7. What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small text file used for storing Internet settings. Cookie technology is used on virtually every web site on the Internet. A cookie is downloaded via your Internet browser when you visit a website for the first time. Whenever you visit that web site with the same device, the stored cookie and its content will be transmitted either to the web site that created it (first-party cookie), or to an associated web site (third-party cookie). This allows the web site to detect that your browser has loaded it before. In some cases, a different content may be displayed based on that information.
Some cookies are quite useful, as they may improve your user experience when you re-visit the same web site. If you are using the same device and browser as during your first visit to the web site, the cookies will identify your preferences or the way you use a web page, so that the offers shown on the page can be customised to suit your individual needs and interests.
Some cookies (also known as “strictly necessary” cookies) enable functions that are needed to use the web site properly. These cookies are used exclusively by Commend and are therefore called ‘first-party cookies’. They are stored on your computer only for the duration of the current browsing session. For example, when navigating to a new web page, strictly necessary cookies may support the switch from http to (secure) https to enable a higher level of data transfer security. Strictly necessary cookies also store your preferences regarding the use of cookies on our web site. The use of strictly necessary cookies does not require your express consent.
Cookies which by legal definition are not strictly necessary to use the web site can serve many important purposes. Without these cookies, certain functions intended for your surfing convenience – such as automatically filling in web form details – would not be available. Your personal settings – e.g., your preferred language – cannot be retained without such cookies and would require you to re-enter them every time you visit the web site. Also, without these cookies we would no longer be able to address your individual preferences with tailored offers.
| Name | Description | Expires |
|---|
| displayCookieConsent | When visiting our web site for the first time, you will be notified at the bottom of the page about the use of cookies on this web site. By accessing our web site you consent to the storage of these cookies on your system. The cookie called “displayCookieConsent” prevents this notification from being displayed every time you visit the Commend web site to provide a user-friendly, uninterrupted surfing experience. | 1 year |
| fe_typo_user | This cookie will be set every time you log into our web site to access software and documentation. It causes a unique ID to be stored on the Typo3 content management system. This ID is used for functions such as system logging, storing configuration preferences (e. g., preferred language), and automatic filling in of on-line form fields (e. g., when registering for Commend trainings). | Session |
This web site also integrates third-party content, such as Youtube videos. These third parties may also store cookies while you are visiting our web site. They do so to provide them with certain information, e.g., that you have visited a Commend web page. Please see the web sites of the respective third parties for further information about their cookie usage policies. If you decline to provide or withdraw your consent to the storage of consent-requiring cookies, you will only have access to those functions on our web site that can be accessed without these cookies. In this case you will not be able to access the sections of our web site which integrate third-party content that requires third-party cookies. You will be notified of this by an information message to that effect. In case you do want to access such third-party web content after all, you can do so, provided you consent to the use of consent-requiring cookies. If you wish to completely suppress the use of any cookies, you can do so via your browser’s configuration settings.
| Name | Description | Expiration |
|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | 2 years from set/update |
| _gid | Google Analytics | 24 hours from set/update |
| _gat | Google Analytics | 1 minute from set/update |
Managing and deleting cookies
If you want to block or delete cookies on your computer, you can do so via your browser’s configuration settings. As for managing cookies, most browsers offer an option to accept or decline all cookies, or only specific ones. You also have the option of being prompted every time a web page wants to store a cookie on your system. The methods for managing and deleting cookies may vary depending on your particular browser. To find out how to manage or delete cookies on your browser, we suggest you check your browser’s help function or visit http://www.aboutcookies.org, where you will find step-by-step instructions on how to manage cookies on the most common browsers.
If you delete all of your stored cookies, you will have to repeat the opt-out process. This also applies if you are visiting our web site using a different computer.
In case your local Internet security settings are set to a high level where cookies are blocked, we will not be able to process your opt-out request. In that case, you will be notified accordingly; you can then re-try the opt-out procedure with lower security settings where cookies are accepted.
