How do we use cookies?

A cookie is a small text file that a visited website sends to a web browser. Cookies are important. Web browsing would be much more complicated without them. We never use cookies to facilitate any kind of access to your computer or any information about you, except for the information you choose to share with us. They permit the websites you visit to remember information about your visit, such as your secure search settings, and to select relevant advertising, to monitor site traffic, to simplify registration for new services and to protect your data. This makes future visits to the site more convenient and, perhaps, more productive.