Information about cookies and tracking technologies used

Version: 16.10.2019

Here you will learn which web analysis and tracking tools we use on our website (web tracking, advertising, cookies, plugins etc.), how these work and how you can object to the specific processing of your personal data and bring about the erasure of personal data collected in this manner. You can find more information in our privacy policy.

Like many other websites, we use a tool called “cookies”. When you visit our website, we may store information on your device (e.g. laptop, tablet, smartphone) in the form of cookies.
Cookies are small text files that are sent from a web server to your browser and stored on your device. Information is stored in the cookie that is associated with the specific device used.

You can decide whether or not the browser you use will allow cookies. Please note that the functionality of websites may be limited or even blocked if cookies are not allowed.

 

1. Use of technically required cookies:

Purpose, legal basis and legitimate interest:

The purpose of use for technically required cookies is to simplify website use for the user or to make it more secure. Some features of our websites cannot be offered without the use of cookies. These features require that your browser can be recognised after switching to a different website.

We process technically required cookies on the basis of Art. 6 §1 (f) GDPR due to our legitimate interest in the user-friendly design of our website.

 

Data recipients:

The data recipients include technical service providers who are engaged to operate and maintain our websites. In this regard, we have concluded corresponding processing agreements with the providers.

 

Duration of storage:

You can decide whether or not the browser you use will allow cookies. Please note that the functionality of websites may be limited or even blocked if cookies are not allowed.

 

Deleting cookies:

In your browser settings, you can delete individual cookies or all existing cookies. You can also obtain information and instructions regarding how to delete these cookies or how to block them from being saved in advance. Depending on your browser provider, you will find the required information under the following links:

You can also normally prevent so-called scripts from loading. NoScript only allows JavaScript, Java and other plugins to run on trustworthy domains of your choice. You can obtain information and instructions about how to configure this feature from your browser provider (e.g. for Mozilla Firefox: : https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/noscript/).

 

2. Use of cookies that are not technically required:

Purpose and legal basis

“Cookies” are used in some places on our websites. This standard technology involves small text files that are saved on your device and that can be used to make your visit to a website more convenient or secure. Cookies can also be used to better coordinate a website service to match the visitor’s interests or for general improvements based on statistical analysis.

 

Data recipients:

The data recipients include technical service providers who are engaged to operate and maintain our websites. In this regard, we have concluded corresponding processing agreements with the providers.

You can find more recipients and details about the technical functionality of the tools and information used as well as how to prevent data transfer (tracking) in the cookie and opt-out notice.

 

3. Web analysis / Tracking

We use web analysis technologies from the following providers:

  • Google Analytics
  • Google Remarketing
  • Pardot

The legal basis for each of these processing operations is your consent, Art. 6 §1 (a) GDPR.

 

Google Analytics

Diese Website benutzt auf Grundlage Ihrer Einwilligung Google Analytics, einen Webanalysedienst der Google Ireland Limited („Google“) ein. Google Analytics verwendet Cookies. Die durch das Cookie erzeugten Informationen über Benutzung des Onlineangebotes durch die Nutzer werden in der Regel an einen Server von Google übertragen und dort gespeichert. Es kann nicht ausgeschlossen werden, dass diese Server im außereuropäischen Ausland betrieben werden.

Google ist unter dem Privacy-Shield-Abkommen zertifiziert und bietet hierdurch eine Garantie, das europäische Datenschutzrecht einzuhalten:

(https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active)

Google wird diese Informationen in unserem Auftrag benutzen, um die Nutzung unseres Onlineangebotes durch die Nutzer auszuwerten, um Reports über die Aktivitäten innerhalb dieses Onlineangebotes zusammenzustellen und um weitere, mit der Nutzung dieses Onlineangebotes und der Internetnutzung verbundene Dienstleistungen, uns gegenüber zu erbringen. Dabei können aus den verarbeiteten Daten pseudonyme Nutzungsprofile der Nutzer erstellt werden.

Google Analytics ist so konfiguriert, dass die erhobenen Daten nach 14 Monaten gelöscht werden.Wir setzen Google Analytics nur mit aktivierter IP-Anonymisierung ein. Das bedeutet, die IP-Adresse der Nutzer wird von Google innerhalb von Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union oder in anderen Vertragsstaaten des Abkommens über den Europäischen Wirtschaftsraum gekürzt. Nur in Ausnahmefällen wird die volle IP-Adresse an einen Server von Google übertragen und dort gekürzt.

Die von dem Browser des Nutzers übermittelte IP-Adresse wird nicht mit anderen Daten von Google zusammengeführt. Die Nutzer können die Speicherung der Cookies durch eine entsprechende Einstellung ihrer Browser-Software verhindern; die Nutzer können darüber hinaus die Erfassung der durch das Cookie erzeugten und auf ihre Nutzung des Onlineangebotes bezogenen Daten an Google sowie die Verarbeitung dieser Daten durch Google verhindern, indem sie das unter folgendem Link verfügbare Browser-Plugin herunterladen und installieren:

 http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

Weitere Informationen zur Datennutzung durch Google, Einstellungs- und Widerspruchsmöglichkeiten erfahren Sie auf den Webseiten von Google: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/partners („Datennutzung durch Google bei Ihrer Nutzung von Websites oder Apps unserer Partner“), http://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads („Datennutzung zu Werbezwecken“), http://www.google.de/settings/ads („Informationen verwalten, die Google verwendet, um Ihnen Werbung einzublenden“).

