What are cookies?

Like most websites, AA Media Ltd websites use cookies to collect information. Cookies and similar technologies (referred to here as ‘cookies’) are small files that hold information. The information can be about you, your device and your interaction with web pages and apps. They're placed or 'dropped' on your device when you access websites or use apps on your device. The website or app that placed them there can then retrieve the data they contain. The website or app that first dropped the cookies can also authorise other websites and apps to use them.

Cookie duration

Some cookies only exist for a short period of time and are then automatically deleted by your device. Others last for longer. These are called 'persistent cookies', and some exist for years unless manually deleted. These can be used to analyse many site visits over time or customise the content that's displayed.

First and third-party cookies

Some cookies are set by the website or app you're visiting. These are called 'first party' cookies. Others may be set by a third party when you use a website or app. For example, they could be set by a tool built into the website, or by an advertising network that displays adverts on the site or in the app.

How to control cookies

If you want to disable cookies you need to change your website browser settings to reject cookies. How you can do this will depend on the browser you use. 

You can use your browser settings to manage cookies. They let you restrict, remove or block tracking technologies - including cookies - at any time, for any website. For more information about how to do this, and about cookies in general, visit Your Online Choices.

How we use cookies

We use cookies to make sure you get the best experience from your visit. They also help certain features to work better. Cookies also let us collect feedback and information about how you’ve used the site – so we can keep improving it for you.

The  types of cookie we use on our site:

1. Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are needed to help the site work. For example, to let you log in or buy online. Without them you might not be able to get the information or service you've asked for. We also need them for things like recording when you see an error message. That lets us make improvements and fix bugs.

2. Functional cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third- party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.

3. Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.‎

We use these to see how you use the site so we can make our site better. We may also use them to give you a better experience, like remembering your login details. They help us to find areas we can improve and to collect and report on commercial data (like sales volumes). They include analytics tools that report numbers.

They also include tools that record videos of individual visits, showing things like where you click on the page, place your cursor, and where you fill in forms. This data is kept secure and we only record what's typed into forms if really necessary. The rest of the time it's not visible in the recording. We may, for example, look at how people use our website and spot a page where people don’t know what to do next. We'd then use our recording tool to look at individual visitors and find out what the problem is.

Other reporting tools which use cookies are the ones we use to prevent fraud and the abuse of our services.

We will only be able to collect anonymous analytical data if you do not consent to these types of cookies.

What about links to other websites and their cookies?

We often link to other sites to give you extra information or services. Where a third party provides these, you may leave our website by clicking through to theirs. In this case, the cookie policy set out on the third party's website will also apply. We won’t control this, so you should read their policy to find out what information they collect and how they use it.

Privacy policy

You can also read our privacy notice and get in touch with us about privacy, cookies or data protection via the links on that page.