1.What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that websites send to users’ terminals, where they are stored before being re-sent to the same websites on subsequent visits. So-called “third-party” cookies, on the other hand, are set by a website other than the one the user is visiting. This is because each website may contain elements (images, maps, sounds, specific links to web pages on other domains, etc.) that reside on servers other than the one of the visited website.
2. What are cookies used for?
Cookies are used for various purposes: performing computer authentication, monitoring sessions, storing information on specific configurations regarding users accessing the server, storing preferences, etc.
3. What are “technical” cookies?
These cookies are used to perform navigation or provide a service requested by the user. They are not used for other purposes and are usually installed directly by the website owner. Without these cookies, certain operations could not be performed or would be more complex and/or less secure, such as online banking (viewing account statements, making bank transfers, paying bills, etc.). For these purposes, cookies, which allow for the identification of the user and their retention throughout the session, are essential.
4. Are analytics cookies “technical” cookies?
No. The Italian Data Protection Authority (see provision of May 8, 2014) has specified that they can be considered technical cookies only if used for website optimization purposes directly by the website owner, who may collect aggregate information on the number of users and how they visit the site. Under these conditions, the same rules regarding information and consent as those for technical cookies apply to analytics cookies.
5. What are “profiling” cookies?
These cookies are used to track a user’s online browsing and create profiles of their tastes, habits, choices, etc. These cookies can be used to send advertising messages to the user’s terminal that match the preferences the user has already expressed while browsing online.
6. Is the user’s consent required to install cookies on their device?
It depends on the purposes for which the cookies are used, and therefore whether they are “technical” or “profiling” cookies. Installing technical cookies does not require user consent, but it is necessary to provide information (Article 13 of the Privacy Code). Profiling cookies, however, can only be installed on the user’s device if the user has given their consent after being informed through simplified procedures.
The types of cookies we use
Technical and profiling cookies
How to block cookies in Internet Explorer
- Click on the gear icon at the top right of your browser
- Select the “Internet Options” item, then click on the “Privacy” tab and then on the “Advanced” button
- Check the box next to “Override automatic cookie handling” and select “Block” under both “Website cookies” and “Third-party cookies” to disable the respective cookies.
- Then click on “Ok”
Note: To allow cookies only from certain sites, click the “Sites” button, enter the URL of the desired site, and click “Allow.” To enable the “Do Not Track” feature, click the gear icon in the top right, select “Security” > “Enable Do Not Track Requests” from the menu that appears, and click the “Enable” button in the window that opens.
Google Chrome
- Click on the menu icon at the top right of the browser
- Select the “Settings” item, then click on the “Show advanced settings” item and then on the “Content settings” button
- Check the box next to “Block sites from setting any data” and/or “Block third-party cookies and site data”
- Then click on “Finish”
Note: To allow cookies only from certain sites, click the “Manage exceptions” button, enter the URL of the desired site, click “Allow,” and then “Done.” To enable the “Do Not Track” feature, go back to Chrome’s “Settings” > “Show advanced settings” menu and check the “Send a “Do Not Track” request with your browsing traffic” box.
Firefox
- Click on the menu icon at the top right of the browser
- Select “Options” and then click on the “Privacy” tab
- In the “History settings” drop-down menu, select “Use custom settings for history” and deselect the “Accept cookies from sites” option. If you want to block cookies only for third-party sites, set the “Accept third-party cookies” drop-down menu to “Never.”
Note: To enable the “Do Not Track” feature, go back to the “Options” > “Privacy” menu in Firefox and check the “Ask sites not to track me” box.
Safari
- Select “Preferences” from the Safari menu at the top left of the browser
- Select the “Privacy” item, then click on the “Always block” checkbox
- Alternatively, if you want to allow cookies on a single website: visit that website, return to your browser’s privacy settings and select the checkbox next to “Allow from current website only.”
NB. To activate the “Do Not Track” function, go back to the “Safari menu” > “Preferences” > “Privacy” and check the “Ask websites not to track me” box.
Block cookies on Android mobile devices
Chrome
- Click on the “Menu” button at the top right of the browser
- Select the “Settings” item, then click on the “Content settings” item and remove the check from “Accept cookies”
NB. To activate the “Do Not Track” function, go to “Settings” > “Privacy”, click on the “Do Not Track” button and move the lever in the top right to ON.
Firefox
- Click on the “Menu” button at the top right of the browser
- Select the “Settings” item, then click on the “Cookies” item and check the “Disabled” box if you want to disable them completely, or “Active, except third-party” if you want to disable cookies only for third-party sites.
Note: To activate the “Do Not Track” feature, click on the “Tracking” item and select the “Ask sites not to track me” option from the box that opens.
Block cookies on Apple mobile devices
- Select “Settings” from the iOS menu found on the home screen
- Select the Safari icon from the menu that opens
- Under “Block Cookies”, check the “Always block” option to completely disable cookies.
NB. To activate the “Do Not Track” function, go back to the “Settings” > “Safari” menu and set the “Do Not Track” switch to “ON”.