A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that (with your consent) my site places on your computer. I will attempt to explain my site cookies and your privacy here.
I use cookies to allow me to identify you from other users visiting the website, so that I can improve your experience and the way my website works when you are browsing through it. I also use “analytical” cookies which allows the site to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how you and others move around my website. Cookies make it easy for you to find what you are looking for. Blocking or restricting cookies may affect the full function of this website.
Types of cookies:
Session – this type only lasts for the duration you are on the website.
Persistent – this type of cookie stays on your computer and remembers your settings the next time you come back.
First Party – these cookies are cookies set by our website in your browser’s address bar. This is used when you log in or comment on my site.
Third Party – Third-party cookies are cookies from other websites.
I use a number of service providers who may set cookies on their respective websites in order to offer you the services that they are providing.
I may also embed photos and video content from websites like YouTube. As a result, when you visit a page with content embedded from other websites like YouTube, you may be presented with cookies from that website. You should check the relevant third party website for more information about those cookies.
I have ‘share’ buttons to enable users of the website to share articles with their friends on websites like Facebook, Twitter and Google + social networks. These websites may set a cookie when you are also logged in to their service. I can not control the dissemination of Third Party Cookies.
How to control the use of cookies
You are not obliged to accept cookies and may modify your browser so that it will not accept cookies. The browser you use to surf the web not only allows you to see the cookies that you have got but also allows you to control their use.
You can control them by allowing them, deleting them individually or deleting all of them. You can also set your browser to not accept cookies altogether. If this option is selected, you should be aware that many websites will not function properly or at all. It may be possible to set your browser to not accept cookies and ask for your consent before each cookie is set on your device. This gives you control over what is set on your device, however has the drawback of slowing down your browsing experience.
There are different levels of control too. You are able to prevent just third party cookies being deployed, effectively opting out of behavioural advertising, and some even allow you to block specific companies you do not wish to deploy a cookie, instead of selecting all companies.
In order to manage your cookies, you should review your browser settings.
How can I prevent Online Behavioural Advertising?
Further to using your browser to controlling the use of cookies, there are also other ways that you can opt out of Online Behavioural Advertising.
The “Your Online Choices” page provided by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), provides an easy way to opt out of behavioural advertising from each (or all) of the networks represented by the IAB.