Cookies

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small data file that can be transferred by a web server onto your computer's hard drive when you visit a website. The information stored in a cookie can be read by the web server and is used to allow a website to recognise your computer when you revisit a website or browse from page to page of a website. Only the web server that sent the cookie can read, and therefore use, that particular cookie.

Cookies can help a website to arrange content to match users preferred interests more effectively and/or avoid the need for users to re-enter data when they revisit a website. Cookies are commonly used on the internet and do not harm your computer or computer files.

How do we use cookies on the Website?

We use cookies on the Website for our own internal purposes to track how users navigate through the Website in order to enable us to evaluate and improve the Website and our online services. We use cookie-derived information to:

1. compile statistical data on the use of the Website which can be used to manage and plan enhancements to our services;
2. to facilitate users ability to navigate through the Website;
3. ascertain whether the Website is operating at an optimal level; and
4. personalise and improve the service we offer to you by understanding your preferences and establishing which areas of the Website are of most relevance to you.

We also use cookie technology to ensure that, where you have registered for any of our online services, we maintain your confidentiality and security as you move through secure or password protected areas of the Website.

In addition, to evaluate the effectiveness of our advertisements and promotions on selected third party websites, we may (together with the third party agents who help manage our online advertising) use cookies to measure response rates to our advertisements and promotions.

We do not use cookies to track your use of the Internet after leaving the Website, nor will we pass on any cookie-derived information to third parties other than as set out in this Cookies Statement. We may collate the statistical data compiled in respect of use of the Website with statistical data similarly compiled in respect of other websites operated by other companies in the Equity group in order to facilitate group-wide evaluation and improvements.
 

What kind of cookies do we use on the Website?

We use two types of cookies on the Website:

• Session cookies - temporary cookies which remain in the cookie file of your browser until you leave the Website; and
  
• Persistent cookies - which remain in the cookie file of your browser for a longer period of time (the duration of this period will depend on the lifetime of the specific cookie).

What is the nature of the cookie-derived information we collect?

When you visit the Website, our server will record your IP address, the date, time and duration of your visit and which areas of the Website you visit. Your IP address is an assigned number allocated to your browser when you log on to the internet which acts as the 'address' of your computer whilst you are online and enables web servers to locate and deliver content to you. It is usually allocated on a temporary basis, i.e. for the duration of your session online.

Cookie-derived information is anonymous; it represents a computer rather than a person. You cannot be personally identified from it, and we use it solely on an anonymous, aggregated basis.
 

Use of Web Beacons

Some of our Web pages may contain electronic images known as Web Beacons (sometimes known as clear gifs) that allow us to count users who have visited these pages. Web Beacons collect only limited information, which includes a cookie number, time and date of a page viewed, and a description of the page on which the Web Beacon resides. We may also carry Web Beacons placed by third part advertisers. These Beacons do not carry any personally identifiable information and are only used to track the effectiveness of a particular campaign.

Can I decline to accept cookies?

You are not obliged to accept a cookie that we (or any other web server) send to you. Most browsers accept cookies automatically but you can modify the settings in your browser to turn off this feature. However, cookies are integral to some areas of the Website and to certain of our online services, so if you do choose not to accept cookies from us, you may not be able to utilise some areas of the Website and we may not be able to provide certain online services to you.
 

How do I modify my browser to turn off (disable) the cookie acceptance feature?

Internet Explorer 5.0
To disable cookies:

1. Select 'Tools' from your main toolbar at the top of the browser.
2. Select 'Internet Options'.
3. Select 'Security' tab at the top of the dialogue box that opens and the select 'Custom Level'.
4. Scroll down to the ‘Cookies’ section and under 'Cookies' disable both 'stored' and 'per session'.
5. Click on ‘OK’.

Internet Explorer 6.0
To disable cookies:

1. Select 'Tools' from your main toolbar at the top of the browser.
2. Select 'Internet Options'.
3. Select 'Privacy' tab at the top of the dialogue box that opens and click 'Advanced Options' under the ‘Settings’ heading.
4. Tick the 'Override automatic cookie handling' tickbox.
5. Disable the 'First Party' cookies by choosing 'Reject‘.
6. Disable the 'Third Party' cookies by choosing 'Reject‘.
7. Disable ‘Always allow session cookies’.
8. Click on ‘OK’.

Netscape Navigator 6.0
To disable cookies:

1. Select 'Edit' on the menu bar and select 'Preferences'.
2. Select 'Privacy and Security'.
3. Choose 'Cookies'.
4. Select 'Disable all cookies‘.
5. Click on ‘OK’.

Following these instructions will mean that your computer will not accept cookies in future.

If you wish, you may subsequently reconfigure your computer to accept cookies again by:
Internet Explorer 5.0 and 6.0: following the above instructions, selecting ‘Enable’ and then clicking on ‘OK’; or
Netscape Navigator 6.0: following the above instructions, selecting ‘Accept All Cookies’ and the clicking on ‘OK’.
 

Where can I find further information on cookies?

For further information on cookies, please visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org/

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