What are cookies and how do they benefit you?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you browse websites.
Cookies are not actual programs or software. When you visit a website it stores a snippet of text from your visit; the next time you visit, this text is retrieved by the website so they can recognise you. Cookies have different uses depending on the website visited. Cookies allow websites to store such things as user preferences. You can think of cookies as providing a "memory" for the website, enabling it to recognise a user and respond appropriately. Cookies on our website do NOT store any personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, email addresses or phone numbers.
For more details see, What are Cookies?
Our cookies help us:
- Make our website work as you'd expect
- Remember your settings during visits
- Allow you to share pages (names/blog articles) with social networks like Facebook or Twitter
- Continuously improve our website for you
We do not use cookies to:
- Collect any personally identifiable information - we will always ask for your express permission if we ever do collect this information.
- Collect any sensitive information, without your express permission
What information is kept by the cookie?
A cookie will typically hold:
- The name of the website that it has come from
- How long the cookie will stay on your computer or phone
- A value – usually a randomly generated unique number
How long do cookies stay on my computer?
- Session cookies – these only last until you close your browser. They are not stored on your hard drive. They are generally used to track the pages that you visit so that information can be customised for you for that visit.
- Persistent cookies – these are stored on your hard drive until you delete them or they reach their expiry date. These may, for example, be used to remember your preferences when you use the site.
Granting us permission to use cookies
We use Cookiebot, to help us manage and obtain your cookie consent. These cookies are subject to the respective third-party providers' policies. For more information about Cookiebot's privacy practices, please visit their website.
Upon your first visit to our website, you will be presented with a banner requesting your consent to the use of cookies. By clicking "Accept" or by continuing to use our website, you agree to the placement of cookies on your device. You can also elect to opt-out of certain cookies via the Cookiebot selector.
Should you wish to remove or not use cookies from our site you can disable cookies through ‘Internet Options' on your browser menu at any time, however please be aware that doing so will probably mean that our site may not work as well as you would expect.
Our use of cookies falls into a few categories such as:
- Website function cookies
- Social media cookies
- Third party and advertising cookies
- Analytics cookies
More about our cookies
Website function cookies such as session or preference cookies
We use cookies to make our website function including:
- Holding information once you've logged in to save you having to re-login each time you visit a different page during your session
- Once you log off or close the browser the session cookie will be removed
Third-party functions
Our site, like most websites, includes functionality provided by third parties. A common example is an embedded YouTube or Vimeo video.
Disabling these cookies is likely to break the functions offered by these third parties
Social media website cookies
To facilitate easy sharing or liking of content on social network platforms such Facebook and X, we have included sharing buttons on our site. We also use Facebook Pixel and X Universal Website tag in order to make our ads more useful through tailored audiences.
The privacy implications on this will vary from social network to social network and will be dependent on the privacy settings you have chosen on these networks. If you are a Facebook user, you can find more info about their privacy policy here or opt-out from this link. For X users - read their privacy policy or opt-out here.
Anonymous visitor & behaviour statistics cookies
Analytics programs use cookies to compile website statistics for us to use to improve our site. Unless you explicitly give us your information by filling in a form or calling us, all data that analytics programs collect is stored anonymously where we only see totals and not specific individual data.
Examples include:
- How visitors reached our website (e.g. from a search engine, an advert, from social media site etc)
- The activity of users on the site such as the number of pages viewed, time spend on individual pages, the pages visitors leave our site on
- How often visitors return to our site
- Visitor technology used (e.g. browser, operating system, device etc)
These statistics help us make our site as user-friendly as possible, to ensure a good experience for all visitors.
We use:
- Google Analytics which is a program that helps us measure site usage details including the examples above (details of how to opt-out are further below).
Site improvement cookies
We regularly test new designs or site features on our site. We do this by showing slightly different versions of our website to different people and anonymously monitoring how visitors respond to these different versions. Ultimately this helps us to offer you a better website.
We use: Google Search Console
Google Advertising
Some of our business partners or third parties use cookies or other tracking technologies on our site, including:
- Third party vendors, including Google, show ads on sites on the internet.
- Third party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to our website.
We have no access to or control over these cookies. Users may opt out of Google's use of cookies by visiting the Google advertising opt-out page.
We use cookies to understand and save your preferences for future visits and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. We may contract with third-party service providers to assist us in better understanding our site visitors. These service providers are not permitted to use the information collected on our behalf except to help us conduct and improve our business.
You may opt out of the DoubleClick cookie by visiting the Google advertising opt-out page. If you wish to block unwanted or personalized Google ads in your browser you can opt-out from this link.
Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (‘Google’). Google Analytics uses cookies (text files placed on your computer) to help the website operators analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. In order to be able to better understand customers across devices we have activated Google Signals. This feature generates reports which include only aggregated data from users who have turned on their Ads Personalization. No data for individual users is ever exposed. You can read Google Analytics’ privacy policy here and if you wish to opt-out you can download and install Google's Browser Add-on.
