Cookie usage on acr.org
Most websites you visit, including acr.org, will use cookies in order to improve your user experience by enabling the website to ‘remember’ you, either for the duration of your visit (using a ‘session cookie’) or for repeat visits (using a ‘persistent cookie’).
Cookies perform various functions, like letting you navigate between pages efficiently, storing your preferences, and improving your overall website experience. Cookies make the interaction between you and the website faster and easier. Without cookies, the website would consider you a new visitor every time you move to a new page on the site – for example, when you enter your login credentials and proceed to another page, the website won’t recognize you and won’t be able to keep you logged in.
Types of cookies
Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting (‘first party cookies’) or they may be set by other websites who run content on the page you are viewing (‘third party cookies’). When you use our website, services, applications, messaging and tools, authorized service providers may collect information such as your IP address, geographical location, referral source, length of visit and pages viewed. We use this information to operate and improve your experience on our websites.
First party cookies
First party cookies are set by the website you are visiting, and they can only be read by that site. The acr.org website uses the following first party cookies:
- Application session management: to ensure proper delivery of our content, we work on several servers; this cookie allows you to stay on the proper server to access the latest information.
- Cookie policy: this is a legal requirement to ensure you read and accept this cookie policy. This cookie is the only persistent one we place on your browser. It lasts 1 year, i.e., each year (or before if you clear your cookies) you will need to indicate again that you agree with this policy.
- Shopping and other Membership/Governance services: this ensures that once you are logged in, you stay logged in until you decide to logout. This gives you the opportunity to proceed with your transactions (membership, buying a product and updating demographics and other information).
- SSO - Authentication service: this ensures that you stay logged in when going from the shopping cart section to the main acr.org website and vice versa. This is what allows you to login and then come back to the website to view restricted content or content behind login only.
Third party cookies
Third-party cookies are set by an organization other than the owner of the website you are visiting. For example, the website might use a third-party analytics company, which sets its own cookie to provide this service. The website you are visiting may also contain embedded content from other organizations, and these sites may set their own cookies. The acr.org website uses the following third-party cookies:
- Google Analytics: this is used to allow us to identify the most visited content and how a user interacts with our website The data from this tool allows us to continuously improve your user journey and experience on our website.
- Social Sharing: this allows us to know if you shared our content on social media using the share buttons found throughout the website. It does not allow us to in any way identify you or find your social media account. It simply indicates the number of users who have shared each page.
- Website monitoring: this allows us to track how the website is performing for you (e.g., page loading times) and gives us these indications by geo-localization so that, if you are in a country where our website runs slower, we can be informed and take actions to improve this.
- Marketo: this is a 3rd party vendor that we use as a marketing and communication system to communicate with our members and customers.
Session cookies
Session cookies are stored only temporarily during a browsing session and are deleted from the user’s device when the browser is closed.
Persistent cookies
This type of cookie is stored on your computer or device for an extended period, usually a year or longer, and is not deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies are used when it’s necessary for the website to recognize you across multiple browsing sessions, and to maintain your preferences, settings, and login status over time.
What is in a cookie?
A cookie is a simple text file that is stored on your computer or mobile device by a website’s server and only accessible by that server. Each cookie is unique to your web browser. It will contain some anonymous information such as a unique identifier and the site name and some digits and numbers. It allows a website to remember things like your preferences or what’s in your shopping cart.
What to do if you don’t want cookies to be set
Some people find the idea of a website storing information on their computer or mobile device a bit intrusive, particularly when this information is stored and used by a third party without their knowledge. Although this is generally quite harmless you may not, for example, want to see content that has been targeted to your interests. If you prefer, it is possible to block some or all cookies or even to delete cookies that have already been set; but you need to be aware that you might lose some functions of those website.
How can I control cookies?
If you prefer not to receive cookies, you can adjust your browser settings to either notify you when cookies are sent or refuse cookies altogether. You can also delete cookies that have already been set.
If you wish to restrict or block web browser cookies set on your device, you can do so through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how. Alternatively, you may find useful information on managing cookies at www.aboutcookies.org.
Our website does work without cookies, but you will lose some features and functionality if you choose to disable cookies. In particular, if you do choose to disable cookies, you will not be able to enjoy the full range of online services available through the My ACR area or any of the restricted content.