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Cookies are a piece of data sent from a web site and stored in your browsers memory. They are a lot like a name badge handed out at a conference, and just like a name badge - you don't have to wear it!

Cookies can be required to allow web browsers to function properly as websites are stateless (they don't remember user information from one internal page to another). Sometimes they are used to track user actions within one website or across multiple websites in order to collect usage information or identify interests and map behaviour to be able to offer relevant advertisements.

We currently offer the CookieHub widget for means of compliance with the EU Directive as it offers the end user the choice to allow or deny certain cookie categories which helps protect various aspects of your privacy. Below is a description of the most common cookie categories.

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies are used to make a web site function properly, they are generally not used for tracking and are not shared between websites.

The most common necessary action performed using a cookie is user authentication. When you log in to any web site, a cookie is stored in your browser including some piece of data used by the website to remember who is authenticated when you go to another internal page or refresh the site.

Cookies are also used so that a website knows what's in your shopping cart, store user settings and more.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies are not necessary but are used to collect valuable information on how a web site is being used, identify issues and figure out what needs to be improved on the site and what content is useful. The information collected is in most cases anonymous but some analytics services collect information that could be used to identify the user. Sites built by RM WebDesign use the Google Analytics service. We use the data collected to understand information such as the types of web browsers and devices being used to visit the site (so we can build appropriately) and we gather data such as geographical location of users so our customers can understand their customers. This type of data is deidentified and generic at source - i.e. users show as "Dublin" or "Birmingham" certainly not anything like "1st floor bathroom of no. 10 Downing Street". 

Despite conspiracy theories to the contrary, it is impossible to identify a single individual simply from having them browse a website.

Marketing cookies

Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across multiple websites to profile user behaviour and allow publishers to display relevant advertisements.

 
For more information, see the following video from Google explaining why we use Cookies;