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1.1 Learn about cookies
A “cookie” is a small text file that is placed on a user’s computer hard drive by a website. There are several types of cookie and the most common are often referred to as ‘session’ cookies. These are used to keep track of information needed by a user as they travel from page to page within a website. These cookies have a short lifetime and expire within a few minutes of the user leaving the site.
1.2 Types of cookies
1.2.1 Session cookies
Allow websites to link the actions of a user during a browser session. These cookies collect information around how people use our website and moves through pages, it does not collect any personal information. These session cookies expire after a browser session so would not be stored longer term.
1.2.2 Persistent cookies
Are stored on a users’ device in between browser sessions which allows us to track the preferences or actions of the user across our site to be remembered. Persistent cookies may be used for a variety of purposes including remembering users’ preferences and choices when using a site or to target advertising.
1.2.3 First and third party cookies
Whether a cookie is ‘first’ or ‘third’ party refers to the website or domain placing the cookie. First party cookies in basic terms are cookies set by a website visited by the user – the website displayed in the URL window. Third-party cookies are cookies that are set by a domain other than the one being visited by the user. If a user visits a website and a separate company sets a cookie through that website this would be a third-party cookie.
1.3 Find out how epico uses cookies
1.3.1 Analytic cookies
a) _ga, _gid, _gat
Purpose: Google Analytics uses the information from these cookies to provide insight into how people are using the website, how often they visit and how they move around the site.
Source: First party
Expiry: 2 years / 24 hours / 48 hours
b)_gat_UA-167512665-1
Purpose: Google analytics ID
Source: First party
Expiry: 1 year
1.3.2 Required cookies
a) PHPSESSID
Purpose: Security cookie. Stores the browser session and is essential for website operation.
Source: First party
Expiry: Session (upon exit of website)
b) cookies
Purpose: This cookie is used to remember a user’s choice about cookies on epico. Where users have previously indicated a preference, that user’s preference will be stored in this cookie.
Source: First party
Expiry: 1 year
c) wordpress_test_cookie
Purpose: This checks if the cookies are enabled on the browser to provide appropriate user experience to the users specific to the WordPress platform.
Source: First party
Expiry: 48 hours
1.3.3 Targeting/Advertising
a) SSID
Purpose: This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 week
b) APISID
Purpose: This DoubleClick cookie is generally set through the site by advertising partners, and used by them to build a profile of the website visitor’s interests and show relevant ads on other sites. This cookie works by uniquely identifying your browser and device.
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 week
c) SIDCC
Purpose: This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 week
d) SAPISID
Purpose: This DoubleClick cookie is generally set through the site by advertising partners, and used by them to build a profile of the website visitor’s interests and show relevant ads on other sites. This cookie works by uniquely identifying your browser and device.
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 week
e) HSID
Purpose: This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to build a profile of the website visitor’s interests and show relevant ads on other sites.
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 week
f) NID
Purpose: Google mandatory cookie
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 year
1.3.4 Functional
a) SID
Purpose: Used as for session state management.
Source: Google/Third
Expiry: 1 week
b) wordpress_test_cookie
Purpose: Checks if cookies are allowed.
Expiry: Session (upon exit of website)
epico also uses cookies in its email communications to personalise the email and track whether the mail has been opened or read and whether the recipient has used any website links contained in the email communication. This allows Epico to monitor and improve its email communications and website.
epico cookies do not analyse visits to other websites.
Internet browsers normally accept cookies by default; however, it is possible to set a browser to reject cookies. If this is done it is important not to exclude the benign and useful session cookies. Choose an option that rejects all third-party cookies.