What are cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of text sent by your web browser by a website you visit. A cookie file is stored in your web browser and allows us or a third-party to recognize you and make your next visit easier and our website more useful to you.

Cookies make your experience of the Internet much smoother and they do a lot of different jobs. For example they are used to remember your preferences on sites that you visit often, the contents of your online shopping cart and ensure that advertisements you see are more relevant to you and your interests.

What types of cookies are there?

Cookies are small pieces of text sent by your web browser by a website you visit. A cookie file is stored in your web browser and allows us or a third-party to recognize you and make your next visit easier and our website more useful to you.

Cookies make your experience of the Internet much smoother and they do a lot of different jobs. For example they are used to remember your preferences on sites that you visit often, the contents of your online shopping cart and ensure that advertisements you see are more relevant to you and your interests.

1. There are two types of cookies:
   1. Persistent – these cookies remain on a users device for a set period of time until the cookie expires. They are activated each time the user visits the website that created that particular cookie.
   2. Session – these cookies are temporary and expire at the end of the browsing session. A session starts when a user opens a browser window and ends when they close the browser window. Once the browser is closed, all session cookies are deleted.
2. Broadly speaking, cookies have four different functions, described below:
   1. Strictly necessary cookies – these are essential to navigate a website and make use of its features. Without these, you won’t be able to use basic services like registration. These cookies do not gather information about you that could be used for marketing purposes.
   2. Performance cookies – these collect anonymous data for statistical purposes on how visitors use a website. The contain no personal information and are used to improve your user experience of the website.
   3. Functionality cookies – these allow users to customise how a website looks for them. They remember usernames, language preferences and regions.
   4. Advertising and targeting cookies – these are used to deliver advertising that is more relevant to you. These cookies remember that you have visited a website, but they cannot determine who you are. The main way we use advertising and targeting cookies is set out below.
   5. Retargeting is a form of internet-based advertising that enables companies to show you advertisements based on your online browsing activity. This allows companies to advertise to people who have previously visited their website.
3. Without these cookies, the online advertisements you encounter will be less relevant to you and your interest. You can read up more on internet-based advertising at www.youronlinechoices.com.

How long will cookies stay on my device?

The length of time a cookie will stay on your computer or mobile device depends on whether it is a “persistent” or “session” cookie. Session cookies will only stay on your device until you stop browsing. Persistent cookies stay on your computer or mobile device until they expire or are deleted. Please see expiry dates below.

How does edMesh use cookies?

When you use and access the edMesh website, we may place a number of cookie files in your web browser.

We currently use the following cookies:

1. Performance Cookies

These types of cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.

1. _ga, expires after 2 years
2. _gat, expires at the end of the session
3. _gid, expires at the end of the session

2. Advertising and Targeting cookies

Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user. 

1. ads/ga-audiences, expires at the end of the session

What are your choices regarding cookies?

If you’d like to delete cookies or instruct your web browser to delete or refuse cookies, please visit the help pages of your web browser.

Please note, however, that if you delete cookies or refuse to accept them, you might not be able to enjoy the full functionality of our website.

How do I control my cookies?

You can control cookie preferences using your browser controls. Your browser allows you to block, delete or allow cookies when you browse.

There is a list of helpful links below with more information about controlling cookies for the major browsers.

1. Chrome
2. Firefox
3. Internet Explorer
4. Opera
5. Safari