What is a cookie?
A cookie is a simple text file containing a small amount of data which is downloaded to your computer when you visit a website.
A cookie is downloaded by the server of the website you have visited and only that server will be able to retrieve or read the contents of that cookie. Each cookie is unique to your web browser and will contain some anonymous information such as a unique identifier and the website name.
A ‘session cookie’ is used for the duration of one visit to a website and is deleted from your computer when the browser is closed. A persistent cookie is used when you visit a website repeatedly (and the website would like to remember your preferences for your next visit) and is saved on your computer for a fixed period (usually a year or longer).
Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting (‘first party cookies’) which can only be read by that site, or they may be set by other websites which run content on the page you are viewing (‘third party cookies’). Third party cookies are set by a different organisation to the owner of the website you are visiting.
The ISTD website uses a session cookie to remember settings and help you move around the site and use certain features more effectively, such as accessing secure areas of the shop.
These are non-persistent session cookies which are deleted after you leave the ISTD website. These cookies do not retain sensitive information such as contact details or payment information.
We do not use advertising cookies. Any adverts placed on the ISTD website by external companies remain on set pages of the website, and are not based on your preferences or how you navigate around the website.
We do include links to external websites, for example in our news articles, and to social networks like Facebook, which may set their own (third party) cookies once linked to. We also use Google Analytics in order to tell us which of the pages and links on our website are viewed most often so that we can improve our content.
What can I do to control cookies?
Although cookies are generally harmless you might not like the idea of third party cookies being set to target you with certain content or advertisements.
In Internet Explorer you can refuse all cookies by clicking “Tools”, “Internet Options”, “Privacy”, and selecting “Block all cookies” using the sliding selector. In Firefox you can block all cookies by clicking “Tools”, “Options”, and un-checking “Accept cookies from sites” in the “Privacy” box.
The website www.aboutcookies.org provides lots of information on how you can manage cookies on a range of browsers.