Privacy & Cookie Policy
Since 26 May 2012, all European websites need to comply with the new EU E-Privacy Directive 2009/136/EC. Cookies are only a small part of this directive, and whilst you are still allowed to use cookies on a web site, it must be made clear to visitors to your site that cookies are being used. A message or warning must be displayed so that the visitor is aware of them.On our web site we have displayed a message to warn you that our website makes use of cookies and that one has already been set. By displaying this message we hope that we are providing you with the information you require about our use of cookies, and presenting you with the option to consent to their use. This message will be displayed until such time that you agree to our site using cookies by clicking on the I Agree button.a. What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small amount of data, often including a unique identifier, sent to the browser of your computer or mobile phone (referred to here as a “device”) from a web site’s computer. It is stored on your device’s hard drive. Each website can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser’s preferences allow it. To protect your privacy, your browser only permits a website to access the cookies it has already sent to you, and not the cookies sent to you by other websites. Many websites do this whenever a user visits them to track online traffic flows.
On our web site, our cookies record information about your online preferences so we can tailor the site to your interests. You can set your device’s preferences to accept all cookies, notify you when a cookie is issued, or not receive cookies at all. Selecting the last option means you will not receive certain personalised features, which may result in you being unable to take full advantage of all the website’s features. Each browser is different, so please check the “Help” menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.
During the course of any visit to our web site, every page you see, along with a cookie, is downloaded to your device. Many websites do this because cookies enable website publishers to do useful things like find out whether your device (and probably you) has visited the website before. On a repeat visit this is done by the website’s computer checking to see, and finding, the cookie left there on the last visit.
b. How do we use cookies?
Information supplied by cookies can help us analyse the profile of our visitors, which helps us provide you with a better user experience. For example, if on a previous visit you went to our marketing pages, we might find this out from your cookie and highlight marketing information on subsequent visits.
c. Third party cookies on our pages
Please note that during your visits to our web site you may notice some cookies which are unrelated to us. When you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Flickr, you may be presented with cookies from these websites. We do not control the dissemination of these cookies. You should check the third party websites for more information about these.
d. Cookies used on our site
We only use cookies to help us continuously improve our web site and maintain a nice browsing experience for our visitors. Here is a list of cookies used on this website:
• Google Analytics – We use cookies to compile visitor statistics such as how many people have visited our website, what type of technology they are using (e.g. Mac or Windows which helps to identify when our site isn’t working as it should for particular technologies), how long they spend on the site, what page they look at etc.
• Face Book, YouTube and social media share buttons that enable you to share our content
• Session cookie – This is a standard cookie just to remember user preferences (Like font size and saves you logging in every time you visit)
e. What happens if I say ‘no’ to allowing cookies in my browser?
Will the site still work?
The website will still work and you will be able to get the information you need from the site. But as we develop how the site works and offer more sophisticated services through it, this will most likely rely on cookies. For example, if we begin to tailor the content to your interests as expressed by your browsing behaviour this depend on cookies. If you have declined cookies then this kind of service will not be available to you.
What is the impact for us?
If you decline cookies then we will not be able to count your site usage in the statistics that we gather about use of the site.
We use Google Analytics to count the number of people who use the site and to analyse how they use it. We do this to make sure that our sites are as good as they can be and this is the primary evidence we use when trying to improve what we offer to users.
If you decline cookies then your site usage won’t be counted and measured in this way so we won’t be able to take your actions into account when analysing data and seeking to improve our service based on that analysis.
f. How to delete cookies or control them
This site will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block cookies set by this or any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to do this for a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to clear cookies from your computer as well as more general information about cookies. For information on how to do this on your mobile phone’s browser, you will need to refer to your handset manual.
Privacy Policy
Summary
We are committed to protecting you and your personal information when you are using our services. We want our services to provide safe and enjoyable environments for our users. This Privacy Policy is relevant to our use of any personal information you provide to us during your visit to our site.
We seek to follow the industry’s best practices concerning personal information handling.
The web site contains hyperlinks to external resources, hosted and operated by third parties. These parties have their own privacy policies, including cookies, and we urge you to review them carefully. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the handling of your personal information when visiting these external resources; your use of those third party resources and/or websites is your own responsibility.
We also use third-party service and content providers (such as Google Analytics) who may collect their own set of personal information. Since these are third parties, the information collected by them is not governed by this Privacy Statement.
Personal information collected
Whenever you register for our members-only services, we may ask for personal information about you. This can consist of such information as your name, e-mail, website address, gender, etc. By entering the information in the fields requested you enable us to provide you with the services you select.
We record your IP address as part of the unconditional logging our web server software does whenever anybody accesses our site. The collected IP addresses remain on record for at least a year, but they will not be shared with third parties. Exception to this rule is sharing information with authorities in the case of a suspected or proven breach of our site or other proven misuse of our services.
We record your IP address, HTTP Referrer information, username (if applicable), date & time as well as the selected item whenever you are downloading anything from our Downloads page. This information is strictly confidential and will not be shared with any third party unless:
a. We are requested to do so by law or
b. It is deemed of absolute necessity in order to protect our business (e.g. as a proof of service consumption in the case of a PayPal dispute).
We will not sell, lease or in any other way allow any third party to have access to the raw, redacted or aggregated forms of this information, as per the next section of this document.
This web site is also using “cookies” to enhance user experience.
Use of collected information
We will NOT sell, rent or otherwise willingly transmit the recorded personal information to any third party. Your privacy is important to us and we will not even offer aggregate information resulting from personal information processing to any part of our website.