Use of cookies on our sites

• Why are cookies used on the IET Web sites?
• How are cookies used on the IET Web sites?
• Further information

Why are cookies used on the IET Web sites?

Often, Web sites need to maintain information as you move from page to page, and possibly between your browsing sessions. For example, you expect, when moving between pages in a Web shop, that the site will keep track of the contents of your shopping basket. If you have logged in, you expect the site to recognise you on each subsequent page. Cookies are used to meet these expectations.

Cookies are small pieces of identifying information, stored by your browser on your PC, to enable such information about your session to be maintained. The cookie may contain actual information (e.g. the date of your last visit), or just a unique reference ID that allows the site to look up (for example) the contents of your shopping basket in its databases.

Cookies set by one site cannot be read by another. However, one Web page may be made up of components (such as news stories, images or advertising), some of which are delivered from third parties. Each of those third-party sites will be able to set and read its own cookies on any page where its content appears.

How are cookies used on the IET Web sites?

The short version

If you block cookies from the IET Web sites, you will not be able to log in, and a range of other functions, such as the shopping basket and the tracking of new messages in the discussion forums, will fail. However, you will be able to browse most of the information on the IET sites. The IET uses some third-party services, and you may need to consult their policies separately.

The long version

The IET offers a range of Web sites and services to its members, customers and other Web users, and these use cookies in varying ways. Therefore, if you block cookies, the effects will vary, depending on which IET service you are using. In general, the IET's cookies are essential to the delivery of the services that you have chosen. Thus:

• A single log-on works across most IET sites. The log-on is maintained by setting cookies. These authorisation ("log-on") cookies simply contain session IDs, identifying you as an individual logged-on user. This avoids the need to send your user name and password every time that you request a page; therefore, the aim is enhanced security. No personal information is stored in these cookies. If you choose not to use "Remember Me", the cookies are deleted when you log off the site or close your browser. Please ensure that you accept all of these cookies if you wish to register and/or log on to the site.
• In the discussion forums, there are further log-on cookies. Also, the discussion forums set two cookies, one for the last date you visited, and one for the latest posts you have seen. The aim is to be able to offer you quick access to the new postings when you next visit. These are permanent cookies. You can delete these additional cookies if you wish - it will just mean that the site cannot indicate new messages to you.
• When you are not logged in, most IET sites use cookies to manage your session. You may block these if you wish, but some functions may not work fully; for example, you will not be able to page through results in the events calendar. The IET does not use these cookies to monitor your behaviour; they exist only to provide you with site functionality.
• The book shop uses your existing site cookies to keep track of the contents of your shopping basket, rather than setting additional ones. Without accepting cookies, you will not be able to use the shop.
• The Archives catalogue search uses cookies to maintain your session and searches. If you block cookies, the Archives search will fail.
• The Career Manager professional development service uses cookies to store session information. The service may not work fully if you block these. There is specific information about cookies in Career Manager under the "legal" link on that site.
• Cookies are used to track your information when you book a free place at a Local Network event. The booking will fail without the use of these cookies.
• If the Institution is currently conducting a survey or requesting feedback (for example in user trials), cookies may be used to record the fact that you have seen the invitation to respond. The aim is to avoid showing you the invitation repeatedly. If you reject these cookies, you may see the message a number of times.
• Site advertising servers are provided by Real Media Open Adstream. Advertising mainly appears in specific sites, such as E&T Magazine and IET Electrical. Cookies are used, for example, to avoid showing you the same advertisement twice on different pages. They are delivered from a server in theiet.org, so (as described above) they cannot be used to correlate your behaviour with your visits to non-IET sites. Your use of the IET site will not be affected should you decide not to accept these "oax" advertising cookies.
• The IET uses Google Analytics. This service uses theiet.org cookies to record and process information about your use of the sites (including your IP address) on behalf of the IET. The IET uses this information to evaluate visitors’ use of the sites and to compile statistical reports on site activity; the reports examine patterns of use rather than the behaviour of individual users. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking for all sites, including the IET ones.

In addition, the IET uses third parties to deliver services to members and others. These third-party servers may set cookies in accordance with their own cookie and privacy policies, which you should consult separately. They include:

• IET.tv, which uses Stream UK to deliver Webcasts. These appear mostly in the IET.tv site, but also embedded in some Web pages elsewhere. You may block cookies from scpro.streamuk.com if you wish.
• The electronic information services provided to members by the IET Library.
• Some pages, especially in E&T Magazine, include content from Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and other services. These have their own cookie and privacy policies.

Further information

The site AllAboutCookies provides independent information on cookies, and how to block them in specific browsers. 

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact the Webmaster.

Updated January 2012