 

Google-Re/Marketing-Services

Based on your consent, this website use Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Ireland Limited (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the user’s use of this online service is generally transferred to a Google server and stored there. It cannot be ruled out that these servers may be operated outside of Europe.

Google is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby guarantees that it will comply with European data protection law:

(https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active)

Google will use this information to analyse the user’s use of the website on our behalf, to compile reports about website activity and to perform other services associated with website use and internet use on our behalf. In this context, pseudonymised usage profiles may be created for users using the processed data.

Google Analytics is configured to delete the collected data after 14 months.

We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymisation. This means that the user’s IP address will be truncated by Google within the member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases, the full IP address will be transferred to a Google server and truncated there.

The IP address transmitted by the user’s browser will not be linked with other data held by Google. The user may prevent the installation of cookies by changing the settings of their browser software accordingly; the user can also prevent the collection of the data generated by the cookie concerning their use of this website by Google as well as the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link:

http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

You can find more information about the use of data by Google and your options for configuration and objecting on Google’s websites: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/partners (“Use of data by Google when using our partner’s websites or apps”), http://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads (“Use of data for marketing purposes”), http://www.google.de/settings/ads (“Manage the information that Google uses to show you ads”).

 

Google marketing/remarketing services

Based on your consent, this website uses the marketing and remarketing services (in short, “Google marketing services”) of Google Ireland Limited (“Google”).

Google is certified under the Privacy Shield agreement and thereby guarantees that it will comply with European data protection law:

 (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active).

Google marketing services allow us to display targeted ads for and on our website to address users only with those ads that might match their interests. If a user is shown ads for products for which the user has shown interest on other websites, this is known as “remarketing”. For this purpose, when accessing our websites and other websites on which Google marketing services are active, Google directly runs a code and so-called remarketing tags (invisible graphics or code, also known as “web beacons”) are integrated on the website. Using these tags, an individual cookie, that is, a small file, is stored on the user’s devices (comparable technologies may be used instead of cookies). Cookies can be stored by various domains, including google.com, doubleclick.net, invitemedia.com, admeld.com, googlesyndication.com or googleadservices.com. This data records which websites the user visits, which content the user shows interest in and which offers the user clicks, as well as technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, duration of visit and other information about usage of the online service. The user’s IP address will also be recorded; we hereby note in the context of Google Analytics that the IP address will be truncated by Google within the member states of the European Union or in other states party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and will only be transferred to a Google server in its entirety and truncated there in exceptional cases. The IP address will not be linked with other user data related to other Google services. Google may also combine the information outlined above with information from other sources. If the user subsequently visits other websites, ads tailored to the user’s interests may be displayed.

User data is processed in pseudonymised form for Google marketing services. This means that Google does not store and process the user’s name or email address, for instance, but instead processes the relevant data based on cookies using pseudonymised usage profiles. From the view of Google, this means that ads are not managed and displayed for a specifically identified person, but instead for the cookie holder regardless of who this cookie holder is. This does not apply if a user expressly consented for Google to process data without this pseudonymisation. The information collected by Google marketing services about a user will be transferred to Google and stored on Google servers.

The Google marketing services we use include the online marketing programme “Google AdWords”. In the case of Google AdWords, each AdWords client receives a different “conversion cookie”. As a result, cookies cannot be traced across the websites of AdWords clients. The information obtained using the conversion cookie serves to generate conversion statistics for AdWords clients that have opted for conversion tracking. AdWords clients learn the total number of users that clicked on their ad and were forwarded to a website containing a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that could allow users to be personally identified.

We may integrate ads based on the Google marketing service “AdSense”. AdSense uses cookies to enable Google and its partner websites to display ads based on user visits to this website and other websites on the internet.

We may also use the “Google Tag Manager” to integrate and manage Google analytics and marketing service in our website.

More information about Google’s use of data for marketing purposes can be found on the overview page: https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads, while Google’s privacy policy can be accessed at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy.

If you would like to object to interest-based marketing through Google marketing services, you can use the configuration and opt-out options provided by Google: http://www.google.com/ads/preferences.

 

Pardot Marketing Automation System

On the basis of your consent, this website uses the Pardot Marketing Automation System (“Pardot MAS”) offered by Pardot LLC, 950 E. Paces Ferry Rd. Suite 3300 Atlanta, GA 30326, USA (“Pardot”) on our websites. Pardot is a special software used to record and analyse the use of a website by website visitors. Insofar as Pardot LLC processes personal data, this processing occurs exclusively on our behalf and according to our instructions. We have ensured that Pardot LLC will comply with the EU Data Protection Regulation through an individual agreement with Pardot LLC.

When you visit our website, Pardot MAS records your click trail and uses this to create an individual usage profile using a pseudonym. For this purpose, cookies are used to recognise your browser. By consenting to the use of cookies the first time you use our website by confirming the so-called cookie acceptance banner or by continuing to use our website, you also consent to the use of cookies by Pardot.

You may withdraw your consent at any time with future effect. To do so, use the contact data provided at the end of this privacy policy. You can also deactivate the creation of pseudonymised usage profiles at any time by changing your browser settings to deny cookies from the domain “pardot.com”. However, this could lead to certain restrictions to the features and user-friendliness of our website.