About cookies

The following information is intended to inform the user about the placement, use and administration of "cookies" used by virtualcardsapp.com site or other Tradeads Interactive S.R.L. network sites. Also, there are some useful links related to this topic. If you need more information and it is not mentioned below, please contact us at contact@virtualcardsapp.com.

Please read carefully the following information:
This website uses its own and third parties’ cookies in order to provide visitors with a much better navigation experience and services tailored to the needs and interests of everyone.

In what we call "web 2.0 ", "cookies" play an important role in facilitating access and delivery of multiple services over the internet the user enjoys, such as:

  • Customizing of certain settings such as: the language that a site is viewed in, the currency in which they express certain prices or rates, keeping the options of various products (measures, other details etc.) in the shopping cart (and storing these options) – in so generating the "shopping cart" flexibility (accessing old preferences by clicking the “forward" and "back" buttons)
  • Cookies offer valuable feedback to websites owners on how their sites are used by visitors, so that they can be made more effective and accessible to users
  • Allow multimedia or other applications on other sites to be included in a particular site to create a more valuable, more useful and more enjoyable browsing experience
  • Improve the effectiveness of online advertising

Third party cookies found on this website may come from these entities: Tradeads.eu, Bursadereclama.ro, Doubleclick.com, Adnaliser.com, Facebook.com, Trafic.ro, Google Analytics, Google Adsense, Twitter, etc., as well as from advertising services beneficiaries provided by our company at a time via this website. You can read and analyse the full list of third-party cookies from the list shown in the table below "b.Third party cookies".

Links to other sites
On the virtualcardsapp.com site there are links to other third party websites which are not under our control. When these links are accessed, users are subject to the respective website policy. Please read the terms of use and privacy statements of all third party websites before using them or sending personal information or any other information from or through these sites.

  1. What is a "cookie"?
  2. What are the advantages of cookies?
  3. What is the lifespan of a cookie?
  4. What are third party cookies?
  5. How does this site use its cookies?
  6. What type of information is accessed and stored via cookies?
  7. Why are cookies important to the Internet?
  8. Security and confidentiality issues
  9. Other cookies security related issues
  10. Tips for a safe and responsible navigation based on cookies
  11. How do I turn off cookies?
  12. Useful links
1. What is a "cookie"?

An "Internet Cookie" (a term known also as "browser cookie" or "HTTP cookie" or simply "cookie") is a small file consisting of numbers and letters, which will be stored on your computer, handheld or other equipment on which a user accesses the Internet.

Note: The cookie is installed by a web server’s request to a browser (eg: Internet Explorer, Chrome) and it is completely "passive" (it does not contain: software, viruses or spyware and can’t access information stored on the user’s hard drive). Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, does not personally identify internet users.

A cookie consists of 2 parts: the name and cookie value or content. Furthermore, the length of existence of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server which sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated to the respective webserver.

Cookies can be divided and classified into 2 broad categories:

  1. Session cookies - these are temporarily stored in the web browser’s cookie file for it to store them until the user exits the respective website or closes the browser’s window (egg: when logging on/off a webmail account or social networks).
  2. Persistent cookies - these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the default cookie lifetime). Persistent cookies also include those placed by another website than the one visited by the user at the time - known as 'third party cookies' (cookies placed by others) - that can be used anonymously to store a user's interests, so it delivers to the users the most relevant advertising.
2. Which are the advantages of cookies?

A cookie contains information that connects a web browser (user) with a specific web-server (website). If a web browser accesses the server again, it can read information already stored and react accordingly. Cookies provide users a pleasant browsing experience browsing and support various websites’ efforts to provide comfortable user services: egg - online privacy preferences, language options, shopping carts or relevant advertising.

3. What is the lifetime of a cookie?

Cookies are managed by webservers. The lifetime of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used only for one session (session cookies) and are not retained once the user has left the website and some cookies are retained and reused every time the user returns to that website ("permanent cookies"). However, cookies can be deleted by a user at any time via the browser’s settings.

4. What are third party cookies?

Certain content sections on some sites may be provided by third parties/suppliers (eg: a news box, a video or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through the site and they are called "third party cookies" because they are not placed by the owner of the website in question. Third suppliers must also follow the applicable law and the privacy policies of the website owner.

