In computer science HTTP cookies (more commonly referred to as Web cookies, tracking cookies or just cookies) are lines of text that are used to perform automatic authentication, session tracking and storage of specific information about users that take place on the server. For example, favourite websites or the content of their "shopping carts" in the event of purchases.
In detail, therefore, they are text strings of small size, sent by a server to a web client (usually a browser) and then sent back by the web client to the server (unchanged) every time the user accesses the same portion of the same web domain.
Each domain or its portion that is visited with the browser may set cookies. Since a typical Web page, such as that of an online newspaper, contains objects that originate from many different domains and each of them can set cookies, having several hundreds of cookies in your browser is quite normal.
Since they can be used to monitor Web browsing, cookies are the subject of discussions concerning the right to privacy. Many countries and organizations, including the United States and the European Union, have legislated on the matter. Cookies have also been criticized because they are not always able to identify the user accurately and also because they can potentially be subject to cyber attacks. Some alternatives to cookies do exist, but all of them, along with some advantages, have drawbacks.
Cookies are often wrongly considered as actual programs and this generates erroneous beliefs. In fact they are simple pieces of data, incapable, alone, of taking any action on a computer. In particular they can be neither spyware nor viruses. In spite of this, cookies from certain sites are classified as spyware by many anti-spyware products because they make it possible to identify the user. Modern browsers allow users to decide whether to accept cookies or not, but any refusal makes some objects unusable. For example, "shopping carts" implemented using cookies do not work in case of refusal.
Browsing our website can generate different types of cookies. By continuing to use this website and its features, you authorize us (and our partners) to insert this type of cookie in your browsing device.
3.1 Strictly necessary (technical) cookies
These cookies are essential to be able to surf the Web and use certain features. They can be used to enable "cookie settings", "form completion" and "shopping cart" functions and are indispensable for the operation of the website.
3.2 Performance and analysis cookies
These cookies collect anonymous information about the way in which users use the Website and its various features. They collect information about the pages you visit most often and our advertising appearing on other websites with which you interact.
The information collected can be used to customize your online experience by displaying specific content to you. Our performance and analysis cookies do not collect information of a personal nature.
3.3 Feature cookies
These cookies are used to store the choices you make (language preference, country or other online settings) and to provide you with custom features that you have selected. They can be used to provide you with online services or to prevent you from being offered services you have rejected in the past.
Some of our partners may provide you with content and other online experiences through this website. In this case, the partner may insert their own feature cookies in your device and use them to provide you with custom features.
If you delete feature cookies, your selected preferences or settings will not be stored for future visits.
3.4 Behavioural advertising cookies
These cookies are managed in part by us or by third parties and can be stored on your user device. They store information about user browsing on various websites and online services in order to display relevant ads or ones which may be of interest to you.
Advertising networks may share this information with advertisers using their networks.
Our behavioural advertising cookies do not collect information of a personal nature.
To inhibit the functioning of behavioural advertising cookies you can:
The online activities of visitors registered on our websites may be analyzed through the use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
Cookies or other tracking technologies may be used within the communications you receive from us (for example, to see if these have been read or opened or to detect what content you have interacted with and what links you have opened), in order to make future communications more relevant to your interests.
If you no longer wish to receive targeted communications, you can click on the unsubscribe link in our communications.
If you wish to revoke permission to handle your data please refer to the website's Privacy policy in the footer.
To authorize or not authorize a cookie during visits to our websites, you can change your browser settings. In this way you can turn off certain cookies or display a warning message before acceptance.
You can also delete all the cookies installed, but each browser has different procedures for handling the settings. Refer to the help functions in the menus of each browser.
For information about the possible use of the personal information that is collected on this website, please refer to the website's Privacy policy in the footer.
Amended on 10/04/2018