i. Introduction

This Cookie Policy describes the different types of cookies and related technologies (collectively, “Cookies”) which may be used on websites and apps, where Global Sources acts as data controller.

We use “Cookies” for the following reasons: To make the website function properly for you and to enable you to make use of the services we provide, To remember your preferences and make the site easier for you to use, To collect information about how you use our website, which is then anonymized and used to help us improve our services – cookies for this purpose are often described as analytical cookies, To collect information about your subjects of interest and use this to serve content on our sites and on other websites. By means of this Cookie Policy we are seeking to give you clear and comprehensive information about the “Cookies” we use, including how to reject or block them. Some are essential for the operation of our websites, others are not. Opting out or blocking some cookies may affect the functionality of these sites. We want to be open about the way we use cookies and to help you make informed choices about their use. As we change the features on our websites, we will review this policy and update it to include details of any new cookies applied. Please refer to the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page to see when this Policy was last revised.

ii. Contact Details

If you have any questions, concerns or comments, or if you require any help on cookie-related matters, please contact us by mail at customerservices@karakata.biz

iii.  What are “Cookies”?

Browser Cookies (aka HTTP Cookies); Browser Cookies are small text files that hold a certain amount of data, which our site can send to your browser to be stored on your device (e.g., your computer, tablet or smartphone). These can be accessed by our web server and retrieved to allow us to customize our web pages and services for you. We want our site to be informative, personal, and to provide you with a good experience when you use the service, and cookies help us improve the service to achieve that goal.

iv.  There are several types of browser cookies: (a) First Party: These cookies are created by the website the user is visiting. By default, first-party cookies are allowed in every web browser. If you were to disable first-party cookies, a website may not keep track of your activity as you move from page to page. For example, you would be unable to purchase multiple items online in the same transaction. Each time you added something to the cart from another page on the site, it would be treated as a new order, etc. (b) Third-Party: Some cookies on the website and other parts of the service are managed by third parties. They may be used to support analytical, advertising or social media functions provided by these third parties to site users and or Global Sources. You should refer to the third parties’ own cookie and privacy policies for information about how they may use your information. (c) Session Cookies: These types of cookies are stored only temporarily during a browsing session and are deleted from your device when you close the browser (although there may be a small delay in some instances before expiration, such as mobile browsing). These may be first or third-party cookies. We use Session Cookies to support the functionality of the Site and to understand your use of the Site. (d) Persistent Cookies: These types of cookies are not deleted when you close your browser but are saved on your device for a fixed period of time, depending on the lifetime of the specific cookie or until you delete them. These may be first or third-party cookies. Each time you visit the Site, the server that sets the cookie will recognize the persistent cookie saved on your device. We and others use persistent Cookies to store your preferences, so that they are available for your next visit, to keep a more accurate account of how often you visit the Site, how often you return, how your use of the Site may vary over time and the effectiveness of advertising efforts.
(e)Web Beacons; Web beacons (also called clear GIFs or pixel tags) are tiny graphic images or lines of code placed in Online Services or in emails that include a unique identifier to allow us (and/or third parties) to determine unique user visits and whether you have performed a specific action. When you access these pages or open or click an email, these technologies generate a notice of that action. These tools are often used in conjunction with HTTP cookies and are generally used to measure responses to communications and improve Online Services and promotions. (f) Embedded Scripts; An embedded script is programming code that is designed to collect information about your interactions with Online Services, such as links clicked. The code is temporarily downloaded to your device from Global Sources or a third-party service provider and is active only when you are connected to the Online Service.

v.  Local Shared Objects (LSO) & Local Storage

Flash Cookies (aka Local Share Objects): We may also use “Flash Cookies” on our sites for some of our animated content. They are used in the same way as other cookies – to store information you provide such as settings, preferences, and usage. These provide additional features to improve your experience; however, they use a different technology than browser cookies. Removing or rejecting browser cookies via a browser setting does not necessarily affect Flash Cookies. Local Storage (e.g., device or HTML5 local storage and caching): HTML5 uses the local storage of the device that accesses the Online Services. The Online Services may record information in local storage and read it when it is needed.

vi. Our Use of Cookies

We use cookies on our websites and mobile apps for a variety of reasons as indicated below. (a) Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are required for the operation of our websites. These are essential to enable you to move around and use our sites’ features. Without these cookies, services such as registering for an account, cannot be provided. We use them to remember you as having logged in, enabling you to use inquiry and shopping basket as well as other functions such as sending/receiving Requests for Information. (b) Performance Cookies: These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website. The information these cookies collect is aggregated for anonymous reporting. They allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it, which pages visitors go to most often, etc. We use this information to monitor site performance, count page visits, spot technical errors, see how users reach the Site, measure the effectiveness of advertising (including emails we send to you) in order to improve our websites and to aid us in investigating problems raised by visitors. (c) Functionality Cookies: These cookies are used to recognize you when you return to our website and allow them to remember choices you made in order to provide more personal features and personalized content to improve your experience. For instance, a functional cookie can be used to remember settings such as your language, display or content preferences. Some Functional Cookies are essential for viewing maps or videos on our site. Please note that we use functionality cookies to track user visit data anonymously but can link them to personal data if a visitor has provided it to us through a registration profile in order to communicate personalized content such as new product recommendations or articles. Disabling Functional Cookies may make specific functions not work as intended and may impair usability of the system or service. If you wish to opt-out from receiving personalized content, please contact us. (d) Targeting or Advertising Cookies: Based on your interests and visit patterns, these cookies allow us and other advertisers to deliver the most relevant products, offers, and advertisements on our site and third-party sites, e.g. on search engines, social media sites, or through email and other message platforms. For example, some Advertising Cookies help our service providers and other advertisers to select advertisements that are based on your interests, including those expressed or inferred by visits to our websites or apps or across other websites, online services, and apps over time. Others help prevent the same advertisement from continuously reappearing for you. Advertising Cookies also include Social Plug-In Cookies, which are used to share content from the Site with members and non-members of social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest. These cookies are usually set by the social networking provider, enabling such sharing to be smooth and seamless.

vii. Managing Cookies

We appreciate that some users may like individual control over their visit to our website and may want to adjust their settings accordingly. However, if you choose not to accept cookies from our website or disable them, you may not be able to use or access some of our site services or features which require these cookies to function, and we cannot guarantee that your experience will be as fulfilling as it would otherwise be. You may find the following helpful to explain how to manage cookies.

viii. Browser Cookies

There are a number of ways to manage these “cookies”. For example: (a) You can decide to accept or decline all or some of the cookies being sent by modifying the settings in your browser. (b)You can also set-up your browser to warn you every time a cookie is sent, so that you can review each cookie before you decide whether or not to accept it. (c)You can delete any cookies that have been installed in the cookie folder of your browser.
To access and change your browser’s cookie settings or manage stored cookies, search for and select “cookies” from the browser “Help” function and follow the instructions. These will vary by browser and possibly between versions of the same browser. If you use different computers in different locations to access our website, you will need to ensure that each browser is adjusted to suit your cookie preferences.