What are cookies?
Cookies are files that can be downloaded to your device through web pages. They are tools that play an essential role in providing numerous information society services. Among other things, they allow a website to store and retrieve information about a user’s or device’s browsing habits and, depending on the information obtained, can be used to recognize the user and improve the service offered.
Types of cookies
Depending on the entity that manages the domain from which cookies are sent and processes the data obtained, there are two types:
• First-party cookies: These are sent to the user’s terminal device from a device or domain managed by the editor itself and from which the requested service is provided.
• Third-party cookies: These are sent to the user’s terminal device from a device or domain that is not managed by the editor but by another entity that processes the data obtained through the cookies.
If the cookies are installed from a device or domain managed by the editor itself but the information collected through them is managed by a third party, they cannot be considered first-party cookies.
There is also a second classification based on the period of time they remain stored in the client’s browser, which can be:
• Session cookies: Designed to collect and store data while the user accesses a web page. They are typically used to store information that only needs to be kept to provide the requested service on a single occasion (e.g., a list of purchased products).
• Persistent cookies: The data is stored in the terminal and can be accessed and processed for a defined period by the cookie’s responsible party, which may range from a few minutes to several years.
Finally, there is another classification with five types of cookies based on the purpose of processing the obtained data:
• Technical cookies: These allow the user to navigate through a web page, platform, or application and use the different options or services present, such as controlling data traffic and communication, identifying the session, accessing restricted areas, remembering items in an order, carrying out the purchase process, requesting registration or participation in an event, using security elements during browsing, storing content for video or sound dissemination, or sharing content on social networks.
• Customization cookies: Allow the user to access the service with some predefined general features based on several criteria on the user’s terminal, such as language, the type of browser used to access the service, regional settings from where the service is accessed, etc.
• Analytics cookies: Allow their responsible party to track and analyze users’ behavior on the linked websites. The information collected by this type of cookies is used to measure website activity, applications, or platforms and to create navigation profiles of the users to introduce improvements based on the data analysis of the users’ service use.
• Advertising cookies: Allow the most efficient management of advertising spaces.
• Behavioral advertising cookies: Store information about users’ behavior obtained through the continuous observation of their browsing habits, allowing for the development of a specific profile to display advertising based on it.
• External social media cookies: Used so that visitors can interact with content from different social platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and are generated only for users of those social networks. The conditions for using these cookies and the information collected are governed by the privacy policy of the corresponding social platform.
Disabling and deleting cookies
You have the option to allow, block, or delete cookies installed on your device through the settings of the browser installed on your device. By disabling cookies, some available services may cease to function. The way to disable cookies differs for each browser, but it is usually done through the Tools or Options menu. You can also consult the browser’s Help menu for instructions. The user can, at any time, choose which cookies they want to work on this website.
You can allow, block, or delete the cookies installed on your computer through the configuration of the options of the browser installed on your computer:
• Microsoft Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge: http://windows.microsoft.com/es-es/windows-vista/Block-or-allow-cookies
• Mozilla Firefox: http://support.mozilla.org/es/kb/impedir-que-los-sitios-web-guarden-sus-preferencia
• Chrome: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61416?hl=es
• Safari: http://safari.helpmax.net/es/privacidad-y-seguridad/como-gestionar-las-cookies/
