What are cookies
Cookies are created when you visit a website that uses cookies. Cookies are small text files of letters and numbers. These files are either stored in the memory of your computer or other device such as mobile phones or tablet devices.
Controlling cookies
You can control the use and placing of any cookies on your computer through the settings you select on your internet browser.
You can change your browser settings to accept or refuse all cookies, choose which cookies you want or don’t want, or ask to be notified when a cookie is set. You can use the help feature in your browser to see how.
However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies you may experience reduced functionality when accessing certain services on Our Connected Neighbourhoods.
Useful information about controlling cookies can be found at http://www.aboutcookies.org/.
Cookies used by this site
The list below describes the cookies we use on this site and what we use them for. Currently we operate an ‘opt in consent’ policy which means that you accept or reject the usage of cookies by Our Connected Neighbourhoods. If you have previously accepted cookie usage, but have changed your mind, you can revoke this consent using the button below. Although cookies assist in the functioning of this website, you will still be able to use Our Connected Neighbourhoods without consenting to their use , or you should delete the cookies having visited the site, or you should browse the site using your browser’s anonymous usage setting (called “Incognito” in Chrome, “InPrivate” for Internet Explorer, “Private Browsing” in Firefox and Safari etc.)
By accessing and using our websites, you are agreeing to the terms of this policy and our privacy policy. We may update this cookie policy from time to time and will post any changes on this page.
Cookies set for registered users
Our website runs the WordPress content management system and cookies are used to store basic data on your interactions with the website, and whether you have logged into WordPress.
On login, wordpress uses the wordpress_[hash] cookie to store your authentication details. Its use is limited to the admin console area.
After login, wordpress sets the wordpress_logged_in_[hash] cookie, which indicates when you're logged in, and who you are, for most interface use.
WordPress also sets wp-settings-{time}-[UID] cookies. The number on the end is your individual user ID from the users database table. This is used to customize your view of admin interface (if you have access to it), and possibly also the main site interface.
The actual cookies contain hashed data, so you don't have to worry about someone gleaning your username and password by reading the cookie data. A hash is the result of a specific mathematical formula applied to some input data (in this case your user name and password, respectively). It's quite hard to reverse a hash (bordering on practical infeasibility with today's computers). This means it is very difficult to take a hash and "unhash" it to find the original input data.
When a visitor comments on an article published on Our Connected Neighbourhoods, cookies are stored on their computer. This is purely a convenience, so that the visitor won't need to re-type all their information again when they want to leave another comment. Three cookies are set for commenters:
comment_author_{HASH}
comment_author_email_{HASH}
comment_author_url_{HASH}
The commenter cookies are set to expire a little under one year from the time they're set.