Last update: may 2018

1. Cookie usage policy
This policy applies to the cookies and webpages operated by Asociația Camera Franceză de Comerț și Industrie CCIFER with its registered office in strada Gheorghe Țițeica, 212-214,
Bucuresti.

2. What are cookies?
The cookie is a small file consisting of letters and numbers that will be stored on your computer, mobile terminal or other user equipment from which the user accesses the Internet. The cookie is installed through the request issued by a web server to a browser (e.g.: Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (does not contain software, viruses or spyware, and cannot access information on the user’s hard drive).

3. What are cookies used for?
These files make it possible to recognize the user’s terminal and present the content in a relevant way, adapted to the user’s preferences. Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support Asociația Camera Franceză de Comerț și Industrie CCIFER’s efforts to provide user-friendly services: e.g.: – online privacy or relevant advertising preferences. They are also used in the preparation of aggregated anonymous statistics that help us understand how a user benefits from our web pages, allowing us to improve their structure and content, excluding personal identification of the user.

4. What cookies do we use?
We use two types of cookies: per session and persistent. The latter are temporary files that remain in the user’s terminal until the end of the session or the closing of the application (the web browser). Persistent files remain on the user’s terminal for a period set in the cookie parameters or until they are deleted manually by the user.

5. How are cookies used by this site?
A visit to this site may place cookies for purposes of:

  • Site performance cookies
  • Visitor analysis cookies
  • Cookies for geotargeting
  • Login cookies
  • Cookies for advertising
  • Advertiser cookies

6. Do cookies contain personal data?
Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users. Personal data collected through the use of cookies can only be collected to facilitate certain user functions. Such data is encrypted in a way that makes unauthorized persons’ access to them impossible.

7. Deleting cookies
In general, an application used to access web pages allows you to save cookies to the terminal by default. These settings can be changed so that automatic cookie administration is blocked by the web browser or the user is notified whenever cookies are sent to his or her terminal. Detailed information about the possibilities and ways of managing cookies can be found in the application (web browser) settings area. Restricting the use of cookies may affect certain features of the web page.

8. Why are cookies important for the internet?
Cookies are the central focus of the Internet’s efficient operation, helping to generate a browsing experience that is friendly and tailored to each user’s preferences and interests. Rejecting or disabling cookies can make some sites impossible to use. Rejecting or disabling cookies does not mean you will not get online advertising – just that it will no longer be able to keep track of your preferences and interests, as highlighted by your browsing behavior. Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require user authentication through an account):

  • Content and services tailored to user preferences – product categories and services
  • Offers tailored to user interests – password retention Retaining parental filters for content on the Internet (family mode options, safe search functions)
  • Limit ad serving frequency – limiting the number of displays of an ad for a particular user on a site
  • Providing more user-relevant advertisements

Measurement, optimization and analytics features – such as confirming a certain traffic level on a website, what type of content is viewed and how a user arrives on a website (eg. via search engines, directly, from other websites etc.).
Websites run these analyzes of their use to improve the sites for the benefit of users.

9. Security and confidentiality issues

Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made of pieces of code, therefore they cannot be executed, nor can they run themselves. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks to run or replicate again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses. Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a particular site and on many other sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware.
Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and consistently mark cookies to be deleted in anti-virus / anti-spyware removal/scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity periods and automatic deletion after the user has visited a particular site.

Other security issues related to cookies:

Because identity protection is very valuable and is the right of every internet user, it is advisable to know what problems cookies can create. As information between the browser and the website is constantly transmitted in both directions through them, if an attacker or unauthorized person interferes with the data transmission route, the information contained in the cookie can be intercepted.

Although very rare, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g. an unsecured WiFi network).

Other cookie-based attacks involve wrong cookie settings on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to mislead browsers into sending information via unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information for purposes of unauthorized access to certain sites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate personal information protection method.

Tips for safe and responsible cookie-based browsing.

Due to their flexibility and the fact that the majority of the most visited and the largest sites use cookies, they are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user to access to the most popular and used sites including Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.

Here are some tips to make sure you are browsing safely with cookies:

  • Customize your browser settings with regard to cookies to reflect a cookie security level that is comfortable to you.
  • If you do not mind cookies and you are the only person using your computer, you can set long expiration dates to store your browsing history and personal data.
  • If you share access to your computer, you can consider the browser setting to delete individual browsing data each time you close your browser. This is a way to access sites that place cookies and delete any visitor information at the end of the browsing session.
  • Install and constantly update your antispyware applications.

Many of the applications for detecting and preventing spyware include attack detection on sites. This prevents the browser from accessing websites that could exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software. Make sure your browser is always up-to-date. Many of the cookie-based attacks are performed by exploiting the weaknesses of old browser versions. Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and greatest websites on the Internet – local or international. With a clear understanding of how they work and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures, so you can surf the Internet with confidence.

Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make some sites unfeasible or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean you will not receive/see online advertising anymore.

It is possible to set the browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted. or you can set the browser to accept cookies from a particular site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments. All modern browsers offer you the ability to change your cookie settings. These settings are usually found in your browser’s “options” or “preferences” menu.
To understand these settings, the following links may be useful, or you can use the browser’s “help” option for more details.

For third-party cookie settings, you can also check the site: http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ro/