The information presented below aims to inform the user more details about the placement, use and administration of "cookies" used by the site www.cardionline.ro. There are also some useful links on this topic. If you need more information, and it is not listed below, you can contact us using the form on the contact page or by phone / email (contact details can also be found on the contact page).
This website uses both its own cookies and third-party cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services tailored to their needs and interests.
The cookies used on this site provide valuable feedback and help us in trying to improve the online experience. The site uses cookies, such as tokens that remain active until the browser window is closed, to improve the browsing experience. The information obtained from these cookies is not stored in the database and once the browser is closed the cookies are deleted from your computer.
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 accessing the Internet.
The cookie is installed by the request made by a web server to a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely "passive" (does not contain software, viruses or spyware and can not access the information on the user's hard drive) .
A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and the content or value of the cookie. Moreover, the duration of the existence of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that web server. Cookies themselves do not require personal information in order to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify internet users.
There are 2 main categories of cookies:
- Session cookies - these are temporarily stored in the cookies folder of the web browser so that it can be stored until the user leaves the respective website or closes the browser window (e.g. when logging in / out on a webmail account or on social networks)
- Persistent cookies - These are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the default lifetime for 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 for memorize a user's interests so that the most relevant advertising for the user is delivered
What are the benefits of using cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web 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 the efforts of many websites to provide convenient services to users: e.g. online privacy preferences, site language options, shopping carts or relevant advertising.
How long does a cookie last?
Cookies are administered by webservers. 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 no longer retained once the user has left 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 a user at any time via browser settings.
What are third-party cookies?
Certain sections of content on some sites may be provided through third parties / providers (e.g. news box, video or advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the site and they are called "third party cookies" because they are not placed by the owner of that website. Third party providers must also comply with applicable law and the site owner's privacy policies (e.g. our site uses Google Analytics and Youtube cookies).
How are cookies used by this site?
A visit to this site may place cookies for the purposes of:
- Site performance cookies
- Analysis cookies
Cookies for visitor analysis
Each time a user visits this site, the analytics software provided by a third party generates a user analysis cookie. This cookie tells us if you've visited this site before. The browser will tell us if you have this cookie, and if not, we will generate one. It allows monitoring of unique users who visit us and how often they do so.
Other third party cookies
On some pages, third parties may set their own anonymous cookies in order to track the success of an application, or to customize an application. Due to our usage, this site cannot access these cookies, just as third parties cannot access the cookies held by this site.
The cookies used by this site may come from the following third parties: Google Analytics and Youtube.
The site uses Google Analytics cookies to collect information about how visitors use this site and to detect possible navigation problems. Google Analytics stores information about the pages you've visited, how long you've been browsing the site, how the site was accessed, and the sections you've accessed within the pages. No personal information is stored, therefore this information cannot be used to identify the user.
The site uses Google Analytics to track if the site meets user requirements and to prioritize improved processes. Google provides more information about cookies on the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy page. Google also provides an "add-on" that allows you to opt out of Google Analytics regardless of the pages you access. To learn more about how Google uses and collects this data, please visit the Privacy Policy page.
What kind of information is 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 improves the Internet browsing experience, eg the settings of the language in which you want to access a site; keeping a user logged in to the webmail account; online banking security; keeping products in the shopping cart).
Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies are the focal point of the efficient operation of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience tailored to the preferences and interests of each user. Declining or disabling cookies may make some sites impossible to use.
Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising - only that it will no longer be able to take into account your preferences and interests, as evidenced 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 the user's preferences - categories of news, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment sites and travel services.
- Offers tailored to users' interests - password retention, language preferences (e.g. displaying search results in Romanian).
- 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 particular user on a site.
- Providing more user-friendly advertising.
- Measurement, optimization and analytics features - such as confirming a certain level of traffic to a website, what kind of content is viewed and how a user gets to a website (e.g. through search engines, directly from other websites etc). Websites conduct these analyzes of their use to improve the sites for the benefit of users.
Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code so they cannot be executed or run. As a result, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks to run or replicate. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
However, cookies may be used for negative purposes. Because it stores information about users' preferences and browsing history, both on a particular site and on several other sites, 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 site.
Other security issues related to cookies
As identity protection is very valuable and represents the right of every internet user, it is advisable to know what possible problems cookies can create. Because through them information is constantly transmitted 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 rare, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g. an unsecured WiFi network).
Other cookie-based attacks involve incorrect cookie settings on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information to gain unauthorized access to certain sites. It is very important that you choose 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 most of the most visited and largest sites use cookies, they are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user to access the most common and used sites, including Youtube, Gmail and others.
Here are some tips that can help you navigate without worries but with the help of cookies:
- Customize your browser settings for cookies to reflect a comfortable level of cookie security for you.
- If cookies do not bother you 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. This is a way to access the sites that place cookies and to delete any visit information at the end of the browsing session.
- Install and constantly update your antispyware applications.
Many of the spyware detection and prevention applications include site attack detection. 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. Many cookie-based attacks are exploited by exploiting 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 sites 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.
How do I stop cookies?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies may make certain sites impractical or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive / view online advertising. To change your cookie settings click here.
Disabling and / or deleting cookies through your browser
You can change your cookie settings via your internet browser. Your web browser allows you to change your cookie settings. Such browser settings for cookies are usually found in the "options", "tools" or "preferences" menu of your internet browser. You can also consult the browser's "Help" menu. Different browsers may use different mechanisms to disable cookies.
Please see the links below for more details on managing your cookie settings:
Regarding the browser settings for deleting previous cookies, the same principles apply as for disabling new cookies through the browser settings. Please follow the appropriate instructions for your browser as detailed above.
There are online tools available to delete all cookies left over from sites you've visited, such as https://www.allaboutcookies.org.
When you visit this site from other computers, you will need to change your settings again.