Cookies usage policy

This website uses cookies! Continuing browsing involves accepting them.

The information presented below aims to inform the user about the placement, use and administration of „cookies” used by the www.elucerna.ro website.

Please read the following information carefully.

This website uses its own cookies, as well as cookies added by third parties, in order to offer visitors a much better browsing experience and services adapted to the needs and interests of each one.

In what we call „modern web” or „web 2.0”, cookies play an important role in facilitating access to and delivery of multiple services that the user enjoys on the Internet, such as:

• Customize certain settings such as: the language in which the website is viewed, the date and time, keeping options / settings (including storing them) and keeping older preferences by accessing various buttons / functions.
• Cookies give website owners valuable feedback on how their websites are used by users, so that they can make them even more efficient or more accessible to users.
• Allow multimedia or other applications from other websites to be embedded in certain pages to create a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience.

What is a „cookie”?

An „Internet Cookie” (also known as a „browser cookie” or „HTTP cookie”, or simply a „cookie”) is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, that will be stored on your computer, mobile terminal or other equipment of a user from whom the Internet is accessed.

The cookie is sent through a request issued by the web server on which the website is hosted, to the user’s browser (Ex: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, etc.) and is completely „passive”, in the sense that it does not contain software, viruses or spyware, nor can it access information on the user’s hard drive.

A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and content or value of the cookie that is uniquely associated with the domain that hosts the website that sent it to the user’s browser (e.g.: elucerna.ro). Moreover, the duration of a cookie is determined; only the webserver that sent the cookie can access it again, and only when the user returns to the website associated with that webserver.

Cookies do not request personal information in order to be used, nor can they personally identify internet users.

There are two main categories of cookies:

Session cookies – these are temporarily stored in the cookies folder of the web browser until the user leaves the website or closes the browser window.
Persistent cookies – these are stored on your computer or hard drive for a longer period of time and remain stored even after you leave the website or close your web browser (and generally depend on the default lifetime of the cookie).

Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the user is currently visiting -known as “third party cookies”-, which can be used anonymously. to memorize a user’s interests, so that the most relevant advertising for the user is delivered.

The advantages of cookies

A cookie contains information that links a browser (user) to a specific web server (website). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly.

Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support websites’ efforts to provide comfortable services to users. Examples: online privacy preferences, website language options or relevant advertising etc.

The lifespan of a cookie

Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifetime of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session („session cookies”) and are not retained after the user leaves the website, and some cookies are retained and reused each time the user returns to that website („permanent cookies”).
However, cookies can be deleted by the user at any time via browser settings.

Cookies placed by third parties

Certain sections of content on some websites may be provided through third parties / providers (e.g. news box, a YouTube video or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the website and these ones are called „third party cookies”, because they are not placed by the website visited directly. Third party providers must also comply with the applicable law and the privacy policies of the website owner.

Use of cookies by www.elucerna.ro

Visiting this website may place cookies like:

• Performance cookies
• Visitor analysis cookies
• Cookies for registration or authentication
• Third party cookies

Performance cookies

This type of cookie retains the user’s preferences on this website, so there is no need to set them each time you visit the site.

Visitor analysis cookies

Each time a user visits this website, the analytics software provided by a third party generates a cookie for the user’s metering. This cookie tells us if you have visited this website before. The browser communicates if this cookie exists, and if not, one is generated. This allows monitoring of unique users who visit the website and how often they do so.
This cookie cannot be used to identify individuals; they are only used for statistical purposes.

Cookies for registration or authentication

When you register or authenticate on this website, a cookie is generated that notifies the server if you are registered or not. Our server uses these cookies to identify the account with which you are registered and if you have the necessary permissions for a certain service or for access to certain sections of the website. It also allows the association of the comments you post on the website with the username of your account. If you have not selected the „keep me logged in” option, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close your browser or computer.

Third party cookies

On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies in order to track the success of an ad / application or to customize an application. This website cannot access these cookies, just as third parties cannot access the cookies held by this website. For instance, when you share an article using the social media buttons on this website, the social network will record your action.

Third party online advertising

Some of them use their own anonymous cookies to analyze how many people viewed an ad, or to see how many people viewed the same ad multiple times. The companies that generate these cookies have their own privacy policies, and this website does not have access to these cookies. Third-party cookies are used to show you targeted advertising on other websites as well, based on your browsing on this site.

The type of information stored and accessed through cookies

Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognize a browser. The web server will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted. The cookie stores important information that enhances your Internet browsing experience. Examples: settings regarding the language in which you want to access a website, keeping a user authenticated in the member account or mail account, online security, keeping and saving some settings, etc.

The importance of cookies for the Internet

Cookies are the focal point of the efficient operation of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience, adapted to the preferences and interests of each user. Declining or disabling cookies may make some websites impossible to use.

Rejecting or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising, but only that it will no longer be able to take into account your preferences and interests highlighted by your browsing behavior.

Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require a user to authenticate through an account):

• Content and services tailored to user preferences – categories of news, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment websites and travel services.
• Offers adapted to users’ interests – password retention, language preferences (Ex: displaying search results in English).
• Retention of child protection filters on Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions).
• Limit the frequency of ad serving – Limit the number of impressions of an ad for a specific user on a website.
• Providing user-relevant advertising.
• Measurement, optimization and analytics features – such as the confirmation of a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed more and how a user gets to the site (e.g. through search engines, directly from other websites etc). Websites conduct these analyzes of their use to improve for the benefit of the user.
• Security and privacy issues

Cookies are NOT viruses! They use a plain text format. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed or auto-run. As a result, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks to run or replicate again. As they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be regarded as viruses.

However, cookies can be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a particular website and on multiple websites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and constantly mark cookies to be deleted during anti-virus / anti-spyware deletion / scanning procedures.

In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of acceptance of cookies, validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a particular website.

Other security issues related to cookies

Given that identity protection is very important and represents the right of every internet user, it is advisable to know what are the possible problems that may arise in connection to cookies. As information is constantly transmitted between them in both directions between the browser and the website, if an attacker or unauthorized person intervenes during the transmission of data, the information contained in the cookie may be intercepted. Although very rarely, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g. an unsecured wi-fi network). Other cookie-based attacks involve incorrect cookie settings on servers.

If a website does not require the browser to use encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information in order to gain unauthorized access to certain websites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate method of protecting your personal information.

Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies

Due to their flexibility and the fact that the majority of the most visited and largest websites use cookies, they are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user to access the most common and used websites, including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo, Google and many more.

Here are some tips to help you navigate cookies safely:

• Customize your browser settings for cookies to establish a comfortable level of security.
• If you do not mind cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration dates for storing your browsing history and personal access data.
• If you share access to your computer, you may want to consider setting your browser to clear individual browsing data each time you close your browser.
• Install and constantly update your antispyware applications. Many of the applications for detecting and preventing spyware include detecting attacks on websites. This prevents the browser from accessing websites that could exploit browser vulnerabilities or download malicious software.
• Make sure your browser is always up to date. Most cookie-based attacks are exploits of the weaknesses of older versions of browsers.
• Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest websites on the Internet, local or international. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures, so that you can surf the internet with confidence.

Disabling cookies

Disabling and refusing to receive cookies may make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive or see online advertising.

It is possible to set the browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted or you can set the browser to accept cookies only from a specific website. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.

All modern browsers offer the ability to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in your browser’s „Options” or „Preferences” menu, or you can use your browser’s „Help” option for more details.