About Cookies
The fado.ro website uses cookies
The following information is intended to provide the user with more details about placement and use
and managing the "cookies" used by the fado.ro website. There are also some useful links related to this
topic.
Please read the following information carefully:
This website uses its own and third-party cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services adapted to everyone's needs and interests. In what we call "web 2.0", "cookies" play an important role in facilitating the access and delivery of the multiple services that the user enjoys on the Internet, such as:
- customizing certain settings such as: the language in which a site is viewed, the currency in which certain prices or tariffs are expressed, keeping options for various products (measurements, other details, etc.) in the shopping cart (and memorizing these options) - generating thus the flexibility of the "shopping basket" (accessing old preferences by accessing the "forward" and "back" button);
- cookies provide website owners with valuable feedback on how their websites are used by users, so that they can make them even more efficient and accessible for users;
- allow multimedia or other applications from other sites to be included in a certain site to create a more valuable, useful and pleasant browsing experience;
- improve the effectiveness of online advertising.
What is a "cookie"?
An "Internet Cookie" (term also known as "browser cookie" or "HTTP cookie" or simply "cookie") is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, which will be stored on the computer, mobile terminal or other equipment of a user from which the Internet is accessed.
The cookie is installed through the request issued by a web server of a browser (eg: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.) and is completely "passive" (it does not contain software programs, viruses or spyware and cannot access the information from the user's hard drive).
A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and the content or value of the cookie. Moreover, the lifetime of a cookie is technically determined - only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again, when a user returns to the website associated with that web server.
Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.
There are 2 large categories of cookies:
- Session cookies - these are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser so that it remembers them until the user leaves the respective website or closes the browser window (eg when logging in/out of an account webmail or on social networks).
- Persistent Cookies - these are stored on the hard disk of a computer or equipment (and generally depends on the lifetime of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the user is visiting at the time - known as 'third party cookies' - which can be used anonymously to remember a user's interests so that the most relevant advertising to users is delivered.
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that connects a web-browser (the user) and a specific web-server (the 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 offer comfortable services to users: e.g. online privacy preferences, site language options, shopping carts or relevant advertising.
What is the lifespan of a cookie?
Cookies are managed by web servers. 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 once the user has left the website and some cookies are retained and reused every time the user returns to that website ('cookie- permanent ures').
However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time through the browser settings.
What are cookies placed by third parties?
Certain sections of content on some sites may be provided through third parties/providers (eg: news box, a video or an advertisement).
These third parties can also place cookies through the website 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 applicable law and the privacy policies of the site owner.
How are cookies used by this website?
A visit to this site may place the following types of cookies:
- Visitor analysis cookies
- Registration cookies
These cookies may come from the following third parties: Google.com, Facebook.com and others.
Cookies for visitor analysis
Each time a user visits this site, 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 of unique users who visit us and how often they do so.
Cookies for registration
When you register on this site, we generate a cookie that tells us whether you are registered or not. Our servers use these cookies to show us the account you are registered with and if you have permission for a particular service. This cookie will be deleted automatically when you close your browser or computer.
Other third-party cookies
On some pages, third parties can set their own anonymous cookies, in order to track the success of an application or to customize an application.
Due to the way of use, this site cannot access these cookies, just as third parties cannot access the cookies owned by this site.
For example, when you share an article using the social network button on this site, that social network will record your activity.
What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies?
Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognize a browser.
The web server will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.
The cookie stores important information that improves the Internet browsing experience (eg: language settings in which a website is accessed; keeping a user logged in to the webmail account; online banking security; keeping products in the shopping cart).
Why are cookies important to the Internet?
Cookies represent the central point of the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience adapted to the preferences and interests of each user. Rejecting or disabling cookies may make some sites unusable.
Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require the authentication of a user through an account):
- content and services adapted to the user's preferences - categories of news, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment sites and travel services;
- offers adapted to the interests of users - retention of passwords, language preferences (eg: display of search results in Romanian);
- retention of child protection filters regarding Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions);
- limitation of the frequency of broadcasting of advertisements - limitation of the number of displays of an advertisement for a certain user on a site;
- providing more relevant advertising for the user;
- measurement, optimization and analytics features - such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed and how a user arrives at a website (e.g. through search engines, directly, from other websites etc.).
The websites carry out these analyzes of their use, in order to improve the sites for the benefit of the users.
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, nor can they auto-run.
Consequently, they cannot be duplicated or replicated to other networks to run or replicate again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about the preferences and browsing history of users, both on a specific site and on several other sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this fact and constantly mark cookies to be deleted during anti-virus/anti-spyware deletion/scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity period and automatic deletion, after the user has visited a certain site.
Other security aspects related to cookies
Since 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 data transmission, the information contained in the cookie can 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 missetting cookies 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 over unsecured channels.
The attackers then use the information to gain unauthorized access to certain websites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate personal information protection model.
Tips for safe and responsible browsing, based on cookies
Due to their flexibility, and the fact that most of the most visited and largest sites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable.
Deactivating cookies will not allow the user access to the most widespread and used sites, including Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.
Here are some tips that can ensure that you browse without worries but with the help of cookies:
- customize your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect a comfortable level of cookie security;
- if you don't mind cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration dates for storing browsing history and personal access data;
- if you share access to the computer, you can consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data, every time you close the browser. This is a variant to access the sites that place cookies and to delete any visit information at the end of the browsing session;
- install and constantly update your antispyware applications.
Many of the spyware detection and prevention applications include detection of attacks on websites. Thus, it prevents the browser from accessing websites, which could exploit the vulnerabilities of the browser, or download dangerous software.
Make sure your browser is always up to date.
Many of the cookie-based attacks are made by exploiting the weak points of old versions of browsers.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and biggest sites on the Internet - local or international. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures so that you can surf the Internet with confidence.
How can I stop cookies?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive/see online advertising.
It is possible to set 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 using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.
All modern browsers offer the possibility to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in the browser's "options" or "preferences" menu.
To understand these settings, the following links may be useful, otherwise you can use the "help" option of your browser for more details.
Cookie settings in Microsoft Edge
Cookie settings in Firefox
Cookie settings in Chrome
For the settings of cookies generated by third parties, you can also consult the website:
https://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/
Useful Links
If you want to find out more information about cookies and what they are used for, we recommend the following link:
All About Cookies
IAB Romania provides the following website to provide more information on privacy related to online advertising:
http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/
For more details related to privacy issues, you can also access the following links:
https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/data-protection-eu
http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/