Please read the following information carefully:
This website uses both its own cookies and third-party cookies, in order to give visitors a much better browsing experience and services adapted to the needs and interests of each person.
In accordance with the EU “e-Privacy” Directive, in force since 26 May 2012, and with Law no. 506 of 17 November 2004 on the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector, all visitors to the website are asked for their consent before cookies are sent to their computers.
What is a “cookie”?
An “Internet cookie” (also known as a “browser cookie”, “HTTP cookie” or simply “cookie”) is a small file made up of letters and numbers, which is stored on the computer, mobile device or other equipment of a user from which the Internet is accessed. A cookie is installed at the request of a web server to a browser (for example Internet Explorer or Chrome) and is completely “passive”: it contains no software programs, viruses or spyware and cannot access information on the user’s hard drive.
Purpose and use of cookies
The scoala1buzau.ro platform installs cookies only to improve the functions offered, so that the experience of visiting the website becomes more pleasant. The scoala1buzau.ro domain does not use cookies to collect, process, distribute or record personal data.
Cookies play an important role in facilitating access to, and delivery of, the many services that users enjoy on the Internet, such as:
- personalising certain settings, such as the language in which a site is viewed, the currency in which certain prices are expressed, remembering options for various products in a shopping basket, and accessing earlier preferences using the “Forward” and “Back” buttons;
- giving website owners feedback on how their sites are used, so that they can make them even more efficient and accessible for users;
- allowing multimedia or other applications from other sites to be included in a given site, to create a more valuable, useful and pleasant browsing experience;
- improving the efficiency of online advertising.
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web browser (the user) with a specific web server (the website). If a browser accesses that web server again, the server can read the information already stored and react accordingly. Cookies give users a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to offer comfortable services to users, for example online privacy preferences, site language options, shopping baskets or relevant advertising.
What is the lifetime 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 for a single session only (session cookies) and are no longer kept once the user has left the website, while others are kept and reused every time the user returns to that website (“persistent cookies”). However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time through the browser settings.
What are third-party cookies?
Certain sections of content on some sites may be provided by third parties or providers (for example a news box, a video or an advertisement). These third parties may place cookies through another website; they are called “third-party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of that website. Third-party providers must also comply with the law in force and with the privacy policies of the site owner.
These cookies may come from the following third parties: facebook.com, twitter.com, etc.
How the website uses cookies
A visit to the website may place cookies for the purposes of:
- increasing website performance;
- visitor analysis;
- geotargeting;
- user registration.
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies, in order to track the success of an application or to customise an application. Because of the way they are used, the website cannot access these cookies, just as the third parties cannot access the cookies held by the website. For example, when a user shares an article using the social network button on a website, that social network will record the user’s activity, not the website on which the button is located.
What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies?
Cookies keep information in a small text file, which allows a website to recognise a browser. The web server will recognise the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted. A cookie stores important information that improves the browsing experience, for example the language settings in which a site is to be accessed, keeping a user logged in to a webmail account, online banking security, and keeping products in a shopping basket.
Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies are central to the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to create a friendly browsing experience adapted to the preferences and interests of each user. Refusing or disabling cookies can make some websites impossible to use. Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean that the user will no longer receive online advertising, only that it will no longer be able to take into account the user’s preferences and interests, shown by browsing behaviour.
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 run automatically. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate themselves on other networks in order to run or replicate again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses. Cookies can, however, be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on one website and on other websites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and constantly mark cookies for deletion during anti-virus / anti-spyware scanning and removal procedures. Browsers generally have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a given site.
Because identity protection is very valuable and is the right of every Internet user, it is advisable to know what problems cookies can create. As information is constantly transmitted in both directions between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorised person intervenes in 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 (for example an unsecured WiFi network). Other cookie-based attacks involve incorrect cookie settings on web 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, and then use the information to gain unauthorised access to certain sites. It is very important that users are careful when choosing the most suitable method of protecting their personal information.
Tips for safe and responsible browsing with cookies
- customise your browser settings regarding cookies, to reflect a level of cookie security that is comfortable for you;
- if cookies do not bother you and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiry periods for storing browsing history and personal access data;
- if you share access to a computer, consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data every time you close it;
- install and constantly update anti-spyware applications;
- make sure your browser is always up to date, because many cookie-based attacks exploit weaknesses in older browser versions.
What can you do if you do not want cookies installed on your computer?
For some people, storing information taken from their computer or mobile device is relatively invasive, especially when the information is stored and used by third parties unknown to them. If you prefer, you can block all cookies or only some of them, or even remove cookies that have already been installed on your device. Be aware, however, that you may then be unable to use certain functions. To enable this blocking, you need to change the privacy settings of your browser. All modern browsers offer the possibility of changing cookie settings; these are usually found in the “Options”, “Settings” or “Preferences” menus of the browser.
This page is an English translation of the cookie information. The Romanian version of the page, which also includes the general terms of use, is available here.
