Cookie Policy

This policy details the practice of Exploratorium SRL regarding the placement, use, and administration of “cookies” used by the domain metabeta.com and the Metabeta app (hereinafter briefly, generically, Metabeta, the App, respectively Website or Site) and is intended to inform users about this subject. By using the Site and/or the App, users acknowledge that they have become aware of and agree to this Cookie Policy, to the Privacy and Data Protection Policy, and also the Terms and Conditions published on the Site and on the App.

Last updated: March 14, 2022

Identification of the data controller

Name: Exploratorium SRL (hereinafter the Company, Owner, or Exploratorium)
Address: Str. Petru Poni nr. 10, Iași, 700523, Romania
Registration no.: J22/76/2018
Fiscal code: 38692014
Email: beta@metabeta.com

Contact details in the field of personal data protection

The contact details that the user can use to transmit any requests, notifications, or claims regarding the Terms and conditions, Privacy and Data Protection Policy, this Cookie Policy, as well as any other information published on the Site or the App, policies, or operations performed by the Company, are indicated at point 1 above.

The deadline for the Company to send a response is no more than 30 days from the receipt of the request.

General information

The Site and App use their own and third-party cookies to provide users a much better browsing experience and services tailored to their needs and interests.

Purpose of cookies

The role of cookies is to:

  • provide the sites and apps owners (implicitly and the Company) with valuable feedback on how their platforms are used by visitors so that they can make them even more efficient and accessible to users;
  • allows multimedia or other applications from other sites/apps to be included in their own site/app, to create a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience;
  • improve the efficiency of online advertising.

Cookies are NOT viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code so they cannot be executed nor can they self-run. As a result, users cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks to run or replicate again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses. However, cookies can be used for negative purposes. Because it stores information about user’s browsing preferences and browsing history, cookies can be used as a form of spyware.

The definition of cookies

The term “cookie” refers to the technologies by which certain information is collected automatically. An “Internet Cookie” (also known as a “browser cookie” or “HTTP cookie” or simply “cookie”) is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, that will be stored on your computer, mobile device, or other equipment of a user accessing the Internet.

The cookie is installed by a web server’s request from a browser (eg Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (does not contain software, viruses or spyware and cannot access the information on the hard drive to the user who installed them).

A cookie consists of 2 parts:

  • name
  • the content or value of the cookie

Furthermore, the lifetime of a cookie is limited from the moment of installation. Technically, only the webserver that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website/app associated with that webserver.

Cookies themselves do not require the personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.

Cookies are the central point of the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience and adapting to the preferences and interests of each user.

Refusing or disabling cookies can make some sites impossible to use. Refusing or deactivating cookies does not mean that users will no longer receive online advertising, only that they will no longer be able to take into account their preferences and interests, highlighted by their browsing behavior.

Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest websites and apps use cookies, these are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies shall not allow the user access to the most popular and used sites and apps including Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo, and others.

Main categories of cookies

Session cookies

These are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser, for it to store until the user exits the respective website/app or closes the browser window.

Persistent cookies

These are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the default cookie lifetime). Persistent cookies include those placed by a website/app other than the one that the user accesses at that time, known as ‘third-party cookies, which can be used anonymously. Their role is to memorize the interests of a user so that the most relevant advertising is delivered to visitors.

Advantages of cookies

A cookie contains information that links a web browser (user/visitor) to a particular web server (Website/App). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly.

Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites/apps to provide comfortable and easily accessible services to users: eg. preferences regarding online confidentiality or relevant advertising.

Timespan of cookies

Cookies are managed by web servers. The validity period of a cookie is limited and may vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed.

Some cookies are used only for one session (session cookies) and are no longer retained once the user has left the website/app, and some cookies are retained and reused each time the user returns to that website/app until the expiration date – what can be a few minutes, hours, days or even years (permanent or fixed cookies).

However, cookies can be deleted by the user at any time through the browser settings.

Cookies placed by third parties

Certain content sections on some sites/apps may be provided through third parties/providers (eg news box, a video, or an advertisement). These third parties may also place cookies through Metabeta and they are called “third-party cookies” because they are not placed by the owner of the respective website/app. Third-party providers must also comply with the law in force and the privacy policies of the Owner.

