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Cookies policy

This website uses cookies. All information relating to these cookies can be found in this cookie policy.

This cookie policy was last modified on 5 December 2018.

What is a cookie?

Cookies are small data files or small text files that are stored on your local computer (or on other devices with Internet access such as smartphones or tablets) when you visit websites. They contain information about the website in question. Cookies are stored in a specific directory on your hard drive and have a unique ID and a specific duration. When you re-visit a certain website, the cookies are re-sent to the website, enabling it to recognise you as a returning visitor and certain preferences that you have indicated beforehand (such as your preferred language).

Cookies can be categorised according to:

  • Their lifetime;
  • Their origin;
  • Their type.

A distinction can first be made between cookies on the basis of their lifetime, namely: “session cookies” and “persistent cookies”.

  • Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser;
  • Persistent cookies are saved on your computer/device for a pre-determined period of time (or until you delete them manually (see below)).

As regards the origin of cookies, a distinction can be made between what is known as “first party cookies” and “third party cookies”.

  • First party cookies are placed and managed by ourselves. They ensure our website operates correctly and make it possible to save your preferences (such as your preferred language).
  • Third party cookies are created by a third party and placed on your computer.

As regards cookie types, a distinction can be made between:

  • Functional cookies: these cookies ensure the website operates correctly.
  • Non-functional (analytical) cookies: these are cookies that are used, in particular, for statistical, performance analysis, tracking or advertising purposes. These cookies make it possible, for example, to obtain statistical information about the website (such as the number of visitors to the site or the most frequently consulted subjects, etc.). Other cookies track visitors on the website (browsing behaviour) and create a user profile that can be used subsequently for advertising purposes, for example. 

Why do we use cookies?

We use cookies to simplify the use of the Grant Thornton website and to better adapt the website and our services to suit your interests and needs. Cookies can also be used to improve the speed of your activities and future sessions on our websites.

We also use cookies to produce anonymous, aggregated statistical information, enabling us to understand the way in which people use our websites in order to improve their structure and content. We cannot identify you personally on the basis of these cookies.

Overview

This table below provides an overview of the different types of cookies that we use on the Grant Thornton website, together with their respective purpose and duration (i.e., how long each cookie remains on your computer/device).

Cookie ID Type Period Conservation period Origin Purpose
ARRAffinity Functional Session cookie   1st This cookie is used by websites that operate on the Windows Azure cloud platform. It is used for load balancing and ensures that visitor page requests are sent to the same server during a particular browsing session.
ASP.NET_SessionId Functional Session cookie   1st This cookie is used to implement an ASP.NET session during a particular browser session.
JSESSIONID (*) Functional Sessioncookie   3th This cookie is used to support an anonymous user session by the server.
_ga Analytical Persistent 2 years 3th This cookie is regulated by Google Universal Analytics. We use Google Universal Analytics for general analysis of the behaviour of visitors to our website. These analyses help us to continuously improve our website. A randomly generated ID is used.
_gat_UA-19853215-2 Functional   1 minute 3th This is a type pattern cookie introduced by Google Universal Analytics. It is used to limit the number of requests, to limit the collection of data on high-traffic websites.
_gat_UA-4492873-2 1 minute 3th This is a type pattern cookie introduced by Google Universal Analytics. It is used to limit the number of requests, to limit the collection of data on high-traffic websites.
_gid Analytical Persistent 1 day 3th This Google Universal Analytics cookie is used to differentiate visitors.
EPi_NumberOfVisits Functional Persistent 1 year 1st This cookie is used to update the number of visitors to the page.
ai_session Analytical Peristent 1 hour 1st This cookie is used to gather statistical data on the performance and use of the website.
ai_user Analytical Persistent 1 year 1st This cookie is used to gather statistical data on the performance of the website.
cookiePolicy Functional Persistent 1 year 1st This cookie indicates whether you have already accepted our cookie policy in the past, so that you are not asked this question every time you visit the website.

How can I manage my cookies?

Most internet browsers are set up to accept cookies automatically. You can modify your browser’s settings to block cookies or to be informed when cookies are sent to your computer.

The way in which you can delete cookies or adapt the cookie settings depends on the internet browser that you use and sometimes also on the version that you have installed.

You will find further information on how to manage cookies in the most common internet browsers via the links below:

If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies

If you use Mozilla Firefox:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-cookies-remove-info-websites-stored

If you use Google Chrome:

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en

If you use Safari:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201265

If you deactivate the cookies we use, this may have an impact on your experience when you visit the Grant Thornton website. You may no longer be able to visit certain pages of the Grant Thornton website or your visit to the Grant Thornton website may no longer be customised (for example, you will have to re-set your preferred language each time).

If you visit the Grant Thornton website using different devices (for example, your computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.), you must ensure that each browser on each device is adapted to your cookie preferences.

Social media buttons

You will also find third party social networking site buttons (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter) on our website. Among other things, these buttons enable you to share the content of our web pages with other people on the social networks in question. When you click on the button, you are transferred to the respective social network. The social networks concerned may collect data about you, for example, relating to data you read and share on our website. These data are gathered and managed entirely on the initiative of the social network in question. We do not have access to this data and have no control over them. For further information on the use of your data by the social networks concerned, we recommend you consult the privacy statement and general terms and conditions of the social network in question.

Questions about this policy

If you have any questions or complaints about our policy, please contact us at gdpr@be.gt.com.