Privacy policy and use of cookies

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small file formed of letters and numbers that will be stored on your computer, mobile device or other equipment a user uses to access the internet. The cookie is installed by a request sent from the server of a web page to the browser (for example: Internet Explorer, Chrome), and is completely “passive” (does not contain software programs, viruses or spyware and does not access information from the user’s hardware).

What are cookies used for?

These files make it possible to know the user’s device and its current content in a relevant way adapted to the user’s preferences. Cookies provide the user with a pleasant experience while navigating the internet and assist karltonelectronics.com to offer relevant services to users, such as – online privacy preferences, in the shopping cart or advertising respectively. They are also used in the preparation of anonymous statistics that help us understand how a user prefers to use our websites, allowing us to improve their structure and content without identifying the user.

What cookies do we use?

We use two types of cookies – per user session and fixed. The latter are temporary files that remain on the user’s device until the end of the user session or until the application (web browser) is closed. The fixed files remain on the user’s device for the period parameterised by the cookies or until they are manually deleted by the user.

How are cookies used by this website?

Visiting this site may create cookies for the following purposes:
– Site performance cookies;
– Cookies to analyze site visitors;
– Geo-targeting Cookies;
– Registration Cookies;
– Advertising cookies;
– Advertiser cookies.

Do cookies contain personal data?

By themselves, cookies do not require personally identifiable information to be used and most often do not identify Internet users personally. Personal data collected through the use of cookies may only be collected to facilitate the use by the user. This data is encrypted in a way that prevents unauthorised persons from accessing it.

Delete cookies

In general, an application for accessing web pages allows cookies to be stored by default. These settings can be changed so that the automatic management of cookies is blocked by the web browser or the user is informed each time cookies are sent to his terminal. Detailed information about the options and ways of managing cookies can be found in the application settings (on the web browser). Restricting the use of cookies may affect some features of the web page.

Why are cookies important for the internet?

Cookies are central to the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to draw a certain pattern of preferences and interests of each user. Not accepting or disabling cookies may make some sites impossible to use.

Opting out or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online ads, but that these will no longer appear in your account as favorites and interests collected through your browsing behavior.

Examples of important cookie roles (that do not require authentication via an account):

– Content and services tailored to user preferences – product and service categories.
– Offers tailored to user preferences – remember passwords.
– Save child protection filters on internet content (family mode option, safe search function).
– Limiting the frequency of use of ads – limiting the placement of an ad to a specific user of the site.
– Providing advertisements that would interest the consumer.
– Measurement, optimization, and features from analytics – how to confirm a given level of website traffic, what type of content is being displayed, and how a user is getting to a website (ex: search engines, direct, other websites, etc.). Websites develop these analytics and their use in order to improve the site for the benefit of users.

Security and confidentiality

Cookies are NOT viruses! They use the plain text format. They are not made up of code parts, so they cannot be executed or run independently. Therefore, they cannot be duplicated or copied to other networks to run or copy over. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.

Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about the user’s preferences and also browsing history, both on a particular site and on most other sites, cookies can be used as a form of Spyware. Many anti-spyware programs are unaware of this fact and constantly flag cookies to be removed during removal/scanning/anti-virus/anti-spyware procedures.

Browsers typically have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, expiration periods and automatic deletion once a user has visited a site.
Other security aspects related to cookies:

As the protection of personal data is extremely important and represents the right of every Internet user, it is recommended to be aware of the possible problems that cookies can create. They send information continuously and bi-directionally between the browser and the website, and in the event that a hacker or other unauthorised person interferes while the data is being sent, then the cookie information may be intercepted. In rare cases, this can happen if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g.: a wireless non-password protected network).

Another type of cookie-based attack requires incorrect cookie settings on the server. If a website does not require the browser to use only encrypted channels, hackers can exploit this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending information through the unprotected channels. Hackers then use the information to gain unauthorised access to websites. It is very important to be careful when choosing the most appropriate privacy protection.

Tips for safe and responsible cookie-based browsing.

Thanks to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest sites use cookies, the latter are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user to access the most common and used sites, including Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.

Here are a few tips that can ensure a carefree browsing experience, but with the help of cookies:

– Customize your browser’s cookie settings to create an appropriate level of cookie protection.
– If you are not bothered by the use of cookies and you are the only person using the computer, you can set longer expiration dates for the storage of browsing history and access to personal data.
– If you share access to your computer with someone else, you can have your browser settings erase your personal browsing data every time you close the browser. This is the option for accessing the sites that distribute cookies and for deleting any kind of information when you visit when you close your browsing session.
– Install and maintain anti-spyware applications consistently.

Many spyware detection and prevention applications involve the detection of attacks on websites. This prevents the browser from being accessed by sites that could exploit the browser vulnerability or download malware.
Make sure your browser is always up to date.

Many cookie-based attacks are implemented by exploiting weaknesses in old and outdated browser versions. Cookies are everywhere and can’t be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and biggest websites – locally and internationally. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures so that you can surf the web with confidence.

Disabling or refusing to receive cookies may make some sites unusable or difficult to visit and use. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive/see online advertisements. It is possible to set your browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted, or you can set your browser to only accept cookies from certain sites. But, for example, if you’re not registered to use cookies, you won’t be able to leave comments.All modern browsers offer the ability to change cookie settings. These settings are generally found in the “options” or “preferences” menu of your browser.

In accordance with the legislation and GDPR regulations, we want you to control how your personal data is used by us. You can do this in the following ways:

you can ask us for a copy of the personal data we hold about you;
you can inform us of any changes to your personal data or ask us to correct any personal data we hold about you;
in certain situations, you can ask us to delete or block or restrict the processing of the personal data we hold about you, or object to specific ways in which we use your personal data; and
in certain situations, you can also ask us to send the personal data you have provided to us to a third party.