Cookies

When you use our Services, we collect certain information by automated or electronic means, using technologies such as cookies, pixel tags, web beacons, browser analysis tools, and web server logs. As you use our Services, your browser and devices communicate with servers operated by us, our business partners, and services providers to coordinate and record the interactivity and fill your requests for services and information. Additional information on how to opt out of certain tracking features is set forth in the Your Choices section below.

The information from cookies and related technology is stored in web server logs and also, in web cookies kept on your computers or mobile devices, which are then transmitted back to our Services by your computers or mobile devices. These servers are operated and the cookies are managed by us, our business partners, or our service providers.

A “cookie” is a small amount of information that a web server sends to your browser that stores information about your registration and your use of the Website and/or the Services. Some cookies contain numbers that allow us to connect the Website and/or the Services with other information we store about you in your profile or as related to your interactions with the Website and/or the Services. Some cookies are temporary, whereas others may be configured to last longer.

Pixel tags and web beacons are tiny graphic images placed on Website pages or in e-mails that allow us to determine whether you have performed specific actions. When you access these pages or open e-mail messages, the pixel tags and web beacons generate a notice of that action to us or our applicable service providers. These tools allow us to measure response rates to our communications and improve the Website and/or the Services.

We use the following cookies:

• • Strictly necessary cookies:  These are cookies that are essential for the operation and security of our Website.
  • Analytical/performance cookies:  These cookies collect information about how you use our Website. For example, they allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our Website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our Website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
  • Functionality cookies:  These are used to recognize you when you return to our Website and remember the choices you make. This enables us to personalize our content for you and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
  • Targeting cookies:  These cookies record your visit to our Website, the pages you have visited, and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our Website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.

Difference between session and persistent cookies

“Session” cookies are temporary cookies used for various reasons, such as to manage page views. Your browser usually erases session cookies once you exit your browser.

“Persistent” cookies are more permanent cookies that are stored on your computers or mobile devices even beyond when you exit your browser. We use persistent cookies for a number of purposes, such as retrieving certain information you have previously provided and storing such information.

First and third-party cookies?

Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting or by another website prior to or during your visit. These are known as first and third-party cookies.

First-party cookies belong to the website domain that appears in the browser address bar and we may set these cookies when you visit our Website in order to recognize you when you return.

Third-party cookies belong to website domains different from the one shown in the address bar. Some websites can feature content from third-party domains (such as banner ads). Other websites may also set cookies on your device during a visit to our Website. These sites will be approved by vendors of ours, such as Google Analytics, Facebook, or Twitter.

In particular, we wish to draw your attention to the following use of cookies:

Google Analytics. Our Website uses Google Analytics to collect information about how visitors use our Website. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve our Website and Services. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. For more information on Google Analytics, please click here, or for more details on how Google uses data when you use our Website and Services, please click here.

In many cases, the information we collect using cookies and other tools is used in non-identifiable ways, without any reference to Personal Information. For example, we use the information we collect about users to optimize our Services and understand its traffic and usage patterns. In other cases, we associate the information we collect using cookies and related technologies with Personal Information. In that case, this Privacy Policy governs how we use that information.

Additionally, if you have visited one of our mobile websites or activated one of our mobile-device applications, and if the settings on your location-aware device allow us to receive Location Information, we will collect that automatically. If we associate Location Information with other Personal Information, this Privacy Policy governs how we would use that information too.

Opting out

Currently, our Services do not recognize browser do-not-track signals. However, you may manage how your browser handles cookies and related technologies by adjusting its privacy and security settings. Browsers are different, so refer to instructions related to your browser to learn about cookie-related and other privacy and security settings that may be available. The Help portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your computer from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. You can opt-out of being targeted by certain third-party advertising companies by visiting the following links: Network Advertising Initiative, Adometry, Digital Advertising Alliance, PrivacyChoice, Google Analytics.