Cookie Definition

A cookie is a small file that stores Internet settings. Almost every website uses cookie technology. Cookies are downloaded by your Internet browser the first time you visit a website. The next time this website is opened with the same user device, the cookie and the information stored in it are either sent back to the website that created it (first-party cookie) or sent to another website it belongs to (third-party cookie). This enables the website to detect that you have opened it previously with this browser and in some cases to vary the displayed content.

Cookies are useful as they can improve the user experience when opening a website that you have already visited a number of times. Provided you use the same user device and the same browser as before, cookies remember your preferences and how you use a site, for example, and adapt the displayed content to be more relevant to your personal interest and needs.

Depending on their function and purpose, cookies on this website fall into two categories:

1. Essential cookies

2. Cookies that require consent

Essential cookies, which can also be described as “strictly necessary” or “required,” ensure functions without which you would not be able to use this website as intended. These cookies are used exclusively by this website and are therefore “first-party” cookies.

A first-party cookie also saves your decision regarding the use of cookies on this website. Your consent is not required for the use of essential cookies.

Essential cookies cannot be disabled on our website itself. In general, you can disable cookies in your browser at any time. Most browsers offer the following options within the privacy settings:

• Disable cookies
• Delete all cookies when closing the browser
• Do not accept cookies from third parties (e.g., advertising banners)
• Ask for permission for each cookie

List of essential cookies

Cookie name: cookie-consent

• Provider: This website
• Purpose: Saves the cookie settings selected by the user in the cookie dialog box and contains a list of allowed groups. The content is always at least “essential” as soon as the dialog box is completed for the first time and can also include “Analytics-and-Marketing” if the user accepts cookies that require consent.
• Expiry: 1 year
• Category: Essential cookie, first-party cookie

Cookie name: gtm-disable

• Provider: This website
• Purpose: Saves whether cookie-based tags from Google Tag Manager for setting cookies are allowed or not. The value can be “true” (no cookies allowed) or “false” (cookies allowed).
• Expiry: 1 year
• Category: Essential cookie, first-party cookie

Cookies that require consent can be defined as cookies that are not considered essential from a legal point of view.

Analytics cookies help us to understand how visitors interact with this website by collecting information anonymously. In order to continuously improve our website, we collect data such as the number of visitors for statistical and analytical purposes in order to optimize our content.

Marketing cookies are used to target advertising specifically to a user (Behavioral Targeting). The aim of using marketing cookies is to show adverts that are particularly relevant for the website users.

List of cookies that require consent

Cookie name: _ga

• Provider: Google
• Purpose: Used to differentiate user.
• Expiry: 2 years
• Category: Analytics cookie, third-party cookie

Cookie name: _gid

• Provider: Google
• Purpose: Used to differentiate user.
• Expiry: 24 hours
• Category: Analytics cookie, third-party cookie

Cookie name: _gat…

• Provider: Google
• Purpose: Used to throttle request rate.
• Expiry: 1 minute
• Category: Analytics cookie, third-party cookie

Additional Notes—Local Storage:

Alongside cookies, this website also uses local storage to ensure a functional website for users. Data from your browser cache is stored in local storage until the browser cache is emptied or the browser data is deleted. The data saved in local storage is not accessible to third parties.

You can delete the cache/browser data in your browser settings. However, please note that this may cause functional restrictions.