1. What are cookie?
cookie are small text strings that websites send to users terminal equipment (usually to the browser), where they are stored in order to be transmitted back to the same site once the user accesses again. During the navigation users can even receive on their terminal equipment cookie that are sent from different sites or web servers (so-called “third-parties”), which can reside on some elements (such as, for example, images, maps, sounds, links to specific pages on other domains) of the visited page.
Cookie, usually stored in the browser in very large number and sometimes for a long period of time, are used for different purposes: authentication, session monitoring, storing of data about specific configurations etc.
2. What are the main types of cookie?
In a legal sense, there are two main categories of cookie: technical cookie and profiling cookie.
a. Technical cookie
Technical cookie are used for the sole purpose of “permitting the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network, or strictly to permit the provider of an information service – explicitly requested by the subscriber or user – to provide such service” (Privacy Law, article 122, paragraph 1).
Cookie are not used for other purposes and are usually installed by the owner or webmaster of the website. They can be divided into groups: session or browsing cookie, which guarantee the normal navigation and use of the website (allowing, for example, to shop or login to access restricted areas); analytic cookie, considered technical cookie if used directly by the website operator to collect aggregate traffic data; functional cookie, which allow navigation according on users choices (for example, language, selected products etc.) in order to improve the service. These kind of cookie can be installed without users prior consent.
b. Profiling cookie
Profiling cookie are meant to create user profiles and used in order to send advertising messages based on the preferences expressed by the user while surfing the internet. Considering the potential high invasiveness of such cookie within users private sphere, the Italian and European Legislation require both the proper information and the expression of a valid consent.
According to article 122 of the privacy law “the storage of information in the terminal equipment of a user or the access to already stored information are only permitted after users informed consent (see the simplified procedure as defined in article 13, paragraph 3, Privacy Law).”
Session cookie
Session cookie contain information used in your current browser session. These cookie are automatically deleted when you close your browser. Nothing is stored on your computer after you leave the website (PHPSESSID).
First-party and third-party cookie
They differ depending on whether the person who installs cookie on the users terminal equipment is the website manager (which may be briefly indicated as “publisher”) or a different site (so called “third-party”).
First-party cookie, created and readable only by the site that generated them.
Third-party cookie, which are created and readable by external domains and the data of which are stored in third-party servers.
Visitors
We reserve the right to analyze the online activities of our websites visitors and users of our online services by using cookie and other tracking technologies. If you have opted to receive electronic communications from us, we may use cookie and other tracking technologies to personalize future communications according to your interests.
3. What cookie uses this website, which are their main features and how to opt out of each profiling cookie
This website may send you the below listed and briefly described cookie:
First-party technical cookie.
Main third-party cookie:
Third Party google-analytics.com
Third Party google.com
To disable one or more profiling cookie you can:
– access the above links and opt out;
– alternatively you can follow the below listed disabling procedure (for major browsers):
Microsoft Windows Explorer
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/block-or-allow-cookie
Mozilla Firefox
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Enabling%20and%20disabling%20cookie
Google Chrome
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61416?hl=it
Apple Safari
http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/
To disable Flash cookie
http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager02.html#118539