This policy aims to inform you why we use “cookies”, what they do, and what choices you have regarding their use.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are generated when your browser makes a request to our web server and are stored on your device. Their purpose is usually to allow us to identify your device and its behavior when visiting our websites.
There are two types of cookies – persistent and temporary (session cookies).
Session cookies are stored temporarily on your computer when you visit our Site, but are deleted as soon as you close the page.
Persistent cookies are stored as a file on your computer or mobile device for a longer period of time.
Except for cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, we store cookies on your device only with your consent. If you do not wish to accept cookies, you can adjust your browser settings – more information can be found at the end of this document.
If you prefer not to receive “cookies” while browsing our website, you can refuse them by setting your internet browser to warn you before accepting a cookie or to refuse cookies when your browser signals their presence. You can also refuse all cookies by disabling them through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies will affect the functionality of this and many other websites you visit. Disabled cookies will usually also result in disabling certain features of our website.
How to delete cookies?
You know when and whether your browser receives cookies because it notifies you on your first visit. This way you have the option to accept or reject a given cookie.
Your browser can be set to reject all cookies. If you want to learn how to do this, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org/ or the Microsoft Cookies Guide https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/260971/description-of-cookies.
Please note that changes in your browser that disable the cookie function may prevent the site from functioning properly.
You can choose which cookies to allow or block by visiting the respective browser settings pages:
Internet Explorer cookie settings: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies#ie=ie-10
Chrome cookie settings: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en&ref_topic=14666
Safari web cookie settings https://support.apple.com/kb/PH17191?locale=en_US and iOS https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265 .
Strictly necessary cookies
Certain “cookies” are necessary so that we can securely provide our services via the website. This category includes, for example:
– “Cookies” that identify or authenticate our users;
– “Cookies” that temporarily store certain user data (e.g. content of an online form);
– “Cookies” that store certain user preferences (e.g. search settings or language settings);
– “Cookies” that store data to ensure uninterrupted playback of video or audio content.
Analytical cookies
We use analytical “cookies” to record user behavior (e.g. clicks on advertising banners, search queries entered) and to statistically evaluate these actions.
Advertising cookies
We also use “cookies” for advertising purposes. User behavior profiles created with the help of such “cookies” (e.g. clicks on advertising banners, visited subpages, search queries entered) are used by us to show you advertisements or offers tailored to your interests (“interest-based advertising”).
Third-party advertising cookies
We also allow other companies to evaluate our users’ data through advertising “cookies”. This allows us and third parties to show users of our website interest-based advertisements based on an analysis of your usage behavior (e.g. clicks on advertising banners, visited subpages, search queries entered), and this is not limited only to our online offers.
Referral cookies
Our referral tracking partners place “cookies” on your computer (“referral cookie”) if you have reached our website through an advertisement of the respective partner. These “cookies” usually expire after 30 days. If you visit certain pages that we host and the “cookie” has not yet expired, we and the respective referral tracking partner can see that a specific user has clicked on the advertisement and has been redirected to our page. The information collected through the referral “cookie” is used to generate referral statistics and to determine the total number of users who clicked on the respective advertisement and were redirected to a page equipped with a referral tracking tag.
Web analytics
We need statistical information about the use of our website in order to make it more user-friendly, to measure reach, and to conduct market research.
For this purpose, we use the web analytics tools described in this section.
The user profiles created by these tools, using analytical cookies or by evaluating log files, do not contain personal data. The tools either do not use users’ IP addresses at all or shorten them immediately after collection.
The providers of the tools process the data only as processors of personal data according to our instructions, and not for their own purposes.
Below you will find information about each tool provider and how you can object to the collection and processing of personal data through the tool.
Please note that for tools that use opt-out cookies, the opt-out function is tied to the device or browser and is therefore valid for the currently used device or browser. If you use multiple devices or browsers, you must choose the opt-out function on each device and in each browser used.
In addition, you can generally prevent the creation of user profiles by disabling the use of cookies.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is provided by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”). We use Google Analytics with the additional function offered by Google for anonymizing IP addresses. Google shortens the IP address within the EU and only in exceptional cases in the USA, and in both cases records only shortened IP addresses.
You can object to the collection and processing of your data by downloading and installing a browser plugin from the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en
