Cookie policy

Our website uses cookies. By using our website and agreeing to this policy, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with the terms of this policy.

About cookies

Cookies consist of pieces of text, often including unique identifiers, that are sent by web servers to web browsers, and which may then be sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.

Cookies can be used by web servers to identity and track users as they navigate different pages on a website and to identify users returning to a website.

Cookies may be either “persistent” cookies or “session” cookies. A persistent cookie consists of a text file sent by a web server to a web browser, which will be stored by the browser and will remain valid until its set expiry date (unless deleted by the user before the expiry date). A session cookie, on the other hand, will expire at the end of the user session, when the web browser is closed.

Cookies on this website

We use both session cookies and persistent cookies on this website.

We will set the following cookies:

1. ddfmcode – this is set on the contact page for the verification code on the form – this is essential for the website, to allow authentic e-mails to get through to us and prevents automatic robots sending us spam (as they can’t identify the code).

2. VERIFY_CODE – this is set on every page and used wherever there is a contact form (such as the one in the footer) for the verification code – this is essential for the website, to allow authentic e-mails to get through to us and prevents automatic robots sending us spam (as they can’t identify the code).

Cookie 2 is a session cookie, whereas cookie 1 is a persistent cookie.

In addition, the blog uses WordPress which sets its own cookies for the login and commenting functionality. You can read more about the WordPress cookies here: http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Cookies

These are also essential for the blog commenting and login system to work.

Finally, we also integrate the following third party sites, which use their own cookies. We have included links where possible to pages that explain what these cookies are used for:

1. Google Analytics http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/concepts/gaConceptsCookies.html

2. Google Maps http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/policies/privacy/

3. YouTube http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/policies/privacy/

How we use cookies

Cookies do not contain any information that personally identifies you, but personal information that we store about you may be linked, by us, to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.

We may use the information we obtain from your use of our cookies for the following purposes:

1. to recognise your computer when you visit our website;

2. to track you as you navigate our website, and to enable the use of features, e.g. shopping cart, on our website;

3. to improve the website’s usability;

4. to analyse the use of our website;

5. in the administration of this website;

6. to personalise our website for you, including targeting advertisements which may be of particular interest to you

Third party cookies

When you use our website, you may also be sent third party cookies.

Our service providers may send you cookies. They may use the information they obtain from your use of their cookies:

1. to track your browser across multiple websites;

2. to build a profile of your web surfing;

3. to target advertisements which may be of particular interest to you.

In addition, we use Google Analytics to analyse the use of this website. Google Analytics generates statistical and other information about website use by means of cookies, which are stored on users’ computers. The information generated relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of the website. Google will store this information. Google’s privacy policy is available at: http://www.google.com/privacypolicy.html.

Blocking cookies

Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies. For example:

1. in Internet Explorer you can refuse all cookies by clicking “Tools”, “Internet Options”, “Privacy”, and selecting “Block all cookies” using the sliding selector;

2. in Firefox you can block all cookies by clicking “Tools”, “Options”, and un-checking “Accept cookies from sites” in the “Privacy” box.

Blocking all cookies will, however, have a negative impact upon the usability of many websites.

Deleting cookies

You can also delete cookies already stored on your computer:

1. in Internet Explorer, you must manually delete cookie files (you can find instructions for doing so at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278835);

2. in Firefox, you can delete cookies by, first ensuring that cookies are to be deleted when you “clear private data” (this setting can be changed by clicking “Tools”, “Options” and “Settings” in the “Private Data” box) and then clicking “Clear private data” in the “Tools” menu.

Obviously, doing this may have a negative impact on the usability of many websites.

If you have any queries about our cookies or this cookies policy, please contact Optix Solutions by email at info@optixsolutions.co.uk, or telephone 01392 667766.