Hotjar
We use Hotjar in order to better understand our users’ needs and to optimize this service and experience. Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to collect data on our users’ behavior and their devices (in particular device's IP address (captured and stored only in anonymized form), device screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), browser information, geographic location (country only), preferred language used to display our website). Hotjar stores this information in a pseudonymized user profile. Neither Hotjar our website or Hotjar will ever use this information to identify individual users or to match it with further data on an individual user. For further details, please see Hotjar’s privacy policy by clicking on this link.
You can opt-out of creation of a user profile, Hotjar’s storing of data about your usage of our site and Hotjar’s use of tracking cookies on other websites by following this Compliance link.
Turning cookies off
You can switch cookies off by adjusting your internet browser settings to stop it accepting cookies. There are many different browsers and versions. Some of the most common browsers and versions and listed below. Click the name of your preferred browser below to learn how to disable and manage cookies. If you version of browser is not listed, please visit your preferred search engine.
Please be aware though that turning off cookies will impair the performance of many websites and not just ours.
Cookie declaration last updated on 9/25/24 by Cookiebot:
| Necessary (20)
Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. |
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| Name | Provider | Purpose | Maximum Storage Duration | Type |
| _GRECAPTCHA | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. This is beneficial for the website, in order to make valid reports on the use of their website. | 180 days | HTTP Cookie | |
| _grecaptcha | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. This is beneficial for the website, in order to make valid reports on the use of their website. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage | |
| rc::a | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. This is beneficial for the website, in order to make valid reports on the use of their website. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage | |
| rc::b | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. | Session | HTML Local Storage | |
| rc::c | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. | Session | HTML Local Storage | |
| rc::d-15# | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage | |
| rc::f | This cookie is used to distinguish between humans and bots. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage | |
| 1.gif | Cookiebot | Used to count the number of sessions to the website, necessary for optimizing CMP product delivery. | Session | Pixel Tracker |
| CookieConsent | Taxback | Stores the user's cookie consent state for the current domain | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| SESS# | Taxback | Preserves users states across page requests. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| 4YApAdQULl4sinKene2dC3MP2cpkmztZRPIQDkdz | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| 7V7RYU1t08Qr0SADDmRVmSwhPAe1EdOdMGhPOgX1 | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| 9cvmyJv55JA0x0ePi4WROLK3nZmUw9VdUKrEIhWt | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| jE2iq19fhXL8WAQY31p5WJ6Mvnz5IWyAvOusu9aK | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| NvYCN9GKL9ejDAug7TsV6mM5kI2zVS21GEkpxZiW | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| tb_lp_ppc_fonts | Taxback | A functional cookie for the site. Helps load fonts faster from the Web server when the page is visited for a second time. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| utmParams | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| V6pkiuMY6qfQMKJToyjPNy2c4VBu81xoWlrOdpBH | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| w0Y7XMCLnQn1nlF8v1Tyedgm3nalMEE9dPT2b0rL | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| xbCAt2d2eEDI6WWWYA446ot7FXRF0oALfjTBxic3 | Taxback | Stores URL query parameters. These parameters are appended to links on the website pages and relevant content is displayed. The utmParams cookie helps parameter persist during the user journey on the website, as well as subsequent tracking statistics to be collected about the number of users for a particular marketing campaign. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| Statistics (12)
Statistic cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. |
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| Name | Provider | Purpose | Maximum Storage Duration | Type |
| hjActiveViewportIds | Hotjar | This cookie contains an ID string on the current session. This contains non-personal information on what subpages the visitor enters – this information is used to optimize the visitor's experience. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| hjViewportId | Hotjar | Saves the user's screen size in order to adjust the size of images on the website. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| ZD-buid | static.zdassets.com | Unique id that identifies the user on recurring visits. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| _ga | Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. | 2 years | HTTP Cookie | |
| _ga_# | Used by Google Analytics to collect data on the number of times a user has visited the website as well as dates for the first and most recent visit. | 2 years | HTTP Cookie | |
| _hjSession_# | Hotjar | Collects statistics on the visitor's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been read. | 1 day | HTTP Cookie |
| _hjSessionUser_# | Hotjar | Collects statistics on the visitor's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been read. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| _hjTLDTest | Hotjar | Registers statistical data on users' behaviour on the website. Used for internal analytics by the website operator. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| _tt_enable_cookie | TikTok | Used by the social networking service, TikTok, for tracking the use of embedded services. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| website_visit | Taxback | Collects statistics on the visitor's visits to the website, such as source of visit and date of visit. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| personalization_id | X/Twitter | This cookie is set by Twitter - The cookie allows the visitor to share content from the website onto their Twitter profile. | 400 days | HTTP Cookie |
| vuid | Vimeo | Collects data on the user's visits to the website, such as which pages have been read. | 2 years | HTTP Cookie |
|
Marketing (53) Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. |
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| NID | Registers a unique ID that identifies a returning user's device. The ID is used for targeted ads. | 6 months | HTTP Cookie | |
| li_gc | Stores the user's cookie consent state for the current domain | 180 days | HTTP Cookie | |
