What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files containing a string of characters that can be placed on your computer or mobile device that uniquely identify your browser or device.

 

What are cookies used for?

Cookies allow a site or services to know if your computer or device has visited that site or service before. Cookies can then be used to help understand how the site or service is being used, help you navigate between pages efficiently, help remember your preferences, and generally improve your browsing experience. Cookies can also help ensure marketing you see online is more relevant to you and your interests.

 

What types of cookies does the company use?

There are generally four categories of cookies: “Strictly Necessary,” “Performance,” “Functionality,” and “Targeting.” The company routinely uses all four categories of cookies on the website. You can find out more about each cookie category below.

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies. These cookies are essential, as they enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing logged in or secure areas.
  • Performance Cookies. These cookies collect information about how you have used the website. We also use cookies to track aggregate website usage and experiment with new features and changes on the website. The information collected is used to improve how the website works.
  • Functionality Cookies. These cookies allow us to remember when you logged in or out. These cookies also allow us to tailor the website to provide enhanced features and content for you. The information these cookies collect may be anonymous, and they are not used to track your browsing activity on other sites or services.
  • Targeting Cookies. These cookies can target advertising and track your usage across other websites

 

How long will cookies stay on my device?

The length of time a cookie will stay on your computer or mobile device depends on whether it is a “persistent” or “session” cookie. Session cookies will only stay on your device until you stop browsing. Persistent cookies stay on your computer or mobile device until they expire or are deleted.

 

First and third party cookies

First-party cookies are cookies that belong to the company, third-party cookies are cookies that another party places on your device through the website that you are visiting. Third-party cookies may be placed on your device by someone providing a service for the company, to help us understand how our website is being used. Third-party cookies may also be placed on your device so that they can use them to advertise products and services to you elsewhere on the Internet.

 

How to control and delete cookies

If you want to delete or disable cookies follow the instructions from your mobile device or web browser provider’s technical information. Note that if you set your devices or browser to disable cookies, you may not be able to access certain parts of our website and other parts of our website may not work properly. You can find out more information on cookie settings at third-party information sites, such as www.allaboutcookies.org.