A cookie is a small bit of information saved by your browser containing information sent by us when you log in. When you access a protected page, we request this information from your browser to confirm that you have actually logged in and have access to the page. A session cookie only lasts as long as your browser is open. Once you close your browser, the cookie is gone.

The cookie allows us to know that you have logged in as a member so you may gain access to member functions.

In this case, the cookie is a random number assigned to you at the time you log in. This number is changed each time you log in, and it expires when either you log out or there is no activity for a period of time. This prevents the already unlikely possibility that someone could create a duplicate of your cookie and enter the system as you.

The cookie contains no identifying information about you, and thus no personal data is being transmitted across the internet or stored in the cookie on your computer.