Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored by websites on a user's device to store information about their visit and interactions. These files contain specific data such as user preferences, login status, profile information and other usage statistics that personalize the web browsing experience and make it more efficient.

• Session management: Cookies help websites to identify users across different pages and visits and maintain login status.
• Personalization: Websites use cookies to store user preferences such as language settings, topics and interests and to offer personalized content based on these.
• Tracking and analysis: Cookies collect data about user behavior that is valuable to website operators to optimize their websites and serve relevant advertising.

• Session cookies: These are stored temporarily and deleted when the browser is closed. They are essential for the functioning of e-commerce websites and secure areas.
• Persistent cookies: These remain stored after the browser is closed and retain user settings and login information for future visits.
• First-party cookies: Set directly by the website visited, they help manage user data and preferences specific to that site.
• Third-party cookies: Set by advertising networks or analytics services that are not directly associated with the visited site. They are often used for extensive tracking and advertising.

• Usability: Improves the user experience by loading pages faster and remembering user preferences.
• Efficient marketing: Enables targeted advertising based on user behavior and preferences.
• Analytical insights: Provides website operators with important information to optimize their content and services.

The use of cookies raises data protection issues, particularly with regard to the use of tracking cookies, which can create extensive profiles of user activity. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and similar laws worldwide therefore require websites to inform users about the use of cookies and to obtain their explicit consent.

How can I manage or delete cookies?

Most modern browsers offer settings to block or delete cookies. Users can customize settings to accept all or only certain cookies.

Are cookies safe?

Cookies themselves are not harmful as they are not programs and cannot execute code. The risk lies more in the potential data breach through the collection of sensitive data.

What happens if I disable cookies?

Disabling cookies can affect the functionality of websites, e.g. preventing automatic logins or saving shopping cart content.

Why do websites ask for consent to use cookies?

Legal regulations require that websites provide transparency about their cookie usage and obtain explicit consent from users to protect their privacy.

Can cookies infect my devices?

No, cookies cannot transmit viruses or install malware. They are simple text files and cannot be executed.