8. YouTube Videos
The web site contains embedded videos and plugins provided by service provider YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. YouTube is legally represented by Google Inc. at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
Whenever a YouTube video is played or a still frame of a video is shown on our web site, a communication connection will be established with the corresponding YouTube server to exchange various data. These include the IP address of your computer, as well as previously stored cookies and information stored during previous contacts with YouTube. If no data has been stored before, the service will set an initial cookie on your computer. Whenever you contact a YouTube service, that service will also receive information about your YouTube account, in case you have one. When you interact with the video (e. g., by clicking the start, pause or stop button), details about these interactions will also be transmitted to the provider. You can terminate the data processing session by visiting a page that has no video content and deleting all cookies from your computer.
Further information about YouTube’s data processing and data protection policies is available at https://policies.google.com/privacy.
9. Google Analytics
This web site uses Google Analytics, a web statistics service provided by Google Inc, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043, USA („Google“) on the legal basis of overriding legitimate interest (analysis of web site use). We have entered into an agreement with Google for the purpose of data processing.
Whenever our web site is accessed, a software will establish a connection with Google’s servers and transmit data to these servers, some of which are located in the USA. Goggle Analytics also uses cookies to store information about users accessing the web site and to analyse the use of the web site by visitors to the web site.
This web site uses the “Enable IP anonymization” option. This means that Google will truncate your IP address automatically before data transfers within EU member states or contracting member states of the Treaty on the European Economic Area. Only in special cases will the full IP address be transferred to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.
According to Google, Google will use this information to analyse and evaluate the use of this web site in order to generate reports about web site activities for the web site’s operators, and to render further services in connection with web site and Internet use. The data collected for this purpose will be deleted automatically after 14 months.
Google may also transfer this information to third parties to meet legal requirements or to enable third parties to process the data on Google’s behalf.
Detailed information on how user data are handled by Google Analytics can be found in privacy policies of Google and Google Analytics.
Disabling Google Analytics
- You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your user data on any web site by downloading and installing the following browser plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de. Note, however, that if you do so, you will no longer be able to take full advantage of all functions provided on this web site.
- You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your user data on this web site only by clicking the following link; this will set an opt-out cookie that will prevent the collection of your data during any future visits to this web site: Disable Google Analytics.
10. Google reCaptcha
To prevent computers from filling in our web forms, we are using Google’s reCaptcha service. With this service Google checks the following data to determine if the input is coming from a human or computer: IP address of the terminal device, reCaptcha enabled web page being accessed, date and display time (duration), browser and operating system used, Google account details (if you are logged in via Google), mouse movements within the reCaptcha areas, and image identification tasks. We have a legitimate interest in having this data processed in order to ensure the security of our web site and to protect us against automated input and cyber attacks.
11. Web server logs
When accessing our Internet content, the corresponding connection details will be documented in the server log files.
These details include:
- IP address of the accessing system
- Browser details, such as operating system and screen resolution
- Web site being accessed
- Referring web site
- Time of access
The web server logs will be processed exclusively for security purposes. The details, including the IP address, will be logged for the first three days and will be used for development purposes and to enable security-relevant analyses, as in the case of cyberattacks. After three days the log files will be stored in an anonymised format for up to 30 days and then deleted.
We use log files only to enable statistical analyses for purposes of providing, securing and optimising our web content. However, we reserve the right to inspect log files retroactively in case of reasonable suspicion of illegal use based on concrete evidence.
12. Your rights
You have the right to information, rectification, erasure and restriction of processing of your personal data, as well as the right to data portability.
You also have the right to withdraw your previously given consent to the processing of your personal data. The lawfulness of the processing of personal data up to the time of your withdrawal will remain unaffected by the withdrawal.
You further have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for direct mailing purposes. If you do so, your personal data will no longer be processed for direct mailing purposes.
Should you have reason to assume that the processing of your data might violate data protection laws or that your right to data privacy has been otherwise violated, you have the right to appeal to the supervisory authority.
13. General legal notice
Commend is a registered trademark of Commend International GmbH. All other products or company names mentioned on this web site are brands or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
All texts, technical data, images, and other material provided on this web site represent non-binding information and can at no time and under no circumstances whatever form the basis, content or subject matter of a contract. Any technical or other changes, including changes in the availability of individual products, are expressly excepted.
Commend takes great care to ensure that the content on this web site is correct and up to date. However, Commend accepts no liability for the completeness, accuracy or up-to-dateness of the content.
