FAQ about cookies

Here you’ll find the answer to the most frequently asked Questions about cookies.

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small data file that websites store at a user’s computer to keep track on what is happening during the user’s visit and to recognize the user’s computer on the next visit. A cookie is not a program and do not contain virus.

Which types of cookies does exist?

Overall there is to types of cookies, “HTML cookies” and “Flash cookies”. HTML cookies is typically activated by the browser while the flash cookies is run by a program. A website can therefor contain both browser cookies and flash cookies. If we go step deeper, you can put the cookies into 7 groups.

  1. Session cookie: Session cookies, by the website, are used to recognise a user when he/she move around on the website and e.g. to remember if a user already sign in. Session cookies are automatically deleted when a user closes the browser.
  2. Session cookie (3rd part): Session cookies, from third parties, are used to recognise a user when he/she move around on the website and e.g. to remember if you already sign in. Session cookies by third parties are automatically deleted when a user closes the browser.
  3. Persistent cookie: Persistent cookies, from the website. Persistent cookies are saved at the user’s computer and run out a given date/timeslot.
  4. Persistent cookie (3rd part): Persistent cookies, from third party whom the website is connected to. Persistent cookies are saved at the user’s computer and run out a given date/timeslot.
  5. Google Analytics: Information of the use of cookies from Google Analytics – gathering of traffic data (that cannot lead to a specific person) at the site.
  6. JavaScript cookie: JavaScript code and files found on the website that may plant cookies. Each file much be checked manually to see if it does in fact plant cookies.
  7. Flash cookie: Flash movies can contain information in "Flash Cookies" that are planted on the users browser. Each file much be checked manually to see if it does in fact plant cookies.

Why does websites plant cookies?

The website plants cookies on the users equipment (pc, cellphone etc) for ensure optimal communication between the website and the user’s browser. The possibility to sign in automatically, over online shopping made easy to optimization of websites in order to give the users good experiences is all due to the excisting of cookies.

Cookies helps the website owners to gain an overview over visits at the website in order to maintain the website so the user’s find it as good and interesting as possible.

How are cookies beneficent to you?

Cookies make the overall experience with any given website better and higher the usability. Without cookies the user has to do without a lot functions and permanent adjustments of user preferences like what language and currency a user prefer, what a user has put in the shopping basket, if the user is sign in and what pages a user has seen at the website.

Are cookies digital footprints?

Yes! A cookie that stays on the computer when a user leaves a website contains information about the user’s movements. But a cookie can only be read by the website that planted it. Therefor a user’s digital footprint, the cookie, is a help to recognise the user and deliver the service the user expect.

Do cookies contain sensitive personal data?

Normally cookies from webshops do not contain personal information. Most cookies are only meant to recognise browser and other anonymous data. Sites that register personal information often will keep an ID in a cookie that can be used to identify the user’s data at the websites databases.

Note: As a general rule it is only allowed to safe person related information or information that can lead to a person if a user has accepted this prior. The provider must obey the laws for data protection. Users must be informed about keeping data that can lead to a person and about the purpose of this.

Can I get a warning about cookies before I visit a website?

All browsers can be set to give a warning, ask for accept of cookies, automatically accept of cookies or rejecting of cookies. You can also give limited accept of cookies to only contain servers/websites you have visit prior. All browsers contain functions that allow selective erase of cookies. If you choose to generally refuse cookies you must accept that there might be limitations in the usability of any website.

What is the lifetime of a cookie?

A cookies Life time vary depending on the settings from the website. A session cookie disappear typically as soon as you close the browsers window. Other types of cookies can exist in years.

What are third part cookies?

A cookie that can be planted by the website, an analytical programme or a potential advertiser at the website. The data is typically used for customer surveys, statistics about the visits e.g. Google analytics or to keep track of which advertisements people clicks on. Data from e.g. statistic is used by the website and is send to the provider of the analytical programme. Usually it is not personal identifiable.