Cookie Policy

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1ST MAY 2020

You’ve found our Cookie Policy! This sets out what cookies are (including the types of cookies we use), why we use them on our website, with Sharpen and in our services and the choices you have with regards to the use of cookies on your device or browser.

This Policy applies to the use of Sharpen, our “website” as well as our “Services” (collectively “Sharpen”).

Our Cookie Policy is just one of a range of policies we have that sets out how we at Sharpen ensure your right to privacy is safeguarded. If you are looking for any of those other policies, you can find them on our website.

SUMMARY

When you visit our Sharpen or interact with us through our Services we use a range of cookies, web beacons, pixel-tags, and other similar technologies to store information we collect about you in order to provide you with a better and safer experience and, in some limited circumstances, for advertising purposes.

Here, we have summarised the key things we think you should know about how we use cookies. For detailed information about how we use these technologies our full Cookie Policy follows this summary.

Cookies come in a variety of forms but are essentially small data files used to collect and store information about you. We use them for a variety of different functions: some are strictly necessary and are required for the smooth and safe operation of Sharpen and the Services, others allow us to manage your preferences and remember you for future visits. We also use cookies to analyse how you use Sharpen and access our Services in order to continually make improvements.

The majority of our cookies are linked to your browser session (session cookies) and disappear once you close your browser; others remain on your device for a longer period (persistent cookies). We, being Sharpen and our partners (who help us with various aspects of our business), serve those cookies and only we can read them. However, a number of third-parties who have integrated with Sharpen (such as social network plugins) may also set cookies. We have no control over these cookies, but you can still block them (just not through us).

For all cookies, you are free to block, delete, or disable these technologies as you wish and for the most part, this can be managed through your browser or device settings. However, please be mindful that blocking or disabling certain cookies (particularly strictly necessary or functional ones) could affect availability and functionality and, in some circumstances, you may not be able to access all or parts of Sharpen or our Services.

For further information about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set on your device and how to manage and delete them, you can visit www.allaboutcookies.org and www.youronlinechoices.eu.

WHAT ARE COOKIES?

Cookies are small data files that are placed and stored on the device (be it your computer, tablet, mobile phone or through your browser) you use to access Sharpen, our “website” or our Services.

They allow us to record certain pieces of information whenever you visit or interact with us through Sharpen or our Services.

The types of information that we collect through cookies includes your device type, operating system, browser type, the website you visited, your time of visit, whether you have accessed Sharpen from another website (i.e.,a referring website), your IP address, as well as information about your preferences (such as your language).

TYPES OF COOKIES

Just like at your local supermarket, our cookies come in a variety of types.

Technologies

Cookies come in a variety of forms and include:

· Web-beacons, pixel-tags or clear GIFs: these are small graphic images that may be included on our Website that work in conjunction with other cookies to identify you.

· Other similar technologies: we also use various other technologies to collect information which operate similar to cookies such as flash cookies or HTML cookies.

Session Vs Persistent

· Session Cookies: these are cookies that are linked to your browser session and allow us to link your actions during that particular session, they only last as long as your online session, and disappear from your computer or device when you close your internet browser.

· Persistent Cookies: these cookies are stored on your device after your browser has been closed and have a defined expiry date. Persistent cookies are helpful where we need to know who you are when you are using more than one browsing session, such as to remember you for your next visit or your selected preferences.

First-Party vs Third-Party

Cookies can be provided directly by us, via us on behalf of a third-party, or directly by a third-party themselves.

· First-Party cookies: These cookies are set by the website or application you’re visiting/using and only that website or application can read them.

· Thirty-Party cookies: These cookies are set by a third-party site you are visiting from or from a third-party who has integrated with Sharpen (such as through a social plugin allowing you to share a link to our content on that social media platform). We are not responsible for, or have any control over, these types of third-party cookies – you can still block or disable them, just not through us.

WHY WE USE COOKIES

Cookies are incredibly helpful both to us and for you. We use cookies to remember information about you in order to better tailor your experience when you access Sharpen and our Services.

We also use them to:

· Remember information about you when you log-in, so you do not have to give this information over and over again;

· Remember any preferences you select when you first visit (such as your country-specific landing page, or your language preferences) and whether you have already seen any bannering that is displayed only to first time visitors (such as the banner letting you know we use cookies);

· Keep Sharpen and our Services secure and you secure when using them, such as by identifying irregular site behaviour, enabling security features and to allow access to secure areas of our Website and Services;

· Help us understand how people are using our Services (such as by providing statistics on which parts of Sharpen or Services you visit, or how easy it is to navigate Sharpen and the Services). We use this to improve the look, feel and operation of Sharpen and our Services;

· To allow you to use social plugins and other customized content and experiences (such as posting our content to social media platforms). In addition, our third-party partners may use a cookie or similar technology in order to determine whether you arrive at our site via one of their ads.

HOW WE USE COOKIES

We use cookies for a variety of reasons:

· Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are cookies that are required for the smooth and safe operation of Sharpen and our Services. These include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of Sharpen and remember any security settings. Without these types of cookies your use of Sharpen or the Services as well as your security could be affected;

· Functionality Cookies: These cookies are used to recognise you when you return to Sharpen. They enable us to personalise our content for you and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language, region and landing page, font size etc.) and whether you have visited Sharpen before so that bannering/messaging for new visitors is not displayed to you.

· Analytical/Performance Cookies: These help us understand how people are using Sharpen and our Services, including the number of visitors, which pages and content is accessed and how those visitors navigate Sharpen and our Services. Some of these cookies, whilst served by us, are provided by our partners, who help us analyse this information. We use these cookies to improve the way Sharpen and Services work, to make sure they are working properly (which extends to fixing any identified errors) and to generally improve the experience we deliver to you.

· Targeting Cookies/Advertising Cookies: These cookies also record your visit to Sharpen, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. Our partners may use this information in order to determine whether you arrived at our site via one of their ads.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to choose whether or not to accept cookies.

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. For guidance on how to do this the following website may prove useful (http://www.whatarecookies.com/view.asp).

However, cookies are an important part of how Sharpen and our Services work, so you should be aware that if you choose to remove cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of the Services and, in some circumstances, you may not be able to access all or parts of Sharpen.

Removing or rejecting browser cookies does not necessarily affect third-party flash cookies which may be used by us or our partners in connection with our Services. To delete or disable flash cookies please visit this site for more information.

If third-party flash cookies are disabled on your browser, some features on Sharpen may not work as you would expect. However, you can always set exceptions via your browser to allow third-party cookies for our website.