What are cookies and how they are used?

To improve the visitors’ online browsing experience, we use cookies that make it easier to use the ELMAS websites and/or online store.

A cookie is a small file usually consisting of letters and numbers. It is downloaded to the hard drive of a computer or other device used to browse the internet (smartphone, tablet, etc.) when the user accesses a particular website.

 

A cookie cannot access the information on the user’s hard drive, it does not contain software or viruses, being completely “passive”.

When the user accesses a website using an Internet browser, the website sends information to the browser and it creates a text file. Each time the user accesses that website again, the browser transmits this file to the website. Thus, the cookie always announces the website whenever the user returns to it.

Generally, the role of cookies is to ensure a quick and easy interaction between users and websites. Cookies are also used to allow users to easily resume their activities during future visits of a previously visited site. Basically, cookies tell the server what pages need to be displayed to the user, who does not have to remember the pages he/she browsed or to browse the site all over again.

 

Why do we use cookies?

• To recognize past website visitors.

• To improve ELMAS websites and online applications.

• To better understand the interests of our customers and visitors to our websites.

• To recognize new visitors on ELMAS online websites and applications

In short, cookies are used to recall user choices at a given time or to recognize frequent visitors to a web page, providing them with a pleasant browsing experience.

Note:  Cookies do not retain personal information - this information is only available in the user account after authentication.

 

What is the lifetime of a cookie?

A cookie may have a validity period (lifetime) ranging between a website visit session up to a few years, or it may never expire. A user may at any time remove all cookies from the browser.

Types of cookies used on the ELMAS website

1. Performance cookies:

Performance cookies retain the users’ preferences and how they use the site, so they no longer need to be set at each site visit. These do not collect information that can identify users, all data being anonymous. Performance cookies are only used to improve the operation of the site.

2. Session cookies:

Session cookies are stored in the user’s device during the browsing session. They store an anonymous session identifier, allowing the user to visit a website without having to enter the identification information (username, password, etc.) into each page.

Such cookies are commonly used in online stores. For example, when users visit a certain page of a product catalogue and select certain products, the cookie remembers the selected products and adds them to the shopping cart that will contain all the products selected when the users want to leave the page.

Session cookies are stored in the device memory only during an Internet browsing session and they are removed when the browser is closed. They may also become inaccessible if the session is inactive for a certain period of time.

3. Functional cookies:

Functional cookies store user preferences and allow the site to provide an enhanced browsing experience. These cookies ensure the delivery of custom content based on the browsing history, thus allowing the user to be recognized (for example, a user’s option for the selection of an ELMAS online store from a certain city).

4. Strictly necessary, essential cookies

The strictly necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic features such as page browsing and access to secure areas on the site. The website cannot operate properly without these cookies.

The cookies classified as strictly necessary will NOT be used to collect information that could be used to promote products or services to you.

If you block these cookies, our website cannot operate. For the operation of our website, at the time of access, we recommend that you agree to the use of the strictly necessary cookies.

To improve user experience, we may also use the following technologies:

5. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to collect information about how visitors use our websites and web apps. For example, we collect details such as the source of the visit and the total number of visitors to our website and apps. This allows us to determine the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns and the user activity on our websites and apps.

Find out more about the Google Analytics privacy policy here: https://support.google.com

How can the user control cookies?

To control and/or delete cookies as you wish, you can access the “help” section of your browser and you can opt for this setting. However, please be warned that in some situations:

• you will not be able to view the website anymore

• you will no longer be able to login to the site

• some services or options may no longer function

• the experience will no longer be the same as when cookies are enabled

The internet browser allows users to control/disable cookies. The way you do this depends on the cookie type.

To learn more about enabling/disabling or deleting cookies in your browser, you can access this page: https://www.allaboutcookies.org/

Some browsers are provided with the “Do Not Track” function which allows users not to be tracked while browsing. Blocking cookies or using the “Do Not Track” can block certain features on our sites.

 

 How do I uninstall/delete cookies?

Caution: Disabling cookies can make it difficult or even impractical to browse on certain websites!!!

Moreover, you can no longer enjoy a pleasant browsing experience and, implicitly, all the benefits offered by the website.

Current browsers provide users with the ability to change their cookie settings. These are usually found in the “Help”, “Options” or “Preferences” menu in browsers.

Below you can find information about cookies from the most popular internet browsers:

1. Internet Explorer:

https://support.microsoft.com/ro-ro/help/278835/how-to-delete-cookie-files-in-internet-explorer

2. Mozilla Firefox:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cookies-information-websites-store-on-your-computer?redirectlocale=en-US!%24#amp#%24!redirectslug=Cookies

3. Safari:

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH5042?locale=en_US

4. Google Chrome:

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en

5. Opera

https://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/privacy/

6. Edge:

https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy

The list of cookies that may be used by Elmas websites:

Cookie name	Cookie description	Lifetime	Cookie type
_utma	GOOGLE ANALYTICS - a cookie that does not expire, keeps track of the first visit to the site, the number of visits and the most recent visit	Unlimited	Session
_utmb	GOOGLE ANALYTICS - timestamp when the user enters the site	30 minutes	Session
_utmc	GOOGLE ANALYTICS - timestamp when the user leaves the site	Session end	Session
_utmt	GOOGLE ANALYTICS - cookie that indicates the type of request and the type of event, transaction, etc.	10 minutes	Session
_utmz	GOOGLE ANALYTICS - expires after 6 months and retains user information - where they came from, what search engine they used, what link they clicked on, which keyword they used and where they visit the website came from.	6 months	Session
GPS	A unique identifier given to each mobile device that allows tracking based on GPS location.		Session
IDE	Used by Google DoubleClick for re-targeting, optimization, reporting, and attribution of online ads.	2 years	Advertising
NID	This cookie contains a unique ID that Google uses to retain your preferences and other information such as your preferred language (e.g. Romanian), the number of search results you want to appear on the page (e.g. 10 or 20) and if you want the Google SafeSearch filter to be enabled.	6 months	Preference
PREF	This cookie stores your preferences and other information, in particular preferred language, how many search results you want to be displayed on your page, and whether or not you want Google's SafeSearch filter turned on.	8 months
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE	A cookie that YouTube sets that measures your bandwidth to determine whether you get the new player interface or the old.	179 days
YSC	This cookie is set by YouTube video service on pages with embedded YouTube video.	Session end	Session

Last update of the Elmas Cookie Policy: 17/07/2018