Cookies Policy
To comply with the requirements set out in EU Regulation no. 679/2016 regarding data protection (GDPR), all website visitors are asked for their consent before cookies are transmitted to their devices. The CEMACON website uses both first-party 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 and delivery of various services that users enjoy on the internet, such as:
- Personalizing certain settings, such as the language in which a site is viewed, accessing old preferences by clicking the ‘forward’ and ‘back’ buttons.
- Providing valuable feedback to website owners on how their sites are used by users, allowing them to make them more efficient and accessible.
A. What is a “cookie”?
An “Internet Cookie” (also known as a “browser cookie” or “HTTP cookie” or simply “cookie”) is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, that will be stored on the computer, mobile terminal, or other equipment of a user from which the Internet is accessed.
The cookie is installed by 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 the information on the user's hard drive).
The duration of existence 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 information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify internet users.
There are two large categories of cookies:
- Session cookies: these are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser so that it can remember them until the user exits the website or closes the browser window.
- Persistent cookies: these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or equipment (depending on the pre-determined lifespan for the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a different website than the one the user is visiting at that moment—known as ‘third-party cookies’—which can be used anonymously to remember a user's interests so that advertising is delivered as relevant as possible to the user.
B. 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 react accordingly. Cookies ensure users have a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to provide comfortable services to users.
C. 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 not retained once the user leaves the website, while other cookies 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 browser settings.
D. What are third-party cookies?
Certain sections of content on some sites can be provided through third parties/providers. These third parties can also place cookies through the site, and they are called “third-party cookies” because they are not placed by the website owner. Third-party providers must also comply with the applicable law and the privacy policies of the site owner.
E. How are cookies used by a site?
A visit to a website can place cookies for purposes of:
- Increasing website performance;
- Analyzing visitors;
- Geotargeting;
- User registration.
Performance cookies
This type of cookie retains the user's preferences on this site, so they do not need to be set at every visit.
Cookies for visitor analysis
Each time a user visits a site, third-party analytics software generates a user analysis cookie. This cookie tells whether you have visited this site before. The browser will signal if you have this cookie, and if not, one will be generated. This allows the monitoring of unique users who visit the site and how often they do so. As long as the visitor is not registered on the site, this cookie cannot be used to identify individuals; it is used solely for statistical purposes.
Cookies for geotargeting
These cookies are used by software that determines which country you come from. It is completely anonymous and is used only to target content—even when the visitor is on the page in Romanian or another language, the same advertisement will be received.
Cookies for registration
When you register on a site, a cookie is generated that notifies whether you are registered or not. Servers use these cookies to show the account you are registered with and if you have permission for a specific service. If you have not selected “keep me logged in”, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close the browser or computer.
Other third-party cookies
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies, to track the success of an application or to customize an application. For example, when you share (share) an article using the social network button on a site, that social network will record your activity.
F. 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.
G. Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies represent the core of the efficient operation of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience adapted to each user's preferences and interests. Refusing or disabling cookies can make some sites 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 – categories of news, weather, sports, etc.
- Offers adapted to user interests – language preferences (e.g., displaying search results in Romanian).
- Measurement, optimization, and analytics features – such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed, and how a user arrives on a website (e.g., through search engines, directly, from other websites). Websites conduct these analyses of their usage to improve sites for the benefit of users.
H. Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed nor can they self-execute. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks to run or replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a specific site and across multiple other sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this fact and consistently mark cookies to be deleted during anti-virus/anti-spyware deletion/scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, expiration period, and automatic deletion after the user has visited a particular site.
I. Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies
- Customize your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect a comfortable level of security for using cookies.
- If you share access to your computer, you might consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data each time you close the browser. This is a way to access sites that place cookies and delete any visitation information upon closing the browsing session.
- Install and constantly update antispyware applications.
- Many spyware detection and prevention applications include detecting attacks on websites. Thus, they prevent the browser from accessing websites that could exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software.
J. How can I stop cookies?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make certain sites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
It is possible to set the browser to no longer accept these cookies or to accept cookies from a specific site. All modern browsers offer the possibility to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in the “options” or “preferences” menu of your browser.
Here are some tips to ensure you navigate worry-free but with the help of cookies:
- Customize your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect a comfortable level of security for using cookies.
- If you are not bothered by cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration terms for storing your browsing history and personal access data.
- If you share access to the computer, you might consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data each time you close the browser. This is a way to access sites that place cookies and delete any visitation information upon closing the browsing session.
- Install and constantly update antispyware applications.
Many spyware detection and prevention applications include detecting attacks on websites. Thus, they prevent the browser from accessing websites that could exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software.
Make sure your browser is always up to date.
Many of the attacks based on cookies are carried out by exploiting the weak points of old browser versions.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest websites on the Internet—local or international. With a clear understanding of their operation and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures to navigate the internet confidently.
K. The CEMACON site uses the following tools:
- Google Analytics: analysis and monitoring of site traffic.
- Google AdWords: remarketing component—marking traffic components as part of cohorts such as "group of people who visited the contact page"—used to deliver ads, not necessarily identifying an individual.
- Facebook Pixel: remarketing component—marking traffic components as part of cohorts such as "group of people who visited the contact page"—used to deliver ads, not necessarily identifying an individual.
- AVA: marketing automation—marking traffic components as part of cohorts such as "group of people