Cookies Policy

About cookies

• 1.1 A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and is stored by the browser. The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.

• 1.2 Cookies may be either “persistent” cookies or “session” cookies: a persistent cookie will be stored by a web browser and will remain valid until its set expiry date, unless deleted by the user before the expiry date; a session cookie, on the other hand, will expire at the end of the user session, when the web browser is closed.

• 1.3 Cookies do not typically contain any information that personally identifies a user, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.

2. Cookies that we use

• 2.1 We use cookies for the following purposes:

  • (a) Authentication – we use cookies to identify you when you visit our website and as you navigate our website.

  • (b) Status – we use cookies to help us to determine if you are logged into our website.

  • (c) Personalisation – we use cookies to store information about your preferences and to personalise the website for you.

  • (d) Security – we use cookies as an element of the security measures used to protect user accounts, including preventing fraudulent use of login credentials, and to protect our website and services generally.

  • (e) Advertising – we use cookies to help us to display advertisements that will be relevant to you.

  • (f) Analysis – we use cookies to help us to analyse the use and performance of our website and services.

Our cookies:

3. Cookies used by our service providers

• 3.1 Our service providers use cookies and those cookies may be stored on your computer when you visit our website.

4. Managing cookies

• 4.1 Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies and to delete cookies. The methods for doing so vary from browser to browser, and from version to version. You can however obtain up-to-date information about blocking and deleting cookies via these links:

  • (a) https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en (Chrome);

  • (b) https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences (Firefox);

  • (c) http://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/cookies/ (Opera);

  • (d) https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies (Internet Explorer);

  • (e) https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411 (Safari); and

  • (f) https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy (Edge).

• 4.2 Blocking all cookies will have a negative impact upon the usability of many websites.

• 4.3 If you block cookies, you will not be able to use all the features on our website.

5. VIP access cookie and similar technologies

• 5.1 We use a small number of technical cookies and local browser storage items to operate our VIP or gated content areas.
• 5.2 vip_ok (first-party, strictly necessary)
  This cookie is used to remember that you have successfully entered the VIP access code so you don’t have to re-enter it on every page. It does not contain personal data and is only used for access control.
  Expiry: up to [X] hours after you enter the correct code (after this, you may be asked to enter the code again).
• 5.3 In addition to cookies, we use localStorage and sessionStorage (browser-side storage similar to cookies) for the same VIP gate feature:
  • (a) A small record of recent failed code attempts and a temporary “lockout until” time, used solely to prevent repeated incorrect entries and protect the page from abuse.
  • (b) A flag indicating that your current session or page type is excluded from the VIP gate, so we don’t show you the prompt unnecessarily.
  • (c) A time-limited flag indicating that VIP access is still valid, mirroring the vip_ok cookie.
• 5.4 These items are stored only in your browser, are not used for advertising or tracking across other sites, and are necessary for the security and smooth operation of the VIP or gated content area.