What are cookies?

Cookies are understood to mean computer data, especially text files, stored in end-user devices intended for using websites. These files allow the user's device to be recognized and the website to be displayed appropriately, adjusted to their individual preferences. Cookies usually contain the name of the website they come from, the time they are stored on the end-user device, and a unique number.

What do we use cookies for?

Cookies are used to adapt the content of websites to user preferences and to optimize the use of websites. They are also used to create anonymous, aggregated statistics that help understand how the user uses websites, which allows for the improvement of their structure and content, excluding the personal identification of the user.

What cookies do we use?

There are generally two types of "cookies" used: "session" and "persistent". The first are temporary files that remain on the user's device until logging out of the website or disabling the software (internet browser). "Persistent" files remain on the user's device for the time specified in the "cookies" parameters or until they are manually deleted by the user.
Cookies used by the website operator's partners, including in particular website users, are subject to their own privacy policies.
There is a detailed division of cookies based on:

Types of cookies according to their necessity to provide the service:

Necessary – they are absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the website or functionality that the user wants to use
Functional – they are important for the operation of the website:
- they serve to enhance the functionality of the website; without them the website will function properly, but it will not be adapted to the user's preferences,
- they are used to ensure a high level of functionality of the website, without the settings saved in the cookie file the functionality of the website may be reduced, but it should not prevent you from using it completely,
- służą bardzo ważnym funkcjonalnościom serwisu, ich zablokowanie spowoduje, że wybrane funkcje nie będą działać prawidłowo.
Business – they enable the implementation of the business model based on which the website is made available, blocking them will not result in the unavailability of all the functionality of the website but may reduce the level of service provision due to the inability of the website owner to realize revenues subsidizing the operation of the website. This category includes, for example, advertising cookies.

Due to the time during which the cookie will be placed on the user's end device:

Temporary cookies (session cookies) – cookies placed for the duration of the browser use (session), are deleted after closing it
Persistent cookies - are not deleted when the browser is closed and remain on the user's device for a specified period of time or without a validity period, depending on the website owner's settings

Due to the origin of the website administrator who manages cookies:

Own cookie (first party cookie) – cookie placed directly by the owner of the website that was visited
Third-party cookie – cookie placed by external entities whose website components were called by the website owner

Attention: cookies can be called by the administrator using scripts, components that are located on the partner's servers, located in a different location - another country or even a completely different legal system. In the event that the website administrator calls up service components from outside the administrator's system, other standard cookie policy rules than the website administrator's privacy / cookie policy may apply.

According to the purpose they serve:

Website configuration – enable setting functions and services on the website
Security and reliability of the service – enable authenticity verification and optimization of the service performance
Authentication – lets you know when a user is logged in, so the site can show you the right information and features
Session state – they enable recording information about how users use the website. They may relate to the most frequently visited pages or any error messages displayed on some pages. Cookies used to record the so-called "session state" help improve services and increase the comfort of browsing pages.
Processes – enable the efficient operation of the website itself and the functions available on it
Advertisements – enable the display of advertisements that are more interesting to users and at the same time more valuable to publishers and advertisers, personalize advertisements, can also be used to display advertisements outside the pages of the website (domain)
Location – allows you to adjust the displayed information to the user's location
Analysis and research, audience audit - allow website owners to better understand the preferences of their users and through analysis improve and develop products and services. Typically, the website owner or research company collects information anonymously and processes data on trends without identifying the personal data of individual users

Harmless – includes cookies:
necessary for the proper functioning of the website
needed to enable the functionality of the website, but their operation has nothing to do with user tracking

Researching – used to track users, but do not include information that allows identifying a specific user

Do cookies contain personal data?

Personal data collected using "cookies" may be collected only for the purpose of performing specific functions for the user. Such data is encrypted in a way that prevents access by unauthorized persons.

Deleting cookies

By default, software used to browse websites allows cookies to be placed on the end device. These settings can be changed to block automatic cookie handling in the web browser settings or to inform each time they are sent to the user's device. Detailed information on the possibilities and methods of handling cookies is available in the software (web browser) settings.

Limiting the use of cookies may affect some of the functionalities available on the website.