Use of Cookies by Springboard IT
Cookie Law
European law demands that you, as a website user, are given the opportunity to understand how cookies are used on our websites and consent to cookies being stored on your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device.
What are cookies?
A cookie is a small text file, typically of letters and numbers, downloaded to your computer when you access websites. Typically, they contain the following information: a site name and unique user ID, the duration of the cookie’s abilities and effects, and a random number. As a rule, cookies cannot be used to reveal your identity or personally identifying information.
When you visit a website that uses cookies for the first time, a cookie is downloaded onto your computer. The next time you visit that website, your computer checks to see if it has a cookie that is relevant and sends the information contained in that cookie back to the website. The website then notes that you have been there before, and in some cases, tailors what pops up on screen to take account of that fact. They also might record how long you spend on each page on a site, what links you click, even your preferences for page layouts and colour schemes.
Generally, the role of cookies is beneficial, making your interaction with frequently-visited sites smoother with no extra effort on your part. Without cookies, online shopping would be much harder. Without cookies, some websites will become less interactive with the cookie option turned off.
We will use cookies typically for some of the following applications: Google Analytics, You Tube content, Vimeo, security, visitor preferences.
Types of cookies
Session cookies
These cookies expire when you close your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome). These cookies are used for various reasons, for example, remembering what you have put in your shopping basket as you browse a website. They can also be used for security to access your Internet banking or email.
Persistent cookies
These cookies are still stored on your computer after you have closed your web browser which allows your preferences on websites to be remembered. These cookies are used for a variety of purposes, for example, remembering your preferences on a website (your language choice or your user name on a particular website).
First and Third Party cookies
This refers to the website placing the cookie. We do not permit third party cookies.
First party cookies are cookies set us. Third party cookies are set by another website – the website you are visiting may have advertising on the page and this other website will be able to set a cookie on your computer. The main web browsers allow third party cookies by default. Changing the settings on your browsers can prevent this.
Exceptions
There are some exemptions to the above where it is essential for a website to store information on your computer, for example, to provide a service to you that you have requested.
Our use of cookies
We will use cookies typically for some of the following applications: Google Analytics, You Tube content, Vimeo, security, visitor preferences.
- We use cookies to understand your usage of our website. We use Google Analytics on our website. You may disable the Google Analytics function by means of a browser add-on to ensure the prevention of the sending of any analytical information to Google. To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
How you can Control Cookies
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.