Our Privacy Policy explains our principles when it comes to the collection, processing, and storage of your information. This policy specifically explains how we, our partners, and users of our services deploy cookies, as well as the options you have to control them.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in. Cookies may be set by the site that you are visiting (known as “first party cookies”), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide advertising or analytics services on the website (“third party cookies”).
Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as “web beacons” or “pixels.” These are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. They are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for a number of different purposes. Some cookies are necessary for technical reasons; some enable a personalized experience for both visitors and registered users; and some allow the display of advertising from selected third party networks. Some of these cookies may be set when a page is loaded, or when a visitor takes a particular action (clicking the “like” or “follow” button on a post, for example).
For more information on the choices you have about the cookies we use, please see the Controlling Cookies section below.
Where we place cookies
We set cookies in a number of different locations across our services. These include:
- On our websites (www.uj.ac.za).
- In the administrative dashboards of our websites, such as wp-admin.
- On plugins we use.
- In the emails we send.
Types of Cookie
The table below explains the types of cookies we use on our websites and why we use them.
| Category of cookies | Why we use these cookies |
| Required | These cookies are essential for our websites and services to perform basic functions and are necessary for us to operate certain features. These include those required to allow registered users to authenticate and perform account-related functions, store preferences set by users such as account name, language, and location, and ensure our services are operating properly. |
| Analytics and Performance | These cookies allow us to optimize performance by collecting information on how users interact with our websites, including which pages are visited most, as well as other analytical data. We use these details to improve how our websites function and to understand how users interact with them. |
| Advertising | None |
Examples
Below are examples of the cookies set by University of Johannesburg, with explanations of their purpose. Some of these cookies are set across our whole network, whereas some are specific to individual services.
In addition, people and companies that use our services to publish or host their own sites may place additional cookies. We provide more information on these cookies below.
Required
| Cookie | Purpose |
| Ribbon.Document | To display the SharePoint Navigation to logged in user |
| SPUsageId | Track logged in user usage of site edits, updates, vsits |
| Ribbon.Read | Gathers information form the serveron what should be loaded, based on user permissions. |
| WSS_FullScreenMode | Server Indicated to browser if user should see Fullscreen mode. |
| stsSyncIconPath | Unspecified SharePoint variable |
| stsSyncAppName | Synchronises the application using the web server from the application pool. |
| twostep_auth | Set when the user is logged in using two factor authentication. |
| wordpress_logged_in* | Checks whether or not the current visitor is a logged in WordPress.com user. |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Checks if cookies are enabled to provide appropriate user experience. |
| wp-settings-{user_id} | Persists a user’s wp-admin configuration. |
| wp_sharing_{id} | Tracks whether or not a user has already performed an action. |
Analytics and Performance
| Cookie | Purpose |
| loc | Location tracking function for the addthis.com service |
| na_id | Identification token for the site using the addthis.com service |
| uvc / __atuvs /__atuvc | The cookie is one of the cookies used to track usage of the Addthis.com service. It allows a user to share a webpage with many social sites. These cookies are used to track usage of the Addthis.com service. Addthis allows the user to share a webpage with many social sites. |
| ouid | This cookie is used by AddThis as a unique user ID that recognises the user on returning visits. |
| uid | To store a unique user ID. |
| mus | Unspecified |
| loc | Location tracking function for the addthis.com service |
| utma / utmb / utmc / utmt / utmz / ga / gat / gid / NID | Google Analytics. Gathers information that helps us understand how visitors interact with our websites, which allow us to create a better experience for our visitors. Our users may also implement Google Analytics on their own websites. |
Advertising
| Cookie | Purpose |
| None | None |
Please also see the section below on third party advertisements that you may see on our sites or sites that use our services.
Advertisements from Third Parties Through University of Johannesburg’s Ads Program
None
| Partner | Cookie Info |
| None | None |
Below is a representative list of the cookies that may be set by our ads partners in connection with ads that appear in emails.
| Cookie | Purpose |
| None | None |
| | |
Mobile Theme
| Cookie Name | Purpose |
| None | None |
Subscriptions
| Cookie Name | Purpose |
| None | None |
EU Cookie Law Banner
| Cookie Name | Purpose |
| None | None |
Please note that this section is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather aims to be representative, and that our users may set additional cookies (such as Google Analytics), depending on the features they have chosen to enable or the plugins they have installed.
Controlling Cookies
Visitors may wish to restrict the use of cookies or completely prevent them from being set. Most browsers provide for ways to control cookie behaviour such as the length of time they are stored – either through built-in functionality or by utilizing third party plugins. If you disable cookies, please be aware that some of the features of our service may not function correctly.
To find out more on how to manage and delete cookies, visit aboutcookies.org. For more details on your choices regarding use of your web browsing activity for interest-based advertising you may visit the following sites:
On a mobile device, you may also be to adjust your settings to limit tracking.
Some analytics services we use, which place their own cookies or web tags on your browser, offer their own opt out choices. For example, you can opt out of Google Analytics by installing Google’s opt-out browser add-on.
Our Internal Analytics Tool
In order to better understand how our services are used, we monitor certain user activities that take place within our products, including page views and clicks on any links used when managing a site via our dashboards, we may use such a tool in future
Consent for Advertising Cookies on Our Sites
We don’t use Adds on our site.
Consent and Choices for Advertisements on Our Users’ Sites Through Our Ads Program
We don’t use Adds on our site.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, you can find the most relevant contact details in our Privacy Policy.
4 Aug 2021