| rp.gif | Necessary for the implementation of the Reddit.com's share-button function. | Session | Pixel Tracker | |
| tt_appInfo | TikTok | Used by the social networking service, TikTok, for tracking the use of embedded services. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| tt_pixel_session_index | TikTok | Used by the social networking service, TikTok, for tracking the use of embedded services. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| tt_sessionId | TikTok | Used by the social networking service, TikTok, for tracking the use of embedded services. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| _uetsid | Bing | Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| _uetsid_exp | Bing | Contains the expiry-date for the cookie with corresponding name. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| _uetvid | Bing | Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| _uetvid_exp | Bing | Contains the expiry-date for the cookie with corresponding name. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| MSPTC | Bing | This cookie registers data on the visitor. The information is used to optimize advertisement relevance. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| MUID | Bing | Used widely by Microsoft as a unique user ID. The cookie enables user tracking by synchronising the ID across many Microsoft domains. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| fbssls_ | Collects data on the visitor’s use of the comment system on the website, and what blogs/articles the visitor has read. This can be used for marketing purposes. | Session | HTML Local Storage | |
| lastExternalReferrer | Detects how the user reached the website by registering their last URL-address. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage | |
| lastExternalReferrerTime | Detects how the user reached the website by registering their last URL-address. | Persistent | HTML Local Storage | |
| test_cookie | doubleclick.net | Used to check if the user's browser supports cookies. | 1 day | HTTP Cookie |
| fr | Used by Facebook to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real time bidding from third party advertisers. | 3 months | HTTP Cookie | |
| pagead/1p-user-list/# | Tracks if the user has shown interest in specific products or events across multiple websites and detects how the user navigates between sites. This is used for measurement of advertisement efforts and facilitates payment of referral-fees between websites. | Session | Pixel Tracker | |
| bcookie | Used by the social networking service, LinkedIn, for tracking the use of embedded services. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie | |
| li_sugr | Collects data on user behaviour and interaction in order to optimize the website and make advertisement on the website more relevant. | 3 months | HTTP Cookie | |
| lidc | Used by the social networking service, LinkedIn, for tracking the use of embedded services. | 1 day | HTTP Cookie | |
| 1/i/adsct | t.co | Collects data on user behaviour and interaction in order to optimize the website and make advertisement on the website more relevant. | Session | Pixel Tracker |
| muc_ads | t.co | Collects data on user behaviour and interaction in order to optimize the website and make advertisement on the website more relevant. | 400 days | HTTP Cookie |
| _fbp | Used by Facebook to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real time bidding from third party advertisers. | 3 months | HTTP Cookie | |
| _gcl_au | Used by Google AdSense for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites using their services. | 3 months | HTTP Cookie | |
| _rdt_uuid | Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. | 3 months | HTTP Cookie | |
| _ttp | TikTok | Used by the social networking service, TikTok, for tracking the use of embedded services. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| _uetsid | Bing | Collects data on visitor behaviour from multiple websites, in order to present more relevant advertisement - This also allows the website to limit the number of times that they are shown the same advertisement. | 1 day | HTTP Cookie |
| _uetvid | Bing | Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. | 1 year | HTTP Cookie |
| guest_id | X/Twitter | Collects data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and which pages have been loaded, with the purpose of personalising and improving the Twitter service. | 400 days | HTTP Cookie |
| guest_id_ads | X/Twitter | Collects information on user behaviour on multiple websites. This information is used in order to optimize the relevance of advertisement on the website. | 400 days | HTTP Cookie |
| guest_id_marketing | X/Twitter | Collects information on user behaviour on multiple websites. This information is used in order to optimize the relevance of advertisement on the website. | 400 days | HTTP Cookie |
| #-# | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| iU5q-!O9@$ | Youtube | Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen. | Session | HTML Local Storage |
| LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| LogsDatabaseV2:V#||LogsRequestsStore | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | Persistent | IndexedDB |
| nextId | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| remote_sid | Youtube | Necessary for the implementation and functionality of YouTube video-content on the website. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| requests | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| ServiceWorkerLogsDatabase#SWHealthLog | Youtube | Necessary for the implementation and functionality of YouTube video-content on the website. | Persistent | IndexedDB |
| TESTCOOKIESENABLED | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | 1 day | HTTP Cookie |
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Youtube | Tries to estimate the users' bandwidth on pages with integrated YouTube videos. | 180 days | HTTP Cookie |
| YSC | Youtube | Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen. | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| yt.innertube::nextId | Youtube | Registers a unique ID to keep statistics of what videos from YouTube the user has seen. | Persistent | HTTP Cookie |
| ytidb::LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTML Local Storage |
| YtIdbMeta#databases | Youtube | Used to track user’s interaction with embedded content. | 180 days | IndexedDB |
| yt-remote-cast-available | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTTP Cookie |
| yt-remote-cast-installed | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| yt-remote-connected-devices | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTTP Cookie |
| yt-remote-device-id | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Persistent | HTTP Cookie |
| yt-remote-fast-check-period | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| yt-remote-session-app | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTTP Cookie |
| yt-remote-session-name | Youtube | Stores the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video | Session | HTML Local Storage |