5. How does this site use its cookies?

Visiting this site may place cookies for:

  1. Site performance cookies

    This type of cookie retains user preferences on this site, so there is no need for setting them at each site visit. Examples: video player volume settings, video streaming speed with which the browser is compatible

  2. Visitor analysis cookies

    Each time a user visits this site the analytics software provided by a third party generates a cookie for user analysis. This cookie tells us if you have visited this site before or not. The browser will tell us if you have this cookie, and if not, we will generate one. It allows us to monitor the unique users who visit us and how often they do so. As long as you are not registered on this site, this cookie may not be used to identify individuals, they are used for statistical purposes only. If you have already registered we also know the details that you have provided, such as e-mail and username (which are subject to confidentiality provisions in the Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and to in force legislation regarding personal data protection).

  3. Geotargetting cookies

    These cookies are used by software that determines which country you are from. It is completely anonymous and it is used only to target content - even when you are on our website in Romanian or in another language you will receive the same ad.

  4. Registration cookies

    When you register on this site, we generate a cookie which tells us if you are registered or not. Our servers use cookies to show us which account you are registered with and if you have permission to a particular service. It also allows us to associate any comment that you post on our website with your username. If you have not selected the "Keep me registered" option, this cookie will be automatically deleted when you close the browser or switch off your computer.

  5. Advertising cookies

    These cookies allow us to find out whether or not you have viewed an online ad, which type it is and how much time it passed since you saw the advertisement.
    We use these cookies to also target online advertising. We can also use third- party cookies to better target advertising , to show for example clothing /clothes advertisements , if the user recently visited a clothing/clothes article on the website. These cookies are anonymous; they store information about the viewed content, not about the users.
    Also, we set anonymous cookies on other sites that we are advertising on. Receiving them, we can use them to recognize you as a visitor of that site if you later visit our site, we will be able to deliver to you advertising based on this information.

  6. Advertising provider cookies

    Many of the advertisements that you find on this site belong to third parties. Some of these parties use their own anonymous cookies to analyse how many people were exposed to a certain advertising message, or to see how many people were repeatedly exposed to the same ad.
    Companies that generate these cookies have their own privacy policies, and this site does not have access to read or write these cookies. Cookies of those third parties may be used to show you targeted advertising on other websites based on your browsing on this site.

  7. Other third party cookies

    On some pages, others may set their own anonymous cookies in order to assess the success of an application, or to customize an application. Due to its use, this site can’t access these cookies, as third parties can’t access cookies owned by this site.
    For example, when you distribute an article using the social network button on this site, that social network will record your activity.

    You can see the detailed list of all cookies used by the virtualcardsapp.com website, in its name and on behalf of third parties in the list below included in Table b. Third party cookies

6. What type of information is accessed and stored via cookies?

Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website to recognize a browser. The webserver will recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted. The cookie stores important information that improve the experience of surfing the Internet (for example: online banking security, keeping a user logged in his webmail account, the language settings he wishes to access a site in; storage of products in the shopping cart) .

7. Why are cookies important for the Internet?

Cookies are the central point of efficient Internet operating, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience and adapted to each user’s preferences and interests. Refusing or disabling cookies may make some sites impossible to use. Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean you will not receive online advertising - but it will not be able to consider your preferences and interests, highlighted by your browsing behaviour.

Below you can find examples of important uses of cookies (that do not require user authentication through an account):

  1. Measurement, optimization and analytics features - such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed and how a user arrives to a website (eg: through search engines, directly, from other websites etc.). Websites make these user analyses to improve their websites for the benefit of their users.
  2. Offers adapted to users' interests – remembering passwords, language preferences (egg: display search results in Romanian).
  3. Tailored content and services to user preferences - weather, maps, news categories, sports, entertainment sites and travel services, public and government services.
  4. Providing more relevant advertising to users.
  5. Limiting the frequency of commercial broadcast - limiting the number of advertisement displays for a particular user on a website.
  6. Remembering filters that protect children on the Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions).
8. Security and confidentiality issues

Please note: COOKIES ARE NOT VIRUSES!
They use plain text formats. They are not made of code pieces so they can not be executed nor can they self-run. Consequently, they can’t duplicate or replicate on other networks to re-run or replicate once again. Because they can’t perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.

