Cookies
To help improve this site we place small files, known as cookies, onto your computer.
Our cookies are there to make the site work better for you, and to allow you to use services while logged in. They do this by:
- measuring how you use the website so we can improve it to meet your needs
- ensuring the website works properly
- remember the notifications you've seen so that we don't show them to you again
- identifying you once you've logged in to the site
You can manage these small files as you wish. You can even decide to stop any site from using them.
To learn more about cookies and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org. You can also read the Jisc web team's blog on cookie law.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for several purposes on this website – we’ve listed each of them below with more details about why we use them and how long they’ll last.
Measuring website usage (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics to collect information about how people use our site, and rough demographics as to what groups of people are using our site. We do this to make sure it’s meeting your needs and to understand how we could improve it. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit
- how long you spend on each page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you're here
- your broad demographic profile (age range, gender, interests)
We do not collect or store your personal information (e.g. your name or address) so this information cannot be used to identify who you are.
The following cookies are set by Google Analytics:
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit the site by tracking if you've visited before | 2 years |
| _utma | Like _ga, this lets us know if you’ve visited before, so we can count how many of our visitors are new to the site or to a certain page | 2 years |
| _utmb | This works with _utmc to calculate the average length of time you spend on the site | 30 minutes |
| _utmc | This works with _utmb to calculate when you close your browser | when you close your browser |
| _utmz | This tells us how you reached the site (like from another website or a search engine) | 6 months |
| _gat_UA-376728-1 | This is used by Google Analytics to ensure its work doesn't have a big impact on the site's performance | 1 day |
Website operation
The system that runs our website sets cookies to allow it to run smoothly.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| has_js | This tells the site whether you're using JavaScript or not | when you close your browser |
| visitedPreviously | randomly generated number | 60 days |
| ssess | Allow the page to provide you with content | |
| adaptiveLibraryDefaultState | Used to remember your display preferences |
Logged in access
Our system uses cookies to allow you to log into the site, and access restricted content and services.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _saml_idp | Allow our identity provide to identify you | six months after last visiting the site |
| _shibsession_<number> | Allow the page to provide you with restricted content | when you close your browser |
| authcache drupal_user drupal_uid | Used to improve the performane of the site for logged-in users | when you close your browser |
YouTube
Some of our embedded videos use cookies. We are working to replace all these with cookie free versions.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | This tries to estimate your bandwidth and deliver a video of appropriate quality | 240 days |
| YSC | A unique identify given to a user on a site with videos | when you close your browser |
| GEUP | Allows Google to track viewers across sites that use YouTube videos | 2 years |
| PREF | Allows Google to track viewers across sites that use YouTube videos | 240 days |
| GPS | Allows basic tracking based on location on mobile devices (where permitted) | 30 minutes |
Twitter and Facebook
We allow Twitter and Facebook to track users visiting jisc.ac.uk. This is so we can monitor the effectiveness of our social advertising and promotional campaigns, and to help us share our content to the most relevant audiences.
This information is also used by Twitter and Facebook to provide targeted promotional posts or adverts. We cannot see the personal data of any individual user.
You can opt-out of the collection and use of such information for targeting by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance. See more about do not track or Twitter's privacy policy or Facebook's privacy policy.
NB: Cookie guidance wording adapted from gov.uk, shared under the Open Government License.