other websites to be included within a specific website in order to create a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience.
What is a “cookie”?
An “Internet Cookie” (also known as a “browser cookie”, “HTTP cookie”, or simply “cookie”) is a small file consisting of letters and numbers that will be stored on a user’s computer, mobile device, or other equipment used to access the Internet.
A cookie is installed through a request issued by a web server to a browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (it does not contain software programs, viruses, or spyware and cannot access information on the user’s hard drive).
A cookie consists of two parts: the name and the content or value of the cookie. Furthermore, the lifespan of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that web server.
Cookies themselves do not require personal data 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 so that it can remember them until the user leaves the respective website or closes the browser window (for example, when logging in or out of a webmail account or social media platforms).
- Persistent cookies – these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the predefined lifespan of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the user is currently visiting—known as “third-party cookies”—which may be used anonymously to remember a user’s interests, so that more relevant advertising can be delivered.
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web browser (the user) to a specific web server (the website). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the already stored information and respond accordingly. Cookies ensure users a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to provide user-friendly services, such as: online privacy preferences, website language options, shopping carts, or relevant advertising.
What is the lifespan of a cookie?
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 once the user leaves the website, while others are retained and reused each time the user returns to that website (persistent cookies). However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time through the browser settings.
What are third-party cookies?
Certain sections of content on some websites may be provided through third parties/suppliers (e.g., a news box, a video, or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the website, and they are called “third-party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of the respective website. Third-party providers must also comply with applicable law and the privacy policies of the website owner.
How are cookies used by a website?
A visit to a website may place cookies for:
- improving website performance;
- visitor analysis;
- geotargeting;
- user registration.
Performance cookies
This type of cookie stores the user’s preferences on this website, so there is no need to set them again each time the site is visited.
Examples: volume settings for the video player, video streaming speed compatible with the browser.
Visitor analytics cookies
Each time a user visits a website, analytics software provided by a third party generates a user analysis cookie. This cookie indicates whether you have visited this website before. The browser will signal if you already have this cookie, and if not, one will be generated. This allows monitoring of unique users who visit the site and how often they do so.
As long as the visitor is not registered on the website, this cookie cannot be used to identify individuals; it is used only for statistical purposes. If the user is registered, certain provided details may also be known, such as email address and username—these being subject to confidentiality in accordance with applicable personal data protection laws.
Geotargeting cookies
These cookies are used by software that determines the country you are accessing the website from. It is completely anonymous and is used only for content targeting—even when the visitor is on the Romanian-language page or another language version, the same advertisement will be delivered.
Registration cookies
When you register on a website, a cookie is generated to indicate whether you are registered or not. Servers use these cookies to show the account you are logged in with and whether you have permission for a particular service. It also allows any comments posted on the website to be associated with your username.
If you have not selected the “remember me” option, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close your browser or computer.
Other Third-Party Cookies
On certain pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies in order to track the success of an application or to customize an application.
For example, when you share an article using the social media sharing button available on a website, that social network will record your activity.
What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies?
Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognize a browser. The web server will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.
A cookie stores important information that improves the Internet browsing experience (e.g., language settings for accessing a website; keeping a user logged into a webmail account; online banking security; retaining products in a shopping cart).
Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies are central to the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a user-friendly browsing experience tailored to the preferences and interests of each user. Refusing or disabling cookies may make some websites impossible to use.
Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require user authentication through an account):
- Content and services tailored to user preferences – news categories, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment websites, and travel services.
- Offers tailored to user interests – remembering passwords, language preferences (e.g., displaying search results in Romanian).
- Retaining child protection filters for Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions).
- Measurement, optimization, and analytics features – such as confirming a certain level of website traffic, what type of content is viewed, and how a user arrives at a website (e.g., via search engines, directly, or from other websites). Websites perform these analyses to improve their services for users.
Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses. They use plain text formats. They are not made up of code, so they cannot be executed or self-executed. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate themselves across networks in order to run again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
However, cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Since they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a specific website and across multiple websites, cookies may be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and regularly flag cookies for deletion during antivirus/anti-spyware scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity periods, and automatic deletion after a user has visited a particular website.
Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies
- Customize your browser’s cookie settings to reflect a level of security that you are comfortable with.
- If you share access to your computer, you may consider setting your browser to delete individual browsing data each time you close it. This is a way to access websites that place cookies and remove any browsing information at the end of the session.
- Install and regularly update anti-spyware applications.
- Many spyware detection and prevention applications include detection of website-based attacks. Thus, they prevent the browser from accessing websites that might exploit browser vulnerabilities or download harmful software.
How can you disable cookies?
Disabling and refusing to accept cookies may make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
You can configure your browser to refuse cookies or to accept cookies only from specific websites. However, for example, if a visitor is not registered using cookies, they 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 “Settings” menu, or in the “Preferences” or “Favorites” menu of the browser.
To understand these settings, the following links may be helpful:
Cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Cookie settings in Firefox
Cookie settings in Chrome
Cookie settings in Safari