What is a cookie? General explanation
A "cookie" is a small file that is places on the disk of your device (computer, phone, tablet) by a website. The main function of a cookie is to differentiate one user from another. You'll often see cookies on sites where a login is required. A cookie will keep you logged in while using the site.
If you want to find out more, check this excellent explanation of the Consumentenbond (in Dutch).
Which cookies do we use? And why?
This site uses cookies (and similar technologies) to save your preferences, so that we can offer a personalised, thus better, experience. The information that is saved in these cookies is encrypted and can only be read (again) by this website. And this, only when you are active on the site.
At the moment, we use the following cookies:
- XSRF-token: We generate automatically an XSRF (sometimes also called CSRF) “token” for each active user session that is managed by our application. This token is used to check whether the verified user is really the one that sends requests to the application. The token is generated automatically and added to each page request. The retention period is 1 minute.
- XXXXXXX_session: We use a _session “token” to be able to couple a user to his/her session data. The cookie only contains an encrypted value that enables us to to link the user (from his/her browser) to his/her session data, that is kept on the server, and his/her session preferences (if any, logged in or not). The retention period is 1 day.
- remember_web_YYYYYYY: This token is used to save a user's choice to "remember him/her" so that it is no longer needed to log in on each visit again. The token is saved at the moment a user checks the "remember me" option at login time. The retention period is 5 years.
The first two cookies are essential cookies (to protect forms and to keep session information for logged in users), for which we don't need your permission. The last cookie is only saved when a user chooses for this option.
We don't use cookies of third parties (like Google Analytics of Facebook,…). Because we don't have an impact on the reach of their cookie policy statements, nor on the concrete content of their cookies.
Your permission
As a result of the GDPR legislation, websites from the EU are obliged to provide information about the cookies used and request permission when a non-essential cookie is placed on your disk. This policy informs you clearly (and completely) about which cookies we use and why we do this.
Since we do not use non-essential cookies, you will not see a cookie banner to enter preferences.
Also be aware that you can always adjust your browser settings if you prefer to refuse certain cookies. Keep in mind that this can lead to a less good user experience.
Below you can find the information about cookie settings in the most commonly used browsers:
- Cookie settings in Google Chrome
- Cookie settings in Apple’s Safari
- Cookie settings in Mozilla Firefox
- Cookie settings in Opera
Additionally, you can resolutely block all cookies by ticking the settings for refusing cookies in your browser. However, if you do this, it will result in you no longer being able to use the website.
Any question?
If you still have a question (or suggestion) related to our cookie policy, don't hesitate to send an e-mail to info@ncpflanders.be.
Testimonial
ERC grants for UGent professor Lieven Eeckhout
Professor Lieven Eeckhout’s main research interests include computer architecture and the hardware/software interface with a specific emphasis on performance evaluation and modeling, and dynamic resource management.
Professor Eeckhout is the recipient of a European Research Council (ERC) Starting grant, Advanced grant and three Proof of Concept grants. Two of his former PhD students founded in 2013 CoScale, a spin-off in data center monitoring, which was acquired by New Relic.
