Cookies and IP addresses

What is a Cookie?

A cookie is a small text file that a web page server places on the hard drive of every computer that links to its website. The cookie carries an identification code, which can only be read by the server that generated it, to enable the server to recognise returning users. The cookie also stores a record of which information the user has submitted to that website, such as personal details or personalised settings. The server can then reuse this information to prevent users having to re-enter information.

Are cookies bad for privacy?

No - cookies serve a number of purposes:

• Protection - cookies can be set to check you are who you claim to be and not another person who managed to get a copy of your password

• Speed - Cookies enable your identity to be carried from page to page and remember the items you may put in a shopping cart. This is a feature is essential for any type of e-commerce/shopping service

• Settings - cookies enable the website you are visiting to remember any settings you selected on a prior visit, this can include themes and language preferences as well as any login names and passwords for easier entry on future visits (you will often be asked if you want these personal details remembered)

• Advertising - cookies can be used to prevent annoying popup ads, they can be used to prevent you seeing adverts designed for first time visitors and also to serve up adverts specific to your profile.

What is an IP address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that is unique to each individual computer, which acts as its address and can be used to identify it.

Can I Stop My PC Accepting Cookies?

The Help menu on the menu bar of most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies or how receive notifications when you receive a new cookie and how to disable cookies altogether. In addition you can also set your permissions to disable or delete similar data used by browser add-ons, such as Flash cookies, by changing the add-on's settings or visiting the website of its manufacturer as applicable.

However, you should note that cookies do allow you to take advantage of some of Barter Books website features. For instance, if you block or otherwise reject our cookies, you will not be able to use any of the services that require you to Sign in.

If you do leave cookies turned on, please ensure you sign off especially when using a shared computer; it is good web practice to close down your browser.

The following links will show you how to adjust the browser settings of the commonly used web browsers.

• Internet Explorer 8.x and Internet Explorer 7.x: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Block-or-allow-cookies

• Chrome: http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95647

• Firefox: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Enabling+and+disabling+cookies

• Safari: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=safari/3.0/en/9277.html

Firefox 4 and Internet Explorer 9 include a Do-not-track feature - a privacy feature to provide more control over online behavioural tracking.

New Laws for Use of Cookies

From May 26th 2011, Europe introduced new rules regarding use of Cookies - whereby websites are now required to ask its visitors to give consent to accept cookies to be stored on their computer or device.

Below we have detailed the Cookies we use to help improve your browsing experience. We advise you to familiarise yourself with our Cookies and suggest you customise your browser's cookie settings to meet your requirement

The Networking Advertising Initiative provides an NAI Opt-Out Tool to enable you to "opt-out" of behavioural advertising as delivered by their members.
Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has a Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioural Advertising to help protect consumers' privacy rights and expectations in ad-supported online media.

How Does Barter Books website use Cookies

Cookie	Name	Purpose	More information
Barter Books Ltd	PHPsessionID osCid _atuvc	Used to track a users session, essential for site to run - only valid for a single session, expires when user exist browser.
Google Analytics	_utma _utmb _utmc _utmz	These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited.	Click here for an overview of privacy at Google
addthis	_uid _uvc	User id and login time tracking	Click here for an overview of privacy at addthis
youtube	VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE PREF	User id and login time tracking This cookie is used by youtube to store user preferences when viewing pages containing video content.	Click here for an overview of privacy at youtube

Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

YouTube cookies

We embed videos from our official YouTube channel using YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode. This mode may set cookies on your computer once you click on the YouTube video player, but YouTube will not store personally-identifiable cookie information for playbacks of embedded videos using the privacy-enhanced mode. To find out more please visit YouTube’s embedding videos information page.

Barter Books also uses Twitter to share information, in signing up to this social network sites you will have agreed the level of personal information you agree to share, Barter Books will not use any personal information unless it is specifically given for a purpose.