9. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. Cookies are small text files that are transferred from an internet server to your browser and stored on your hard drive. There are session cookies that are deleted as soon as you close your browser, and there are permanent cookies that are stored on your device for a longer period or indefinitely.

Depending on the selection of cookies you choose, when you revisit the website with the same device, the information stored in the cookies is sent to our website or to another website to which the cookie belongs. This helps us optimize and display our website according to your preferences. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time under the "Cookie Settings" button.

In general, we distinguish between four different cookie categories:

1. Necessary Cookies 

enable essential functions and are necessary for the proper functioning of the website. For example, they ensure that you remain logged in as a registered user when accessing various subpages of our website, so you do not have to re-enter your login details each time you visit a new page. The legal basis for using strictly necessary cookies on our website is Art. 6 (1) lit. f) GDPR (legitimate interest, specifically in the technically flawless provision of our website and the services offered through it). The use of strictly necessary cookies is possible and permissible without your prior consent.

You can also visit our website without accepting strictly necessary cookies. If you do not want your computer to be recognized on your next visit, you can also refuse the use of cookies by changing the settings in your browser to "reject cookies." You can find the specific procedure in the user manual of your respective browser. However, if you refuse the use of cookies, there may be limitations in the use of certain areas of our website.

In addition, we use the following cookies, but only if you have given us your consent for their use: 

2. Functional Cookies 

enable our website to store information you have already entered (such as registered name) and provide you with enhanced and more personalized features. If you do not allow these cookies, some of these services may not function properly.

3. Analytic-Cookies 

allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our website. They help us answer questions about which pages are most popular, which are least used, and how visitors move around the website. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited our website.

4. Marketing Cookies

may be set through our website by our advertising partners. They are used to gather information about the websites you visit and to present you with tailored advertisements. They do not directly store personal data but rely on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

9.1 Details of Individual Cookies

9.1.1 GOOGLE GOOGLEADSERVICES /
GOOGLE ADWORDS CONVERSION TRACKING
Our website uses cookies for "conversion tracking" when you click on an advertisement provided by Google. This is used to determine whether a visitor arrived on our website via a Google advertisement. Google employs cookies that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of website usage. If you would like to learn more about these methods, click here: https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/authenticated.

9.1.2 GOOGLE WEB FONTS
For visually enhanced display of various information on our website, we use Google Webfonts (http://www.google.com/webfonts/). These webfonts are transferred to the browser's cache when you visit the website to enable their display. If your browser does not support Google Webfonts or prevents access, the text will be displayed in a standard font. Data transmitted in connection with page views is sent to resource-specific domains such as fonts.googleapis.com or fonts.gstatic.com. This data is not associated with any data collected or used in conjunction with the parallel use of authenticated Google services such as Gmail. You can configure your browser to block Google Fonts from being loaded (for example, by installing add-ons like NoScript or Ghostery for Firefox). If your browser does not support Google Fonts or if you block access to Google servers, the text will be displayed in your system's standard font. For information on Google Webfonts privacy policy, visit: https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq#Privacy.

9.1.3 GOOGLE ANALYTICS WITH ANONYMIZATION FUNCTION
We use cookies from Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, on our site. This allows us to associate data, sessions, and interactions across multiple devices with a pseudonymous user ID, enabling cross-device analysis of user activities. Google Analytics uses cookies to analyze your use of the website. If IP anonymization is activated on this website, your IP address will be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission. We would like to point out that Google Analytics on this website has been extended to include IP anonymization (so-called IP masking) to ensure anonymous collection of IP addresses. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data from Google. For more information on terms of use and data protection, please visit https://policies.google.com/. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services related to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The legal basis for the use of Google Analytics is your consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a) GDPR. The recipient of the data collected is Google. The data sent by us and linked to cookies, user identifiers (e.g., User-ID), or advertising IDs will be automatically deleted after 14 months. Data that has reached its retention period will be automatically deleted once a month. As with all cookies, you can revoke your consent at any time, see Section XI for details. In addition, you can prevent Google from collecting and processing the data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) by installing the opt-out browser add-on available at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Opt-out cookies prevent the future collection of your data when visiting this website. To prevent data collection across different devices via Google Analytics, you must perform the opt-out on all systems used.

9.1.4 GOOGLE REMARKETING

This website uses Google's remarketing function. The function is designed to show interest-based advertisements to website visitors within the Google advertising network. The technology enables us to display automatically generated, targeted advertising to you after your visit to our website. The ads are based on the products and services you clicked on during your last visit to our website. Google typically stores information such as your web request, IP address, browser type, browser language, date, and time of your request. This information is used to associate your web browser with a specific computer. On the pages of the Google advertising network, visitors may then be presented with advertisements that relate to content they have previously accessed on websites using Google's remarketing function. If you have agreed to Google linking your browsing history with your Google account and using information from your Google account for ad personalization at https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/authenticated, the remarketing function will also operate across devices. Google collects your Google ID for the purpose of cross-device recognition. According to Google's own statements, they do not generally collect personal data during this process. For more information on how Google uses cookies, you can refer to Google's privacy policy.

