Cookies are information packets sent by web servers to web browsers, and stored by the web browsers.
The information is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. This enables a web server to identify and track web browsers.
Cookies are used like virtual door keys, cookies unlock a computer's memory and allow a website to recognise users when they return to a site by opening doors to different content or services. Like a key, a cookie itself does not contain information, but when it is read by a browser it can help a website improve the service delivered.
Cookie files are automatically lodged into the cookie file - the memory of your browser - and each one typically contains:
- The name of the server the cookie was sent from
- The lifetime of the cookie
- A value - usually a randomly generated unique number
The website server which sent the cookie uses this number to recognise you when you return to a site or browse from page to page. Only the server that sent a cookie can read, and therefore use, that cookie.
Cookies can help a website to arrange content to match your preferred interests more quickly. Most major websites use cookies. Cookies cannot be used by themselves to identify you
There are two main kinds of cookies. Session cookies and Persistent cookies.
- Session cookies are deleted from your computer when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies remain stored on your computer until deleted, or until they reach their expiry date.
Where the use of a cookie type device does involve the processing of personal data, Viada Ltd. complies with the additional requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the Act).
In the rest of cases all personal data will be decoded so that it will not be available to anyone.
Your browser is likely to automatically accept Cookies but you may be able to configure your browser differently and Cookies can be deleted from your computer if you so wish. Some of the services may not be available if your browser does not accept Cookies or if they have been deleted.
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