What are cookies and why do we use them?
A cookie is a file that is downloaded onto the user’s device when accessing certain websites to store and retrieve information about the navigation carried out from that device. Cookies allow the website, among other things, to store and retrieve information about the user’s decisions and habits. We use them to personalize the experience within our websites, identify and remember the registered user, and facilitate navigation.
It is important to note that the use of cookies does not provide personal data of the user, which remains anonymous.
The user can configure their browser to refuse the use of cookies, in which case the personalization of the experience will not apply, but they will still be able to access the content of our websites normally. More information about cookies and how they work can be found on the Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie).
What types of cookies does this website use?
Cookies, based on their duration, can be divided into session cookies or persistent cookies. The former expire when the user closes the browser. The latter expire based on when the purpose for which they are used is fulfilled (e.g., to keep the user logged in to the website and services) or when manually deleted.
Additionally, depending on their purpose, cookies can be classified as follows:
· Performance cookies: This type of cookie remembers your preferences for the tools found in the services, so you do not have to reconfigure the service every time you visit. For example, this category includes:
• Volume settings for video or audio players.
• Video streaming speeds compatible with your browser.
· Geolocation cookies: These cookies are used to determine the country the user is in when requesting a website or service. This cookie is entirely anonymous, and it is only used to help direct content to your location.
· Registration cookies: Registration cookies are generated once the user has registered or subsequently logged in, and are used to identify them on the website and services with the following purposes:
• Keep the user logged in so that if they close a service or website, and later return, they will still be logged in, facilitating navigation without having to log in again. This functionality can be removed if the user clicks the “Log out” functionality, so this cookie is deleted, and the next time they enter the website, the user will need to log in to be identified.
• Check if the user is authorized to access certain services, for example, to participate in a contest.
• Additionally, some services may use third-party connectors such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google. When the user registers for a service with third-party social network credentials, they authorize it to store a persistent cookie that remembers their identity and guarantees access to the website until it expires. The user can delete this cookie and revoke access through social networks or third-party identification systems by updating their preferences in the specific social network.
· Analytics cookies: Every time a user visits a website or service, an external provider tool (such as Google Analytics, comScore, and similar) generates an analytics cookie on the user’s device. This cookie, which is only generated on the visit, will serve on future visits to the services of this website to anonymously identify the visitor. The main objectives pursued are:
• Allow the anonymous identification of browsing users via the “cookie” (it identifies browsers and devices, not people), and therefore the approximate counting of the number of visitors and their trends over time.
• Identify the most visited content, thus more attractive to users.
• Determine whether the user accessing the website is a new or returning visitor.
· Social cookies: Jetpack share-this links created to connect with social profiles. It helps in sharing the website’s content on social networks with just one link. Important: Unless the user decides to register on this website, the cookie will never be associated with any personal data that can identify them. These cookies will only be used for statistical purposes to help optimize the user experience on the site.
For more information on the privacy policy of these analytics tools, please visit: Google Analytics.
List and description of cookies:
The tables below summarize the cookies described earlier and used on this website.
| STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES | ||
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Expiration |
| PHPSESSID | This cookie contains a session identifier that distinguishes the visits of different users when several users are visiting the website simultaneously. It is essential for the interactive use of the page. For more information, please refer to the PHP session manual page. | When the browser is closed |
| _dx_cookie_control | This cookie is used to detect whether the user’s browser accepts cookies. | – |
| ANALYTICAL COOKIES | ||
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Expiration |
| __utma | Collects data like how many times a user has been on the site, when their first visit was, and when their last visit occurred. Used by Google Analytics. | 2 years |
| __utmb | Records the exact date and time when the user enters the website, and calculates the time the visitor spends on the site. Used by Google Analytics to calculate the time spent on the website. | 30 minutes |
| __utmc | Records the exact date and time when the user enters the website, and calculates the time the visitor spends on the site. Used by Google Analytics to calculate the time spent on the website. | When the browser is closed |
| __utmz | Collects data about where the visitor came from, the search terms used, where they clicked, and which part of the world they accessed from. Used by Google Analytics. | 6 months |
How to disable cookies in the browser
Most browsers currently allow the user to configure whether they want to accept cookies and which ones. These settings are usually found in the “Options” or “Preferences” menu of your browser.
Here are the instructions for configuring cookies in the main browsers:
Chrome: Settings -> Show advanced options -> Privacy -> Content settings. For more information, refer to Google’s support or the browser’s Help.
Firefox: Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> History -> Use custom settings. For more information, refer to Mozilla’s support or the browser’s Help.
Internet Explorer: Tools -> Internet Options -> Privacy -> Settings. For more information, refer to Microsoft’s support or the browser’s Help.
Safari: Preferences -> Security. For more information, refer to Apple’s support or the browser’s Help.
