What exactly are cookies?

A cookie is a text file that is used to store information for a limited time. Most websites use such cookies. These are automatically downloaded and saved by your browser the first time you visit a website. Such a cookie contains at least two components, the name and the value of the file. There is usually also a self-deletion date, which can provide for an arbitrary lifespan for the cookie. A distinction is therefore made between so-called session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are automatically deleted immediately when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies remain stored on your computer depending on the lifespan set for the cookie. They are only deleted after a certain time limit has expired. These cookies remember your preferences when you visit the website again.

Are cookies evil?

This question cannot be answered in general terms. It depends on what data a website's cookies store or do not store. And what this information is ultimately used for. You can think of cookies as tools, such as a hammer or a saw. They are basically meant to be useful, but they can also be used for negative things. It is therefore important to differentiate and make an appropriate decision as to which cookies are necessary and important for you personally and which do not need to be stored. Accordingly, you should configure the cookie settings on your device.

Why are cookies actually needed?

Cookies are intended to make the user's visit to the website easier and more user-friendly. For example, when shopping online, they allow the website to “remember” which products you have put in your shopping cart when you visit it again or to automatically display your preferred layout and font size. However, not all cookies are useful and solely for the benefit of the user. For example, tracking cookies are used to track your behavior on websites and to place advertising accordingly or to make websites more user-friendly. You should therefore consider which cookies you should allow and which should be rejected. To make this decision, it is helpful to know what types of cookies there are.

What cookies are there?

• Functional cookies are those that are absolutely necessary to ensure essential functions of the website. Without this, the website cannot be used as intended. Among other things, they provide functionality when changing pages from http to https and thus compliance with increased security requirements. These cookies collect anonymized information (therefore cannot be linked to you personally) and cannot track your movements on other websites. They are only stored for the duration of the session and are therefore session cookies. Your consent to the use of these cookies is not required.
• According to the legal definition, so-called first-party cookies are cookies that are not absolutely necessary to use a website. However, they perform important tasks that make surfing more comfortable. For example, these cookies are used to store settings you have made, such as language selection. The information contained is only for the purpose of the website accessed.
• Performance cookies are those that collect information about how a visitor uses a website. This means which page a user visits most often and whether error messages are displayed. These cookies do not store any additional information. They are used exclusively to increase user-friendliness and to tailor websites more specifically to the user. This data is also stored exclusively in anonymized form.
• If third-party content is integrated into a website, this third party can set cookies while you are not directly on their website. These cookies are called third-party cookies . This allows the third party to store information about you as a user and identify you when you visit their own website in order to present a website tailored to you. This is possible, for example, when embedding YouTube videos in a website.
• If cookies are set for marketing purposes, they are referred to as marketing cookies . These are used to present the user with tailored and relevant advertising. They are also used to determine the frequency of appearance of an ad and to determine the effectiveness of an advertising campaign.

Where can I set my cookie preferences?

Most websites have a notice about the use of cookies. You yourself have the option of adjusting the acceptance of cookies in your browser settings to more precisely suit your wishes. Most browsers allow you to accept or delete all cookies or only allow certain types of cookies. You can prevent cookies from being stored on your device by selecting “Do not accept cookies” in the browser settings. However, if the storage of any cookies is rejected, this can lead to functional restrictions on websites. You have the option of deleting cookies already stored on your device at any time. Please refer to the instructions for your browser or device to find out how this works in detail.

Cookies that are used on the ACTO GmbH website