Use of cookies by the Site and App

A visit to the Site/App may place cookies for the purposes of:

  • Cookie necessary for the functioning of the Site/App
  • Cookies related to analytics
  • Cookies for advertising
  • Cookies related to functionality

Please see more information about each type of cookie using Cookie settings.

Information processed by means of cookies

Cookies store information in a small text file that allows a website/app to recognize a browser. The web server shall recognize the browser until the cookie expires or is deleted.

The cookie stores important information that improves the Internet browsing experience, depending on the type of cookie implemented on Metabeta, but also those that identify errors of use.

Recommendations for the use of cookies

Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if the visitor wants to enjoy access to the best and largest Internet sites – local or international.

With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, users can take the necessary security measures so they can confidently surf the Internet. Thus, they can customize their browser settings for cookies at any time, to reflect a comfortable level from the point of view of data security and the use of cookies.

If the user is not disturbed by cookies and is the only person using the computer, he/she/it may set long deadlines for storing browsing history and personal access data. However, if the user shares access to the computer, they may consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data each time they close the browser. This is a way to access websites/apps that place cookies and delete any visitor information at the end of the browsing session.

Many spyware detection and prevention applications include site attack detection. This prevents the browser from accessing sites/apps that might exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software. As a result, users need to make sure they have their browser updated. Many of the cookie-based attacks are made by exploiting the weaknesses of older versions of browsers.

How to stop cookies

Disabling and refusing to receive certain cookies may make certain sites unusable, usable only partially, or difficult to visit and use, as is the case with the Site and App. Also, refusing to accept cookies does not mean that users shall no longer receive/see online advertising.

It is possible to set it in the browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted or the browser can be set to accept only certain categories of cookies for which the user’s consent is required (so it does not apply to the cookie category necessary for the operation of the Site/App). All modern browsers offer the ability to change cookie settings. Please use Cookie settings in this regard.

Thus, the user can modify at any time the choices regarding the cookies for which his/her consent is required, by sliding/un-sliding the corresponding box. These settings can be found in the pop-up available permanently at the bottom of the page, where you can choose between: choosing all cookies AND changing manual Cookie settings. Such settings can be found at the bottom of the page, where each user can choose between accepting all cookies and manually changing the cookie settings—chose cookies based on the user’s preference.

Thus, users can choose to express their consent to the use of one, several, or all cookies that do not fall into the category of those indispensable for the use of Metabeta or the transmission of communications and change their decision at any time, without thereby affecting in any way the possibility of browsing the Site and App.

To understand these settings, the following links may be useful:

Final provisions

  • This policy applies to the Company and to the Site and App users (whether they registered or not).
  • The Company reserves the right to modify/update the content of the Site and the App, including the policies to which reference is made, at its sole discretion, at any time and for any reason (including but not limited to the occurrence of legislative or jurisprudential changes that may affect the consequences to those published on the Site or App). The revision of this policy in the future shall be indicated by modifying the date of “Last update” at the top of the page. After the date the updated policy is published, accessing the Site and/or App will represent the user’s acceptance of these updated conditions.
  • However, if there are significant changes that could affect the rights and freedoms of visitors, informing them about those changes will be made by easily visible indications posted on the Site/App (pop-ups) or by sending emails on the addresses provided if applicable. Such significant changes will have effects for users within 15 days from the time of the posting of the pop-up in question or of sending the email by Exploratorium (how the information will be made is decided by the Company, on a case by case basis).
  • However, regardless of the extent of the change, the responsibility to check the content of the Site and App (including the Terms and Conditions, as well as the policies displayed), to be up to date with the latest versions, will be entirely the responsibility of the user. Thus, THE STUDY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO OF THE PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION POLICY AND OF THE COOKIE POLICY, MUST BE PERFORMED BY THE USERS WHENEVER THEY ACCESS THIS SITE OR APP, AND BEFORE MAKING ANY REGISTRATION OR PROVIDING DATA, WHEREAS CHANGES CAN APPEAR.
  • This document is part of the Company’s set of security policies. Other policies can be applied to the topics addressed in this document and shall be reviewed according to specific needs and may be requested by the user.