COOKIE USAGE POLICY
| I. Additional Information About Cookies |
Our goal is to provide you with an online experience that is as interactive and secure as possible, and for this, we use cookies or similar techniques. It is important for you to understand what cookies our site uses and for what purpose, as this helps protect your privacy while ensuring ease of use on our website.
| II. Advantages of Cookies |
A cookie contains information linking a web browser (the user) and a specific web server (the website). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the previously stored information and react accordingly. Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support many website functionalities, such as privacy preferences, language settings, shopping carts, or relevant advertising.
| III. What Are Cookies? |
Cookies (also known as “browser cookies” or “HTTP cookies”) are small text files consisting of letters and numbers that are stored on your device (computer, mobile terminal, or other equipment used by a User to access the Internet).
Cookies are installed through a web server request sent to a browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome) and are completely “passive” (they do not contain software, viruses, or spyware and cannot access information from the user’s hard drive).
A cookie consists of two parts: the name and its content or value. Additionally, the lifetime of a cookie is determined. Thus, technically, 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 request personal data to be used, and in most cases, do not identify internet users personally.
| IV. What types of cookies do we use? |
There are two main categories of cookies:
a) Session Cookies – These are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser so that it remembers them until the User exits the respective website or closes the browser window (e.g., during login/logout on a webmail account or social networks).
b) Persistent Cookies – These are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the predefined lifespan of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the User/Visitor is currently visiting—known as ‘third-party cookies’—which can be used anonymously to remember a User’s interests, delivering the most relevant advertising for the User.
Essential Cookies
We use essential cookies to ensure our website functions properly. These cookies are strictly necessary to enable basic functionalities such as security, network management, your cookie preferences, and accessibility. They are essential to allow you to navigate the site and use its features. If you remove or disable these cookies, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to use our website effectively.
Analytics and Customization Cookies
These cookies collect information used to analyze how a website is utilized, count the number of visitors, and determine how the website can be improved. We do not associate website usage statistics and other reports with individual persons. These cookies are referred to as analytical cookies.
We use cookies provided by Google Analytics to collect limited data directly from end-users’ browsers, allowing us to better understand how our website is used. More information about how Google collects and uses this data can be found at: [Google Privacy Policies](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/). You can opt out of all Google-approved analytics on our websites by visiting: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
As long as you are not registered on our website, these cookies cannot be used to identify individuals; they are used solely for statistical purposes. If you are registered, we may also know the details you have provided, such as your email address and username, which are subject to confidentiality and governed by the Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and applicable data protection legislation.
Performance and Functionality Cookies
These cookies are used to improve the performance and functionality of our website but are not essential for its use. However, without these cookies, certain functionalities, such as videos, may become unavailable, or you may be required to enter your login details each time you visit the website because we won’t remember that you previously logged in.
This type of cookie retains the Visitor/User preferences on this site, so they do not need to be set again with each visit. Examples include: – Volume settings for a video player – Video streaming speed compatible with the browser
Social Media Cookies
We use social media cookies to enable the integration of social media platforms on our website and allow you to immediately like or share a page or product on your preferred social media service.
These cookies are used when you share information using a social media sharing button, a “like” button on our website, or when you link your account or interact with our content on or through a social media site such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. The social network will record that you have done this. These cookies may also include specific code placed on the platform to help track ad conversions, optimize ads based on collected data, build targeted audiences for future ads, and remarket to qualified users who have already taken specific actions on the platform.
Advertising Cookies
We use cookies to enable online advertising, which can be personalized to display more relevant and engaging ads for you, both on our website and outside of it. This is achieved through advertising cookies (targeted cookies).
The information generated by cookies about how the website is used—standard internet usage log data (including your IP address) and information about visitor behavior in an anonymous form—is transmitted to and stored by Google, including on servers in the United States. Before being transmitted to Google, your IP address is anonymized.
These cookies allow us to determine whether you have viewed an online advertisement, the type of ad, and how much time has passed since you saw the advertisement. We also use these cookies to target online advertising. Additionally, we may use third-party cookies to better target advertising, for instance, to display ads about vacations if the User has recently read an article on the site about vacations. These cookies are anonymous; they store information about the content viewed, not about users. We also set anonymous cookies through other sites where we advertise. By receiving these cookies, we can recognize you as a User of that site, and if you subsequently visit our site, we can deliver advertising based on this information.
Marketing Cookies
These account-based marketing cookies allow us to identify future prospects and personalize sales and marketing interactions with them.
Geotargeting Cookies
These cookies are used by software to determine the country you are accessing the website from. They are completely anonymous and are only used to target content—for example, even when you are on our page in Romanian or another language, you will receive the same advertisement.
Registration Cookies
When you register on this site, we generate a cookie that notifies us whether you are registered or not. Our servers use these cookies to identify the account you are registered with and verify whether you have permission to access a specific service. Additionally, it allows us to associate any comment you post on our website with your username. If you have not selected “keep me signed in,” this cookie will automatically be deleted when you close your browser or computer.
