What are cookies?
A cookie is a file that is downloaded onto a user’s device in order to store data that can be updated and retrieved by the party responsible for its installation. In other words, it is a file that is downloaded onto your computer when you visit certain websites. Cookies allow a website, among other things, to store and retrieve information about the browsing habits of a user or their device and, depending on the information they contain and the way the user uses their computer, they can be used to identify that user.
Their main functions are:
- To keep track of users: when a user enters their user name and password, a cookie is stored so that they do not have to keep entering them on every page of the server. However, a cookie does not only identify a person, but also a combination of computer-browser-user.
- To obtain information about the user’s browsing habits and spyware attacks by advertising agencies and others. This may lead to privacy issues and is one of the reasons why some people oppose the use of cookies.
There are various types of cookie with different functions, mainly depending on their intended purpose. Different types include the following:
Analytical cookies: these cookies are used to analyse website users’ behaviour and actions, as well as to create browsing profiles in order to make technical improvements to the functions and services.
Advertising cookies: these ensure effective management of advertising space in accordance with a series of criteria, such as tracking whether or not the user has accessed a news item before in order to update the page with a new one.
Behavioural advertising cookies: these cookies store information about users’ behaviour, focusing on their browsing habits. This enables the creation of behaviour-based user profiles that can be used to customise the advertising that is shown.
Users wishing to obtain further details about cookies should visit the following website: http://www.aboutcookies.org/.
What type of cookies does this website use?
This website uses cookies designed to make it easier to use and browse, guaranteeing access to certain services and improvements to the website’s functional settings.
Specifically, this website uses the following cookies:
| JCS_INENREF | Used for anti-spam functions. | After a short period or when the browser is closed. |
| JCS_INENTIM | Used for anti-spam functions. | After a short period or when the browser is closed. |
| PHPSESSID | This cookie is used to open a user session and is a reference to a unique session ID set by our website code (PHP). It disappears when logging out (when the browser is closed). | After a short period or when the browser is closed. |
| wp-settings-7 | WordPress settings | 1 day |
| wp-settings-7-time | WordPress settings | 1 day |
| wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress sets this cookie when you visit the login page. The cookie is used to verify whether your browser is set to allow or block cookies. | After a short period or when the browser is closed. |
| _icl_current_language | Controls the selected language for future sessions. | 1 day |
| _ga | Used to distinguish among users. | 2 years |
| _gid | Used to distinguish among users. | 24 hours |
| _gat o _dc_gtm | Used to limit the percentage of requests. | 1 minute |
How are cookie settings managed?
This section presents a brief explanation of how the cookie settings can be viewed and changed on the most commonly used browsers.
Practically all browsers allow users to obtain general information about the cookies installed on a website, specifically to verify their existence, their duration and how they can be deleted. For informative purposes, the following is a series of links related to the matter:
Additionally, the user may allow, block or delete the cookies installed on their computer by changing the browser settings in accordance with the instructions indicated therein. For informative purposes, note that cookie settings are usually modified in the “Preferences” or “Tools” menu of a given browser. In any case, you can always consult the browser’s help section to resolve any doubts in this regard.
Please note that if you prevent all cookies from being installed, the content of the website as well as certain functions and services that it provides may be affected.
