ALUS CANADA
Online Digital and Cookie Notice
Effective: January 1st, 2024
ALUS Canada (hereinafter “ALUS”) is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of our online and mobile visitors who use or visit our websites, mobile applications, or online services, or interact with our digital campaigns (“websites”). This notice, to be read in conjunction with the ALUS Canada Privacy Policy, describes how we use cookies and other technology to personalize the experience of visitors when using our websites.
Online tracking and cookies
What cookies and tracking tools do we use? We may use cookies, web beacons and pixels on our websites. A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent from a website server and saved on your computer when you access a website to, for example, help facilitate the use of a website and to help understand how a website is being used. Different types of cookies are used for different types of activities. Examples of cookies we may use are:
- First-party cookies are set by the site you are visiting. Our cookies have distinct functions and are necessary for the delivery of our services, to help us improve our performance or to help us serve you relevant and targeted content.
- Session cookies: These cookies are stored in your device’s temporary memory and are automatically removed when you close the browser. These cookies enable you to navigate through our secure websites after authentication and, when you close the browser, the cookies expire and are no longer active or used.
- Persistent cookies: Another type of cookie is known as a persistent cookie, which remains on your device usually for 30 to 90 days. They are used to help us understand your interactions with our website, which enables ALUS to identify specific challenges users may have with areas of our site (i.e. navigation, form completion, etc.) and make improvements to the experience. These cookies may also be used to provide enhanced functionality and personalization by allowing our site to remember the choices you’ve made.
- Third-party cookies are set by service providers whose technologies we may leverage to help us deliver and assess the effectiveness of our content.
- Analytics cookies: Also known as performance cookies, these cookies help us improve site navigation and enhance our website visitors’ experience. For example, we use Google Analytics for web statistical analysis. We make no effort to personally identify you based on your visit to our site. If you wish, you may opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics by disabling or refusing the cookies; by disabling JavaScript within your browser; or by using the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On.
- Advertising cookies: Not currently in use by ALUS.
Our websites or email communications may also use technology such as “web beacons”. This technology allows us to understand which areas of our emails you click and your behaviour on our websites, such as which pages you visit. These tags are used to help us optimize and tailor our sites for you and other future visitors and to help provide you with content tailored to your interests.
What information is collected
When you visit our website, the site asks your browser to store a cookie on your device to remember information that you may provide, information about you, information about or in your device, geolocation data, and statistical information about website usage.
- Information you provide, such as your name and e-mail address;
- Information about you – This will include information such as your language preference, country and time zone;
- Information about or in your device – ALUS may collect or access information about your device, such as device model, unique device number, operating system type and version, browser type and version, current language, plug-ins, screen resolution, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the region from which you are connecting to our website or applications;
- Geolocation data such as the built-in GPS in devices that generates latitudinal and longitudinal geographic coordinates; and
- Statistical information – We also collect statistical information on how you access or use our websites or mobile applications to help improve your website experience.
How we use information collected by cookies
We use the information in several ways to deliver products and services to you. This includes:
- Recognizing you when you return to our websites or use our mobile apps (and remembering your user ID to make it easier for you to login);
- To help verify your identity where appropriate;
- To collect statistical information about your on-site behaviour so that we can identify which areas of our website may need to be enhanced to improve the design, navigation, content and overall user experience;
- To customize content to your interests and to advertise and promote relevant products and services to you and others like you that conduct business with ALUS digitally;
- To optimize our websites and the content we make available; and
- To help secure your connection to our websites and for fraud prevention and investigation purposes
How we share information collected by cookies
Cookies identify when you visit specific ALUS websites and may be shared with third parties involved in customizing advertising or third-party digital channels. ALUS does not sell your information to third parties, nor do we track your interaction with a third-party website. For purposes described in this notice or in the particular online or digital channel, ALUS may share information with employees, agents and service providers, who are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information. We may also share information with government agencies, public bodies, regulators or other entities where permitted or required by law.
How to manage your cookies
The browsers of most computers, smartphones and other web-enabled devices are typically set up to accept first- party cookies. If you do not want your information collected or used for advertising or marketing purposes via cookies, you can change how cookies will be placed on your device when you visit our website by changing the settings on your browser. These settings are usually found in the options or preferences menu of your browser.
Most browsers can be set to detect cookies and give you an opportunity to reject them. Refusing cookies may, in some cases, result in a suboptimal or generic digital experience that does not adapt to your online behaviour.
You do not have to accept cookies. Your choice not to accept these cookies will not impede your use of ALUS websites. However, please remember that cookies improve certain functions and provide a more tailored browsing experience. If you choose to switch certain cookies off, you should be aware that certain features of our websites may not function properly without cookies.