### Website Cookies and Your Privacy: What You Need to Know

Understanding how cookies operate on websites can help users make informed decisions about their privacy preferences. Essential for the basic functionality of a website, certain cookies cannot be disabled within the system. These cookies generally come into play when you perform specific actions like setting privacy preferences, logging in, or completing forms. While it's possible to configure your browser to block these cookies or alert you when they're in use, such actions can impair the site’s functionality. Importantly, these cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

To enhance user experience, some cookies enable websites to provide advanced features and personalization. These might be set by the website itself or by third-party providers whose services are integrated into the site. Denying these cookies can result in the malfunction of certain services or features, diminishing the overall user experience.

Users also have the option to opt-out of sharing their personal information with advertisers and social media companies through a provided toggle switch. Detailed information about these rights and options can be found in the privacy notice.

Performance cookies play a crucial role by allowing websites to count visits and track traffic sources, thereby aiding in the measurement and enhancement of site performance. By monitoring which pages are most and least popular and understanding visitor movement around the site, these cookies provide aggregated, anonymous data essential for site optimization. Disabling these cookies would hinder the site's ability to monitor performance accurately.

Social media cookies, set by various social media services integrated into the site, facilitate content sharing with friends and networks. While they can track browser activity across different sites and create an interest profile, they also influence the content and advertisements users encounter on other websites. Blocking these cookies may limit the availability and interaction with social sharing tools.

Advertising cookies set by third-party partners are designed to build a profile of user interests, displaying more relevant ads on different sites. These cookies do not store personal information directly but uniquely identify a user's browser and internet device. Opting out of these cookies will result in less targeted advertising across platforms.

By understanding the different types of cookies and their functions, users can better navigate their privacy settings and make choices that best suit their needs and preferences.