Cookies
- What are cookies?
Cookies are small files that are saved on your computer when you surf websites. They contain information about your browser and the sites you visit. Cookies consist of 2 parts: the name and the content. They are saved in a specific folder on your hard disk, each with a unique ID and duration. When you return to a site, the cookie enables the site to recognize you and continue the history. Some cookies delete themselves when you leave the site, while others remain on your computer as long as you do not delete them.
Cookies are not active programs, so they are not harmful to your computer. Nor are they always used for commercial purposes. Some are designed to make surfing easier, so that you don’t have to enter certain data each time you visit (log in, screen settings). Which web pages are visited? How much? How do you get there? How long does the visitor stay on the site? On the basis of these results, the site can be modified according to the visitor’s interests and needs. For example, by displaying personalized information.
- What are the different types of cookies?
There are generally two types of cookies:
– Original cookies: these are direct cookies. They are created by a site to improve the functioning of a web page. They are used to manage the technical component of a site, such as language selection or saving products in a virtual basket in a webshop. They are generated and installed by the visited site.
– Third-party cookies: these indirect cookies are generated and installed on your computer by a third party. They record a surfer’s surfing behavior. Examples: social media like Facebook and Twitter, but also Google Analytics. This is the most widely used system for measuring site visits. It’s especially for this type of cookie that site owners must ask web users for permission before installing a cookie, in accordance with the law in force since 2012.
This does not distinguish between original cookies and third-party cookies. The Internet user’s authorization is the only distinguishing criterion. Cookies that are necessary for a site to function do not require authorization. In all other cases, authorization is required.
- What type of cookies do we use?
Third-party cookies.
So-event websites mainly use original cookies. They are designed to make surfing easier. We use them to record certain information, such as language selection, pages visited and duration of visits. To surf our websites from your computer, tablet or cell phone, it’s best to accept cookies.
So-event websites also use third-party cookies: those from Google Analytics.
Google Analytics is a free service from Google that collects website statistics and provides a detailed analysis. This gives the site manager a clear picture of visitor flows, traffic sources and page views. This makes it possible to modify all or part of a site according to the results and interests of Internet users. This is also why So-event websites use Google Analytics.
- How do I manage cookies?
By adjusting your browser settings. You can choose to block all cookies or only accept cookies from specific sites.
Will blocking affect your ability to browse So-event sites? Yes and no.
You can still browse our sites even if you have deactivated some or all cookies. Your browsing experience will generally be more difficult if you refuse all cookies. Some sites (or parts of sites) will not work. In other words, it’s best to avoid blocking cookies altogether.
Below you’ll find an overview of how browsers manage cookies.
– Google Chrome
Open your browser. Click on the Chrome menu and choose Settings. Click on Show advanced settings and then in the “Privacy” section on the Content settings button. In the “Cookies” section, you can adjust your settings and delete cookies.
– Internet Explorer
Open your browser. Click on Tools and then on Internet Options. Click on the “Privacy” tab and use the slider to set the desired level. You can also adapt it manually by clicking on Advanced. A distinction is made between first-party cookies, third-party cookies and session cookies. You can delete cookies via the main Internet options screen.
– Mozilla Firefox
Open your browser. Select Privacy. Set Firefox to Use custom settings for history. To enable cookies, tick Accept cookies. To disable cookies, uncheck the box. Firefox lets you disable third-party cookies. You can also set how long cookies are saved. By clicking on Show cookies, you can delete one or more cookies.
– Safari
Open your browser. With Safari, cookie management is limited to one screen. In the Preferences tab, click on Privacy. You then have three different ways of accepting cookies. Via Show cookies you can delete cookies.
– Opera
Open your browser. Click on the Extra menu and then on Preferences. Via Advanced and Cookies you can adjust your cookie settings. You have the option of automatically deleting new cookies at the end of each Internet session. You can also decide what happens to each cookie sent to your computer. To do so, click on Ask me before accepting cookies. Every time a site wants to save a cookie, a dialog box appears.
