What are cookies?
How are cookies used on blog.bham.ac.uk?
Types of cookies
Classification of cookies
Cookies used on the blog.bham.ac.uk website
How to control and delete cookies
More information
Contact us
What are cookies?
Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information, often including a unique identifier, which are downloaded to your device when you visit a website – if your browser preferences allow it. Cookies are then accessed by the originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device.
How are cookies used on blog.bham.ac.uk?
The cookies we use on the blog.bham.ac.uk website are there to allow you to perform the services you require and to assist us in providing a better website for our users. We do not use cookies to store information that identifies you as an individual. Details on cookies used are provided below.
We encourage you to accept the cookies we serve. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by our or any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. Please see ‘How to control and delete cookies’ for more information.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics cookies to hold information about your visit to our site. This helps us better identify the use and popularity of our services and how successfully the website is functioning. If you do not wish us to do this, you can opt out of the Analytics service by installing an add-on for your browser. This can be found at http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Alternatively you can delete/restrict the cookies as for any other cookie – see ‘How to control and delete cookies’ for more information.
Types of cookies
Session Cookies
Session cookies are created temporarily when a user visits a website. Once the user leaves the site/closes the browser, the session cookie is deleted.
Persistent Cookies
A persistent cookie file remains on the user’s device and is re-activated when the user visits the website that created that particular cookie. These cookies expire after a certain period (set in the file), or can be removed manually.
The cookies on this website have additionally been categorised based on the categories found in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UK Cookie Guide.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Strictly necessary cookies | These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. |
| Performance cookies | These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies don’t collect information that identify a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. |
| Functionality cookies | These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make [such as your username, language or the region you are in] and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, a website may be able to provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing in a cookie the region in which you are currently located. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages you can customise. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching videos or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. |
| Targeting/advertising cookies | These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of time you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. |
A list of the cookies used by this website is set out below.
Cookies used on the blog.bham.ac.uk website
Common Cookies
| Cookie Name | Cookie Description | Cookie Classification | Cookie Behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|
| bigipserver<> | Load Balancer. The cookie value contains the encoded IP address and port of the destination server. |
Strictly necessary cookie | Session cookie – disappears at end of session |
| _ga | Google Analytics. Used by Google Analytics to track user count of visits to a site, when a first visit was, and a last visit. |
Performance cookie | Persistent cookie, lasts for 2 years |
Registration/authentication cookies.
Cookies used when a user logs in to the site. Used in the following areas of the site:
- Registration/authentication for editing on blog.bham.ac.uk.
- Protected content on a blog that’s part of the blog.bham.ac.uk site.
Note. Blocking these cookies will make some content/functions unavailable.
Registration Cookies
| Cookie Name | Cookie Description | Cookie Classification | Cookie Behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress_[hash] | Stores your authentication details. Its use is limited to the admin console area, /wp-admin/ | Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie | Session cookie – disappears at end of session. |
| wordpress_logged_in_[hash] | Set after login – indicates when you’re logged in, and who you are, for most interface use | Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie | Session cookie – disappears at end of session. |
| wp-settings-{time}-[UID] | WordPress also can set a few of these cookies. This is used to customize your view of admin interface, and possibly also the main site interface | Strictly necessary cookie, Functionality cookie | Persistent cookie – lasts for 1 year |
| comment_author_{HASH} | Set when a user makes a comment – so that the visitor won’t need to re-type all their information again when they want to leave another comment | Functionality cookie | Persistent cookie – lasts for a little under 1 year |
| comment_author_email_{HASH} | As above | Functionality cookie | Persistent cookie – lasts for a little under 1 year |
| comment_author_url_{HASH} | As above | Functionality cookie | Persistent cookie – lasts for a little under 1 year |
How to control and delete cookies
You can manage cookie usage through your browser settings. The help function in your preferred browser should provide you with the correct information. Some browsers provide helpful cookie guides:
Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95647&p=cpn_cookies
Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Cookies-and-cache/Cookies-Information-that-websites-store-on-your-computer/ta-p/1483
Internet Explorer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278835
Safari for Mac: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Opera: http://help.opera.com/Linux/10.50/en/cookies.html
Alternatively, http://www.allaboutcookies.org provides advice on how to do this, and further information on cookies and how to manage them.
In addition Google Analytics provides its own opt-out options: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
N.B. In the case of some mobile devices, it may be necessary to consult the device’s instruction manual to manage cookies effectively.
More information
All about cookies
Cookies and Google Analytics
ICC UK Cookie Guide (pdf)
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Contact us
If you have any questions or comments about the University’s cookie policy, please contact us by using the contact form provided or by post at the address below:
Cookie Policy
University Web Services Team
IT Services
Elms Road
University of Birmingham
B15 2TT