September 25, 2013
September 2013
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small text file sent to your computer when you visit a website. Cookies perform many different functions on NIS websites, making it possible for you, among other things, to move more efficiently through webpages, storing your favourite settings and, in general, helping to improve your website experience.
The EU Directive 2009/136/EC allows storing cookies on your device if they are essential for the functioning of the website, whereas all other cookies are conditional on your consent.
NIS websites may also use the cookies that are not essential for their functioning. Such cookies are not used to track the behaviour of individual users or identify them but to gain useful insight into the way in which the websites are used, so we could further improve them for our users. Without the insight gained through cookie-based systems, we would not be able to provide these services to you.
The types of cookies we use
If you are setting the language, font size or a certain website version (e.g. high contrast mode), cookies for setting user interface are used for that. When the setting is complete, you are not required to specify your preferences when you next visit this website.
If you are using the website sections where you need to register in order to access them, we place an authentication cookie on your computer for that purpose. This allows you to leave and return to those sections without re-authentication.
NIS wants to find out about the way in which visitors use its websites, which is why it uses network analytics services. They register the number of visitors and provide us with general information about their behaviour, such as key words entered into the browser that direct the user to our website, the average time that a user spends on the website and the number of pages browsed by a user. For this purpose, we place the so-called first-party analytics cookie on your computer.
To monitor network statistics, we may also use services like Google Analytics. In that case, Google places the so-called third-party cookie on your computer. Such a cookie is also placed when we use Google maps.
All data collected by these cookies is stored and managed by NIS or its affiliates in the countries where the company operates.
For any additional information or contact with NIS, please refer to our Privacy Protection Policy.
Cookie control
If you do not want to receive cookies, you can set your web browser to notify you when cookies are sent to you or you can decline to receive any cookies. You can also delete the cookies that have already been placed on your computer.
If you wish to limit or block the receipt of cookies placed on your device by a web browser, you can do it by adjusting the browser settings; the procedure is explained in the browser’s help option. You can also visit the website www.aboutcookies.org (external link), which contains detailed instructions about this procedure in different web browsers.