COOKIES POLICY
We consider it important to be open about how we process and protect your data, and the information presented below is intended to bring to the fore more details about the placement, use and administration of “cookies”.
This website uses cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services tailored to their needs and interests. Without these cookies, the websites may not work as you used to, but we assure you that www.rafgallery.com uses only those cookies that we consider necessary and useful.
What is a “cookie”?
An “Internet Cookie” (also known as a “browser cookie” or “HTTP cookie” or simply “cookie”) is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, that will be stored on your computer, mobile terminal or other equipment of a user from which the Internet is accessed.
The cookie is installed by the request issued by a webserver to a browser (eg Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (does not contain software, viruses or spyware and can not access the information on the user’s hard drive) .
A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and content or value of the cookie. Moreover, the lifespan of a cookie is determined. Technically, only the webserver that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that webserver. Cookies themselves do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify internet users.
There are 2 major categories of cookies:
- Session cookies – these are temporarily stored in the cookies folder of the web browser so that it can store them until the user leaves the respective website or closes the browser window (eg when logging in / logging out on a webmail account or on social networks).
- Persistent cookies – These are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the default lifetime for the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the user is currently visiting – known as ‘third party cookies’ – which can be used anonymously to memorize a user’s interests so that the most relevant advertising for users is delivered.
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web browser (user) to a specific web server (website). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly. Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to provide convenient services to users (eg online privacy preferences, site language options, shopping cart or relevant advertising).
What is the lifetime of a cookie?
Cookies are administered by webservers. The lifetime of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session (session cookies) and are no longer retained after the user has left the website, others are retained and reused each time the user returns to that website (‘permanent cookies’ ). However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time, using browser settings.
What are third-party cookies?
Certain sections of content on some sites may be provided through third parties / providers (eg news box, video or advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the site and they are called “third party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of the respective website. Third party providers must also comply with the law in force and the privacy policies of the site owner.
How are the cookies used by this site?
A visit to this site may place cookies for the purposes of:
- Site performance cookies
- Analysis cookies
Cookies for visitor analysis
Each time a user visits this site, the analytics software provided by a third party generates a user analytics cookie. This cookie tells us if you have visited this site before. The browser will tell us if you have this cookie, and if not, we will generate one. It allows monitoring the unique users who visit us and how often they do it.
Third-party cookies
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies in order to track the success of an application or to customize an application. Due to the way they are used, this site cannot access these cookies, just as third parties cannot access the cookies owned by this site.
Cookies used by this site may come from Google Analytics. The site uses Google Analytics cookies to collect information about how visitors use this site and to detect possible navigation problems. Google Analytics stores information about the pages you visit, how long you have been browsing the site, how the site was accessed, and the sections accessed within the pages. No personal information is stored, therefore this information cannot be used to identify the user. Google provides more information about cookies in the privacy and cookie policy page.
Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies are the focal point of the efficient operation of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience, adapted to the preferences and interests of each user. Refusing or disabling cookies can make some sites impossible to use. Rejecting or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising – but only that it will no longer be able to take into account your preferences and interests, highlighted by your browsing behavior.
Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed or authored. As a result, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks to run or replicate again.
However, cookies can be used for negative purposes. Because it stores information about users’ preferences and browsing history, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware.
In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of acceptance of cookies, the validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a particular site.
Other security issues related to cookies
Because identity protection is very valuable and represents the right of every internet user, it is advisable to know what possible problems cookies can create. Because through them information is constantly transmitted in both directions between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorized person intervenes during the transmission of data, the information contained in the cookiecan be intercepted. Although very rare, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (eg an unsecured Wifi network).
Other cookie-based attacks involve incorrect cookie settings on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. The attackers then use the information for the purpose of unauthorized access to certain sites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate method of personal information protection.
Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies
- Customize your browser settings for cookies to reflect a comfortable level of cookie security.
- If you are the only person using the computer, you can set long deadlines for storing your browsing history and personal access data.
- If you share access to your computer, you can consider setting your browser to clear individual browsing data each time you close your browser. This is a way to access the sites that place cookies and to delete any visit information at the end of the browsing session.
- Always install and update your antispyware applications.
How can I stop cookies?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
It is possible to set in the browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted or you can set the browser to accept cookies from a specific site. But for example, if you are not registered with cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.
All browsers offer the ability to change cookie settings.
