Managing cookies

What are cookies?

A cookie is a piece of information contained in a very small text file that is stored in your Internet browser or elsewhere on your hard drive. Cookies allow a website to identify a user's device whenever that user returns to the website and are commonly used in order to make websites work more efficiently.

How to control cookies?

You can control acceptance of cookies by modifying your Internet browser preferences. You have the ability to accept all cookies, to be notified when a cookie is set or to reject all cookies. Please note that, if you choose to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or part of our site and may be unable to use those services or engage in activities that require the placement of cookies.

First party cookies

First party cookies are set by the website, you are visiting and they can only be read by that site.

Third party cookies

Third party cookies are set by a different organisation to the owner of the website you are visiting. For example, the website might use a third party analytics company who will set their own cookie to perform this service. The website you are visiting may also contain content embedded from, for example YouTube or Flickr, and these sites may set their own cookies.

More significantly, a website might use a third party advertising network to deliver targeted advertising on their website. These may also have the capability to track your browsing across different sites.

Session cookies

Session Cookies are stored only temporarily during a browsing session and are deleted from the user’s device when the browser is closed.

Persistent cookies

This type of cookie is saved on your computer for a fixed period (usually a year or longer) and is not deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies are used where we need to know who you are for more than one browsing session. For example, we use this type of cookie to store your preferences, so that they are remembered for the next visit.

Flash cookies

Many websites use Adobe Flash Player to deliver video and game content to their users. Adobe utilise their own cookies, which are not manageable through your browser settings but are used by the Flash Player for similar purposes, such as storing preferences or tracking users.

Flash Cookies work in a different way to web browser cookies (the cookie types listed above are all set via your browser); rather than having individual cookies for particular jobs, a website is restricted to storing all data in one cookie. You can control how much data can be stored in that cookie but you cannot choose what type of information is allowed to be stored.  

To disable cookies:

If you are using Internet Explorer 8.0+:
Go to 'Tools' in the menu bar and then click on 'Internet Options'
Click on 'Privacy' tab on top
Move the slider up to the 'Block all the Cookies' setting

If you are using Firefox 4.0+:
Go to 'Tools' in the menu bar
Click on 'Options'
Click on 'Privacy' tab
Disable the box that says 'Tell websites I do not want to be tracked'

If you are using Google Chrome:
Go to 'Tools Menu'
Click on 'Settings'
Click on 'Advanced Settings
Click on 'Privacy/Content Settings'
'Cookies' should be selected. Once done select 'Block third party cookies and site data'

For more detailed information on how to control cookies you may wish to visit www.allaboutcookies.org