Use of cookies on our sites

• Why are cookies used on the IET websites?
• How are cookies used on the IET websites?
• Using your browser to block cookies, and further information

Why are cookies used on the IET websites?

Often, websites need to maintain information as you move from page to page, and possibly between your browsing sessions. For example, you expect, when moving between pages in a web shop, that the site will keep track of the contents of your shopping basket. If you have logged in, you expect the site to recognise you on each subsequent page. Cookies are used to meet these expectations.

Cookies are small pieces of identifying information, stored by your browser on your PC, to enable such information about your session to be maintained. The cookie may contain actual information (e.g. the date of your last visit), or just a unique reference ID that allows the site to look up (for example) the contents of your shopping basket in its databases.

If a site sets cookies routinely, these can also be used to track your successive page views, and therefore your behaviour on the site, whether or not you are logged in. Unless you log in or complete an enquiry form, such use of cookies will not enable the site to identify you (because cookies can only give access to information that the site already has). The IET will not attempt to identify you unless you log in.

Cookies set by one site cannot be read by another. However, one web page may be made up of components (such as news stories, images or advertising), some of which are delivered from third parties. Each of those third-party sites will be able to set and read its own cookies on any page where its content appears.

How are cookies used on the IET websites?

The short version

If you block cookies from the IET websites, you will not be able to log in, and a range of other functions, such as the shopping basket and the tracking of new messages in the discussion forums, will fail. However, you will be able to browse most of the information on the IET sites. The IET uses some third-party services, and you may need to consult their policies separately.

The long version

The IET offers a range of websites and services to its members, customers and other web users, and these use cookies in varying ways. Therefore, if you block cookies, the effects will vary, depending on which IET service you are using. Many of the IET's cookies are essential to the delivery of the services that you have chosen: 

Cookie name	Notes on uses
IETLOGONSESSIONID DOMAINKEY	A single log-on works across most IET sites. These authorisation ("log-on") cookies simply contain session IDs, identifying you as an individual logged-on user. This avoids the need to send your user name and password every time that you request a page; therefore, the aim is enhanced security. No personal information is stored in these cookies. If you choose not to use "Remember Me", the cookies are deleted when you log off from the IET sites, or close your browser. Please ensure that you accept all of these cookies if you wish to register and/or log on to the sites.
CFID CFTOKEN	When you are not logged in, most IET sites use cookies to manage your session. You may block these if you wish, but some functions may not work fully; for example, you will not be able to page through results in the events calendar. The IET does not use these cookies to monitor your behaviour; they exist only to provide you with site functionality. The book shop also uses your existing site cookies to keep track of the contents of your shopping basket, rather than setting additional ones. Without accepting cookies, you will not be able to use the shop.
FTFORUMCOOKIE FUSETALKLASTDATE FUSETALKLASTVISITDATE1 FUSETALKLATESTPOSTS1	In the discussion forums, there are further log-on cookies. The forums set other cookies, one for the last date you visited, and one for the latest posts you have seen. The aim is to be able to offer you quick access to the new postings when you next visit. These are permanent cookies. You can delete these additional cookies if you wish - it will just mean that the site cannot indicate new messages to you.
ietGreenBarController	Determines the behaviour (shown or hidden) of the black (previously green) bar at the top of most IET web pages.
AI_SESSID lookidCookie	The E&T Jobs site also uses supplementary cookies. Rejecting these cookies will mean that you are not recognised as logged on when visiting this site, even though log-ons work normally on other IET sites.
swl_iet_sess logged_out	These are supplementary log-on cookies for MyCommunity, similar to those above for E&T Jobs.
ASP.NET_SessionID CulturePref	The Archives catalogue search uses cookies from archives.theiet.org to maintain your session and searches. If you block cookies, the Archives search will fail. A second cookie records your preferred language for Archives searches.
ASP.Net_SessionID IBAUTH ExitUrl	The Career Manager professional development service uses cookies to store session information. The service may not work fully if you block these. There is specific information about cookies in Career Manager under the "legal" link on that site.
EANDTPAYWALL	Manages access rights for the E&T Magazine site.
PHPSESSID	Cookies are used to track your information when you book a free place at a Local Network event. The booking will fail without the use of these cookies. The cookies come from localevents.theiet.org
JSESSIONID	This cookie manages your session on the IET Digital Library. If you block cookies from that site, some functionality may not work reliably.
Cookies that you can block or reject without affecting your experience on the site:
OAX NSC_fd1efm_qppm_iuuq and similar from oas.theiet.org	Site advertising servers are provided by Real Media Open Adstream [new window]. Advertising mainly appears in specific sites, such as E&T Magazine and IET Electrical. Cookies are used, for example, to avoid showing you the same advertisement twice on different pages. They are delivered from a server in theiet.org, so (as described above) they cannot be used to correlate your behaviour with your visits to non-IET sites. Your use of the IET site will not be affected should you decide not to accept these "oax" advertising cookies.
utma utmb utmc utmz	The IET uses Google Analytics. This service uses theiet.org cookies [new window] to record and process information about your use of the sites (including your IP address) on behalf of the IET. The IET uses this information to evaluate visitors’ use of the sites and to compile statistical reports on site activity; the reports examine patterns of use rather than the behaviour of individual users. You can opt out of Google Analytics [new window] tracking for all sites, including the IET ones.
9nn8c_txid (and similar names) collector	The IET also uses Scout Analytics [new window] on some of its sites, to understand better its users' subject interests and behaviour. The resulting profiling assists the IET in offering more relevant content and services to its members and other visitors. Scout Analytics uses both first- and third-party cookies. You may block these without affecting your use of the site. The cookies come both from theiet.org and from scout.scoutanalytics.net

In addition, the IET uses third parties to deliver services to members and others. These third-party servers may set cookies in accordance with their own cookie and privacy policies, which you should consult separately. They include:

• The IET uses email services from Adestra to inform its members and contacts of relevant activities, events, services and products. The levels of response to these emails are tracked, in order to improve the effectiveness of IET communications. Since emails are sent from addresses in the domain email.ietinfo.org, and should you click on links in such emails, you may find cookies from that domain.
• IET.tv, which uses Stream UK to deliver webcasts. These appear mostly in the IET.tv site, but also embedded in some web pages elsewhere. You may block cookies from scpro.streamuk.com if you wish.
• The electronic information services provided to members by the IET Library.
• Some pages, especially in E&T Magazine, include content from Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and other services. These have their own cookie and privacy policies.
• The AddThis social bookmarking and sharing widget appears on some pages, especially again in E&T Magazine. Its privacy policy is accessible by hovering over the widget.
• If the IET is currently conducting a survey or requesting feedback (for example in user trials), cookies may be used to record the fact that you have seen the invitation to respond. The aim is to avoid showing you the invitation repeatedly. If you reject these cookies, you may see the message a number of times.

Using your browser to block cookies, and further information

The site AllAboutCookies [new window] provides independent information on cookies, and how to block them in specific browsers.

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact the Webmaster.

Updated 07 January 2013