However, cookies can still be used for illicit purposes. Because they store information about user preferences and browsing history, both on a particular and on many other sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti -spyware products are aware of this and constantly mark the cookies to be deleted in removal/anti-virus scan /anti-spyware procedures.
In general browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of acceptance of cookies, of the validity and the automatic erase after the user has visited a particular site.

9. Other cookie security issues

Because identity protection is very valuable and represents the right of every Internet user, it is important to know what problems the cookies can generate. Because through them information is being transmitted both ways between the browser and the website, if an attacker or an unauthorized person gets involved during the data transmission process, the information stored in the cookie can be intercepted . Though very rare, this can happen if the browser connects to a server using an unencrypted network (egg: an unsecured WiFi network).

Other cookie -based attacks involve wrong settings of cookies on servers. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick the browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information for unauthorized access purposes of certain sites. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most suitable method of personal information protection.

10. Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies

Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest sites use cookies, they are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow user access to most widely spread and used sites including YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.

Below we offer a few tips to ensure a carefree, but with cookies, browsing:

  1. Constantly install and update anti-spyware apps.
  2. If you do not mind the cookies and you are the only person who uses the computer, you can set long-term expiration dates for the storage of browsing history and personal access data.
  3. If you share access to the computer, you can consider setting your browser to delete individual browsing data every time you close your browser. This is an option to access sites that place cookies and to delete any visiting information when the browsing session ends.
  4. Customize your browser settings regarding cookies to reflect your comfortable level of security of using cookies.

Many detection and prevention of spyware applications include detecting site attacks. This prevents the browser from accessing websites that may exploit browser vulnerabilities or to download dangerous software.

Make sure that you always keep your browser updated. Many of the cookie-based attacks are exploiting the weaknesses of older versions browsers.

Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest sites on the Internet - local or international. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures so you can confidently surf the Internet.

Virtualcardsapp.com uses these types of cookies:

Own cookies - first-party cookies virtualcardsapp.com (these cookies are added by the site and have the following purposes):

  • PHPSESSID - duration: current session – purpose: keep user session active
  • HWFB64 - duration: current session

Third party cookies (these cookies are added by the site and have the following purposes):

  • _ga - Google Analytics – Remembers anonymous information about the user's interaction with the site (egg: time and date interaction with various marketing materials or pages that have brought the user on the site) - Duration : 2 years
  • APISID - Google Analytics - Remembers information about the user’s interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 2 years
  • HSID - Google Analytics - Remembers information about the user’s interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 2 years
  • NID - Google Analytics - Remembers information about the user’s interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 6 months
  • OGPC - Google Analytics - Remembers information about the user’s interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 1 month
  • PREF - Google Analytics - Remembers information about the user’s interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 1 and a half years
  • SAPISID - Google Analytics – Remembers secure information about user interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 2 years
  • SID - Google Analytics - Remembers information about user interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 2 years
  • SSID - Google Analytics - Remembers secure information about user interaction with Google services like Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google+ etc. - Duration: 2 years
  • csm - facebook.com – Used to secure the user connection to Facebook through https - Duration: 2 months
  • datr - facebook.com – Used to achieve and secure user connection to Facebook.com - Duration: 2 years
  • fr - plugin facebook.com – Used for Like&Share Facebook.com plug-in operation - Duration: 2 months
  • c_user - facebook.com – Used in displaying more relevant ads based on own interests specified on Facebook.com - Duration: 2 months
  • lu - facebook.com - Used to achieve and secure user connection to Facebook.com - Duration: 21 months
  • s - facebook.com - Used to achieve and secure user connection to Facebook.com - Duration: 2 months
  • xs - facebook.com - Used to achieve and secure user connection to Facebook.com - Duration: 2 months
11. How do I turn off cookies?

The disabling and refusal to accept cookies can make certain websites impassable or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will not receive/view online advertising.

It is possible to set the browser so that these cookies may not be accepted or you can set your browser to accept cookies from a particular site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave a comment.

All modern browsers offer the possibility to change the settings of cookies. These settings are typically found in your browser’s "Options" menu or "preferences". To understand these settings, the following links may be useful; otherwise you can use the browser "Help" option for more details.

To set cookies generated by third parties can also see the site:http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ro/

If you wish to know more details about cookies and what they are used for, we recommend the following links:

IAB Romania offers the following site to provide more privacy information related to online advertising: http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ro/

For more details on privacy issues, please visit these links:

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