Guidelines about cookies

Viewing a website belonging to Profile Group involves collecting personal data via cookies or similar technology.

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small text file saved by the browser on the user’s computer/smartphone/tablet when he/she visits websites. The use of cookies helps websites function as efficiently and simply as possible.

Each user manages and can control his/her own cookies at any time via his/her browser settings, and can delete them when leaving a website that he/she has visited. If a user disables cookies on his/her browser, he/she will be able to see some of the content of the Profile Group website, but the optimum functioning of Profile Group’s services may be affected.

What type of cookies are we talking about?

There are different kinds of cookies. Some are needed for the smooth functioning of a website, others are used to improve and/or simplify its use.

Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the functioning of Profile Group websites. These cookies do not collect any information about the user that can be used for marketing purposes, and are essential for using Profile Group websites. These cookies are exempt from the requirement for consent, in accordance with article 29 of the law on electronic communications dated 13 June 2005.

Functional cookies allowing us to save user connection details, secure the user’s connection to Profile Group websites and provide real-time support (Live Chat). These cookies do not collect any information about the user that can be used for marketing purposes. These cookies are also exempt from the requirement for consent.

Authentication cookies allow users to sign in and access secure content. These cookies do not collect any information about the user that can be used for marketing purposes. These cookies are also exempt from the requirement for consent.

Performance cookies allow Profile Group to collect information about how users navigate Profile Group’s websites and adapt and improve its web services, if applicable. Profile Group is not able to identify users using this type of cookie, and all the data collected by these cookies is handled anonymously. These cookies do not collect any information about the user that can be used for marketing purposes. These cookies are stored on the basis of consent provided by the user.

Targeting / third party cookies. Profile Group sometimes carries out advertising campaigns, some of which involve third parties, which may sometimes store cookies (or similar technology) to assess the success of the campaign, or to show a targeted advertisement to suit the interests of users, or to limit the number of views per user. For example, links to social networking sites or videos hosted on YouTube are for third parties that might, if applicable, store cookies on Profile Group websites. These cookies are stored on the basis of consent provided by the user.

If a user refuses the use of this type of cookie, only the pages and services that do not need these cookies can be shown, viewed and used. Parts of Profile Group websites that technically allow the inclusion of third-party content – and so third-party cookies – will no longer be accessible and a message will inform users of this.

A distinction should also be made between session cookies and persistent cookies.

Session cookies are automatically deleted from the user’s computer hard disk or browser memory when the user logs out and/or closes the browser.

Persistent cookies are stored on the user’s computer hard disk or browser memory for a limited period (minutes, days or years) after logging off or closing the browser.

The table below shows the cookies used on Profile Group websites and the cookies used by third parties in detail.

Last updated May 2018