9.1.5 GOOGLE ANALYTICS (GA) AUDIENCE
Our website uses GA Audience, a service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (hereinafter: GA Audience). GA Audience uses cookies, which are stored on your computer and other mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, etc.), enabling analysis of the usage of these devices. The data is evaluated across devices in part. Google Audience thereby accesses cookies created within the scope of using Google AdWords and Google Analytics. For further information on data protection when using GA Audience, please refer to the following link: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/2700409.

9.1.6 Google Customer Match

We also use Google Customer Match by Google, which allows us to display interest-based advertising to visitors of our website based on their previous browsing behavior on our website and third-party websites, as well as in apps and emails. Google uses cookies or advertising IDs for this purpose. The relevant data may be transferred to servers in the USA and stored there. The legal basis for this is the adequacy decision of the European Commission dated July 10, 2023 (so-called Data Privacy Framework) pursuant to Art. 45 GDPR or Art. 49 para. 1(a) GDPR in conjunction with your consent. The legal basis for the processing of your data is your consent, Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1(a) GDPR in conjunction with § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. This means that we do not use this service unless you have consented to its use. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future, most easily through our consent manager. If you wish to opt out of receiving interest-based advertising through Google Customer Match, you can also do so via the following websites: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/; http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ For more information on Google's privacy compliance, please visit: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/6334160?sjid=2821624592503930728-EU .

9.1.7 YOUTUBE IN EXTENDED DATA PROTECTION MODE
We use the provider YouTube to embed videos on our website. The videos have been embedded in extended data protection mode. However, like most websites, YouTube also uses cookies to collect information about visitors to their website. YouTube uses these cookies, among other things, to collect video statistics, prevent fraud, and improve their services. This also involves connecting to the Google DoubleClick network. Starting the video may trigger further data processing operations, over which we have no control. For more information about privacy at YouTube, please refer to their privacy policy at: http://www.youtube.com/t/privacy_at_youtube.

9.1.8 FACEBOOK CUSTOM AUDIENCE 

We use Facebook Custom Audiences with the so-called pixel function ("Facebook Pixel") and the server-side Conversion API of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland ("Meta") on our website to display interest-based advertising ("Facebook Ads") to you when visiting the social network Facebook or other Facebook-affiliated apps and websites, and to measure user behavior. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent, Art. 6 para. 1 S. 1 lit. a GDPR in conjunction with § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. This means that we do not use these advertising tools unless you have consented to the use of Facebook Custom Audiences or Pixel. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future, most easily through our consent manager. Furthermore, if you are logged into your Facebook account, you can also object to data processing using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/ad_settings/?entry_product=account_settings_menu.

After Facebook Pixels are integrated into our website, your browser automatically establishes a direct connection with Meta's servers so that web events from your browser can be transmitted to Meta via a server connection for advanced matching with the integrated Facebook Pixel. This allows Meta, for example, to receive information that you clicked on a specific ad or product on our website, enabling us to display ads to you based on your interests. Using the Facebook Pixel and API, we can also track the effectiveness of Facebook advertisements by determining whether users were redirected to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad and interacted with our products (so-called "conversion"). If you are registered with a Meta service, Meta can associate your website visit with your account. This is because your personal data, such as hashed email address, IP address, mobile advertiser ID, Facebook app user ID, Facebook page user ID, and your location ("personal data"), is transmitted to Meta in hashed form via the pixel and partly enriched with existing tracking data. Even if you are not registered with Facebook or not logged in, Meta may still obtain and use your personal data to create your profile. We also use the Facebook Remarketing tool Custom Audiences, which also utilizes the Facebook Pixel, to display interest-based advertisements during your visit to our website or other websites that also integrate the Facebook Pixel, aiming to make our website more appealing to you. The collected information is stored on Meta's servers, including those in the USA. Meta has stated that it adheres to a standard equivalent to the former EU-US Privacy Shield and has committed to complying with applicable data protection laws during international data transfers. Additionally, we have agreed to so-called Standard Contractual Clauses with Meta, aimed at ensuring an adequate level of data protection in third countries. Meta processes this data as our processor. Details on data processing can be found in Facebook's terms of use agreement: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/customaudience and in Facebook's privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy . As far as personal data collected on our website and transmitted to Meta through the tool described here, we and Meta are jointly responsible for this data processing (Art. 26 GDPR). The joint responsibility is limited to the collection of data and its transmission to Meta. The processing carried out by Meta after the transmission is not part of the joint responsibility. Our joint obligations have been documented in a joint processing agreement. You can find the wording of the agreement at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. According to this agreement, we are responsible for providing data protection information when using the Facebook tool and for the privacy-compliant implementation of the tool on our website.

9.1.9 HOTJAR

We use the web analytics service Hotjar, provided by Hotjar Limited, Dragonara Road, Paceville St. Julian’s STJ 3141, Malta (“Hotjar”). Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to analyze and evaluate your usage behavior and interactions with our website. This helps us optimize your user experience on our website by gaining a better understanding of how our users interact with it (e.g., clicks, scrolls, mouse movements). Your IP address is anonymized before usage statistics are analyzed, ensuring no direct conclusions about your identity can be drawn. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent, according to Art. 6 (1) a) GDPR in conjunction with § 25 (1) TTDSG. This means we will not use this service unless you have given your consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time with future effect, most easily through our consent manager. For more information, please refer to the section ‘about Hotjar’ at https://help.hotjar.com/hc/en-us/categories/115001323967-About-Hotjar.