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies set on our website are not directly set by Geordash. Certain content sections on some websites may be provided through third parties/suppliers (e.g., a news box, a video, or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the site, which are referred to as “third-party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of the respective website. Third-party providers must also comply with applicable laws and the Privacy Policies of the website owner.
Third-party service providers control many of the performance and functionality, advertising, marketing, and analytics cookies described above. We do not control the use of these third-party cookies, as the cookies can only be accessed by the third party that initially set them.
| V. How You Can Manage or Disable Cookies in Your Browser |
Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifespan of a cookie can vary significantly depending on its purpose. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session (session cookies) and are not retained once the User leaves the website, while others are stored and reused each time the User returns to that website (persistent cookies). However, cookies can be deleted by a User at any time through browser settings.
You should know that you can manage your cookie preferences through the pop-up window on our website or through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to view what cookies you have and delete them individually, block third-party cookies, block cookies from specific sites, block all cookies, or delete all cookies when you close the browser.
However, if you limit websites’ ability to set cookies, your overall user experience may suffer, as it will no longer be personalized for you.
Additionally, you should know that blocking cookies in your browser may result in the loss of some saved information (e.g., saved login details or site preferences). Different browsers offer different controls. Disabling a cookie or a category of cookies does not delete the cookie from your browser; you will need to do this manually through your browser settings. Visit the browser help menu for more information.
Browser manufacturers provide help pages on managing cookies in their products. Please see below for more information:
●Google Chrome ●Internet Explorer ●Mozilla Firefox ●Safari (desktop) ●Safari (mobil) ●Browser Android ● Opera ●Opera Mobile
| VI. Why Are Cookies Important for the Internet? |
Cookies are central to the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to create a friendly browsing experience tailored to each User’s preferences and interests. Refusing or disabling cookies can make some websites unusable.
Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean you will no longer receive online advertising—it just means that it will no longer reflect your preferences and interests as identified through your browsing behavior.
Examples of important uses of cookies (that do not require user authentication through an account):
– Content and services tailored to the User’s preferences – news categories, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment sites, and travel services.
– Offers tailored to User interests – remembering passwords, language preferences (e.g., displaying search results in English).
– Retention of child protection filters for internet content – family mode options, safe search features.
– Providing more relevant advertising for the User.
– Limiting the frequency of ad displays – restricting the number of times a specific ad is shown to a User on a website.
– Measurement, optimization, and analytics features – such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, determining what type of content is viewed, and how a User arrives at a website (e.g., through search engines, direct visits, or referrals from other websites). Websites perform these usage analyses to improve the experience for Users.
| VII. Security and Privacy Issues |
Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of code fragments, so they cannot be executed or self-run. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate themselves on other networks to execute or replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
However, cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about Users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a specific site and across multiple sites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and routinely flag cookies for deletion during anti-virus/anti-spyware scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have built-in privacy settings that provide varying levels of acceptance for cookies, their expiration period, and automatic deletion after the User visits a specific site.
| VIII. Other Security Aspects Related to Cookies |
Because protecting identity is highly valuable and represents the right of every Internet User, it is important to understand the potential issues cookies may pose. Since cookies constantly transmit information back and forth between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorized individual intercepts this data exchange, the information contained in cookies can be accessed. Although this is rare, it can occur if the browser connects to a server using an unencrypted network (e.g., 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 exploit this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. Attackers then use this information to gain unauthorized access to certain sites. It is crucial to carefully choose the most appropriate method to protect personal information.
| IX. Tips for Safe and Responsible Browsing with Cookies |
Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest websites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable. Disabling cookies may prevent Users from accessing some of the most popular and frequently used websites, including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo, and others.
Here are a few tips to ensure you browse worry-free while benefiting from cookies:
– Customize your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect a level of security that is comfortable for you when using cookies.
– If you don’t mind cookies and are the sole user of the computer, you can set long expiration dates for storing your browsing history and personal access data.
– If you share computer access, consider setting your browser to delete individual browsing data every time you close the browser. This is a way to access sites that place cookies while ensuring all visit data is erased at the end of the browsing session.
– Install and constantly update antispyware applications.
Many antispyware detection and prevention applications include detection of attacks on websites. This helps block the browser from accessing websites that could exploit browser vulnerabilities or download malicious software. Ensure your browser is always updated. Many cookie-based attacks exploit weaknesses in older browser versions.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest websites on the Internet, whether local or international. With a clear understanding of how they work and the benefits they offer, you can take the necessary security measures to confidently browse the web.
| X. Changes to Our Cookie Policy |
We may update our services and policies, which may require changes to this Cookie Policy to accurately reflect our services and policies. Unless otherwise required by law, we will notify you (e.g., through our Service) before making changes to this Cookie Policy and provide you with the opportunity to review them before they take effect.
If you continue to use the Service after the updated Cookie Policy takes effect, you agree to be bound by the revised Cookie Policy. If you do not agree with this policy or any updated Cookie Policy, you can delete your account.
| XI. Your Consent |
By using our website, registering an account, or making a purchase, you agree to our Cookie Policy and accept its terms.
