Cookies are small fragments of text, usually consisting of letters and/or numbers, that are sent by the website you visit and stored by software (such as a web browser) installed on the device you use to browse. Cookies are then transmitted back to the aforementioned website on the user’s next visit.
Cookies make it possible to store information regarding a user’s visits to a website and are a very useful technology, because for example they enable websites to function, making them more efficient, and provide useful information to website operators. Without cookies, or other assimilated technologies, websites would have no way of “remembering” information about visitors, such as how many items the user has placed in the shopping cart or whether or not the user has logged in.
Cookies can be classified according to:
– duration: session or persistent cookies;
– origin: first-party or third-party cookies;
– purpose: technical, analytical or profiling cookies.
Cookies that expire at the end of a browser session (normally when a user closes their browser) are referred to as session cookies and are useful, for example, to store a user’s purchase order or for security purposes, such as when accessing their internet banking or webmail account. Cookies that, on the other hand, are stored for a longer period of time (between sessions) are called persistent cookies and are useful, for example, to remember user preferences or to serve targeted advertising.
The definition of first-party or third-party refers to the website or domain that installs the cookie. First-party cookies are installed directly by the website that the user is visiting, while third-party cookies are installed by a domain different from the one the user is visiting, for example in the case where the website incorporates elements from other sites, such as images, social media plugins, or advertisements.
It should be specified that the purposes usually fulfilled by a cookie can also be accomplished through other assimilated technologies, including the use of certain device-identifying features so that visits to a website can be analyzed. In fact, this policy applies to any technology that stores or accesses information on a user’s device. Examples could include HTML5 local storage, Local Shared Objects (also called flash cookies), and fingerprinting techniques. Specifically, device fingerprinting is a technique of combining a variety of information in order to uniquely identify a particular device.
Examples of the information that device fingerprinting can detect, associate with, or infer include:
– data derived from the configuration of a device;
– data inferred from the use of particular network protocols;
– JavaScript;
– HTTP header information; clock information;
– fonts installed;
– plugins installed in the browser.
It is also possible to combine these elements with additional information, such as IP addresses or unique identifiers, etc.
Henceforth when we talk about cookies, other assimilated technologies will also be considered to be included in this definition.
What are the purposes of the cookies used by this site?
Depending on the purpose, the cookies installed on this website are distinguished into technical cookies, analytical cookies and profiling cookies.
Technical cookies are necessary for the functioning of the website because they enable functions to facilitate the user’s navigation, who, for example, will be able to access his profile without having to log in each time or will be able to select the language with which he wishes to navigate the site without having to set it each time.
Technical cookies are considered strictly necessary, because the storage of information is essential to provide a service requested by the user. Therefore, technical cookies cannot be disabled and users’ prior consent is not required for their installation (pursuant to Article 122 of the Privacy Code).
Analytical cookies, which can be first- or third-party, are installed to collect information about the use of the website. In particular, they are useful to statistically analyze accesses or visits to the site itself and to allow the Owner to improve its structure, navigation logic and content. The information collected (including IP address, masked) is used to perform statistical analysis in order to improve the use of the site and possibly to make the content more interesting and relevant to the user’s wishes.
Analytical cookies are not necessary for the operation of the website, however, since the IP address is not in plain text the installation of such cookies does not require the user’s consent.
Profiling cookies, which can be first- or third-party, are used to track the user’s browsing, analyze their behavior for marketing purposes and create profiles regarding their tastes, habits, choices, etc. In this way, it is possible, for example, to transmit targeted advertising messages in relation to the user’s interests and in line with the preferences expressed by the user when browsing online. These cookies also include social cookies.
Such cookies can be installed on the user’s terminal only if the user has given consent.
How are cookie preferences managed?
When first accessing any page of the Site, there is a banner that contains a brief information and the cookie preference management panel/a button through which you can accept all cookies. The user has the option to select/deselect individual categories of cookies. Consent to the use of cookies is recorded with a special “technical cookie”.