Cookies

We are keenly aware of the trust you place in us, and our responsibility to protect your privacy. As part of this responsibility, we let you know what information we collect using cookies when you use our websites, why we collect it and how we use it to improve your experience.

About Cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites save locally to your computer, which allow sites to store and use information during your visit.

They can improve your experience when using a website by:
Remembering preferences, so you don’t have to keep re-entering your choices when you visit again.
Measuring how you use a site, so that changes can be made to ensure it meets your needs.

None of the cookies used for our sites can be used to identify you personally. They are just used to help make the site better for you.

To learn more about cookies and how to manage them, visit http://aboutcookies.org/. Read on to find out more about how we use cookies.

How Nominet Use Cookies

The primary Nominet site, http://nominet.org.uk and associated microsites use cookies in several places, and we’ve listed them below with more details about why we use them and how long they will last.

You can set your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent, however some website features or services may not function properly without cookies.

Measuring our website usage - Google  Analytics

We only use first-party Google Analytics cookies to track anonymous usage statistics and do not collect any personal information that can be used to identify you. This helps us analyse data about webpage usage and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs.

Google Analytics stores information about what pages you visit, how long you are on the site, how you got here and what you click on. We do not allow Google to use or share our analytics data.

Google Analytics sets the following first-party cookies:
 

Google Analytics does not collect any personal information, as identified in their privacy policy. Google also offers a browser plugin that allows users to opt out of their analytics.

Running our site - essential cookies

To run some parts of our site we set a session cookie. This cookie is used to identify user sessions between page visits. Those parts of our site will not work if the cookie cannot be set (for example if you set your browser to refuse all cookies).

Social media - third-party cookies

On some of our micro sites, like knowthenet.org.uk and db.nominet.org.uk, we use social media buttons to allow users to easily share pages and post them to social networks. These use third party cookies.

We are currently implementing an opt-in script to allow users to decide up front whether they wish to have these third party cookies set, and will update this page with further details once this is in place.
 

Current concerns with cookies

There are many legitimate uses for cookies to enhance convenience and efficiency. However, some uses of cookies can lead to privacy concerns. These concerns typically emerge when a cookie holds personal information identifying you (e.g. a person's name, e-mail address, billing information, address or similar), or is used across multiple sites to track users and internet usage.

http://nominet.org.uk does not use any of its first-party cookies to hold any personal information or track users across multiple sites. On some of our sites (know the net and domain business) we use third party social sharing tools that set third-party cookies, and we are currently working to make all these opt-in.

Further information on cookies

For more information about how to manage cookies and their uses visit About Cookies.

For information regarding the updated law on cookies visit the ICO.

For guidance as a website operator on cookies visit the ICC.