Here is the English translation of the provided German text (excerpt from a privacy policy)1:
Privacy Policy
Data Protection
We have written this privacy policy (version 01.12.2019-111212115) to explain to you, in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (DSG), what information we collect, how we use data, and what choices you have as a visitor to this website.
Unfortunately, these explanations often sound very technical by nature. However, we have tried to describe the most important things as simply and clearly as possible.
Automatic Data Storage
When you visit websites these days, certain information is automatically created and stored, including on this website.
When you visit our website right now, our web server (the computer on which this website is stored) automatically saves data such as
- the address (URL) of the accessed website
- browser and browser version
- the operating system used
- the address (URL) of the previously visited page (referrer URL)
- the hostname and IP address of the device from which access is made
- date and time
in files (web server log files).
As a rule, web server log files are stored for two weeks and then automatically deleted. We do not share this data, but we cannot rule out that this data may be viewed in the event of unlawful behavior.
Cookies
Our website uses HTTP cookies to store user-specific data.
Below, we explain what cookies are and why they are used, so you can better understand the following privacy policy.
What exactly are cookies?
Whenever you browse the internet, you use a browser. Well-known browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. Most websites store small text files in your browser. These files are called cookies.
One thing is certain: cookies are truly useful little helpers. Almost all websites use cookies. More precisely, these are HTTP cookies, as there are also other cookies for other application areas. HTTP cookies are small files that are stored on your computer by our website. These cookie files are automatically placed in the cookie folder, which is essentially the „brain“ of your browser. A cookie consists of a name and a value. When defining a cookie, one or more attributes must also be specified.
Cookies store certain user data for you, such as language or personal page settings. When you revisit our site, your browser sends the „user-related“ information back to our site. Thanks to the cookies, our website knows who you are and offers you the settings you are used to. In some browsers, each cookie has its own file, in others, such as Firefox, all cookies are stored in a single file.
There are both first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created directly by our site, third-party cookies are created by partner websites (e.g., Google Analytics). Each cookie must be evaluated individually, as each cookie stores different data. The expiration time of a cookie also varies from a few minutes to several years. Cookies are not software programs and do not contain viruses, trojans, or other „pests.“ Cookies also cannot access information on your PC.
For example, cookie data might look like this:
Name: _ga
Value: GA1.2.1326744211.152111212115
Purpose: Distinguishing website visitors
Expiration date: after 2 years
A browser should be able to support at least the following minimum sizes:
- At least 4096 bytes per cookie
- At least 50 cookies per domain
- At least 3000 cookies in total
What types of cookies are there?
The question of which cookies we specifically use depends on the services used and is clarified in the following sections of the privacy policy. At this point, we would like to briefly explain the different types of HTTP cookies.
There are four types of cookies:
- Essential cookies
These cookies are necessary to ensure basic website functions. For example, these cookies are needed when a user puts a product in the shopping cart, then continues browsing on other pages, and only later proceeds to checkout. These cookies ensure that the shopping cart is not deleted, even if the user closes the browser window. - Functional cookies
These cookies collect information about user behavior and whether the user receives any error messages. They are also used to measure the loading time and website behavior in different browsers. - Targeted cookies
These cookies provide better user-friendliness. For example, entered locations, font sizes, or form data are saved. - Advertising cookies
These cookies are also called targeting cookies. They are used to deliver individually tailored advertising to the user. This can be very practical, but also very annoying.
Usually, when you visit a website for the first time, you are asked which of these types of cookies you want to allow. And of course, this decision is also stored in a cookie.
How can I delete cookies?
You decide for yourself how and whether you want to use cookies. Regardless of which service or website the cookies come from, you always have the option to delete, disable, or only partially allow cookies. For example, you can block third-party cookies but allow all other cookies.
If you want to find out which cookies are stored in your browser, change cookie settings, or delete them, you can find this in your browser settings:
- Chrome: Delete, enable, and manage cookies in Chrome
- Safari: Manage cookies and website data with Safari
- Firefox: Delete cookies to remove data websites have placed on your computer
- Internet Explorer: Delete and manage cookies
- Microsoft Edge: Delete and manage cookies
If you generally do not want to have cookies, you can set your browser to always inform you when a cookie is to be set. This way, you can decide for each individual cookie whether to allow it or not. The procedure varies depending on the browser. It is best to search for the instructions on Google with the search term „delete cookies Chrome“ or „disable cookies Chrome“ in the case of a Chrome browser.
What about my data protection?
Since 2009, there have been the so-called „cookie guidelines.“ These state that the storage of cookies requires your consent. However, there are still very different responses to these guidelines within EU countries. In Austria, however, the implementation of this guideline took place in § 96 para. 3 of the Telecommunications Act (TKG).
If you want to know more about cookies and are not afraid of technical documentation, we recommend https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6265, the Request for Comments of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) titled „HTTP State Management Mechanism.“
This is a faithful translation of the initial sections of the provided German privacy policy. If you need further sections translated, please specify which parts you need in English1.