Cookie Policy
This policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies in connection to the use of AOL website, available at https://www.aol.com/ (“Website”), as well as app, services and platform (“Services”).
We use these technologies for a range of purposes, including keeping your account secure, helping our Services function properly, remembering your preferences, showing relevant content and advertising, and understanding how our Services are used. Some of these purposes are essential, while others depend on your preferences.
You can learn more about how we process personal information in our privacy policy, and you can review or update your cookie preferences at any time through your privacy dashboard.
We are committed to respecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled securely.
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What cookies and similar technologies are
We use cookies and similar technologies such as web storage, advertising identifiers, tracking pixels, URL parameters, persistent identifiers and IP addresses.
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Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are saved on your device when you visit a website or use an app. They help websites and apps remember things about you, such as your settings, login status, or what you’ve added to a shopping basket. We use cookies to make our Services work, keep them secure, improve how they perform, understand how people use them, and (depending on your preferences) show you personalised content and advertising.
The types of information we may store in cookies include:
- Your preferences for how a site or app looks or works (for example, language or layout)
- Your choices about how your information is used (such as your privacy settings)
- Information needed to deliver the service (for example, your location in a weather app)
- Details that help us monitor and improve performance (like how quickly pages load)
- Unique identifiers that help us recognise your browser or device
- Encrypted or one-way cryptographic hashes of personal information
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Web storage
Web storage is a type of technology that allows websites and apps to store information directly in your browser. It works in a similar way to cookies but can hold more data and store it in a more structured format.
We use web storage to store the same types of information as we do with cookies. This helps us remember your preferences and settings, and improve how our Services work for you.
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Advertising identifiers
Advertising identifiers uniquely identify your mobile devices. We use them to provide and measure personalised ads.
Examples of advertising identifiers include:
- Advertising identifiers on Android devices
- Identifier for advertisers (IDFA) on iOS devices
- Microsoft's advertising identifiers on devices running Windows
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Tracking pixels and URL parameters
Tracking pixels and URL parameters are tools that help us understand how people interact with content, features, and advertising on our sites and apps.
Tracking pixels are tiny, invisible images that load in the background when content or ads are shown. When activated, they can send back information about things like whether a page or ad was viewed and how someone interacted with it.
URL parameters are bits of information added to web links. They help us understand what happens after someone clicks a link, for example, whether they visited a particular page or used a feature on our site.
These tools may collect information such as:
- When and where content or ads were shown
- The device or browser used to view them
- The IP address, which may indicate an approximate location
- Actions taken afterwards, such as clicks or other interactions
- Identifiers that help us measure usage and improve our Services
We use this information to understand what works well, make improvements, and show content and ads that are more relevant to you.
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Persistent identifiers
Persistent identifiers are long-lasting codes that help us recognise your browser or device over time. They are created from information that usually doesn’t change, such as an email address or phone number, or from hashed versions of that information. Hashing is a secure process that turns the original information into a pseudonymous identifier, which cannot easily be linked back to you.
We may use persistent identifiers to:
- Help personalise your experience across our sites and apps
- Understand how people use our Services across different browsers or devices
- Support features like remembering that you’re signed in or keeping your settings consistent
For example, a hashed version of your email address may help us recognise that it’s you using different devices, without revealing your actual email address.
These identifiers are used in line with applicable privacy laws and are not used to directly identify you. They are designed to support the functionality of our Services while respecting your privacy.
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IP addresses
An IP address is a numerical label assigned to your device when you connect to the internet. It helps websites and apps communicate with your device and deliver content or Services correctly.
We may use IP addresses to:
- Detect and prevent fraud or misuse of our Services
- Estimate your general location to show local content, such as news or weather, and select relevant advertising
- Limit how often certain content or ads are shown
- Support service features that work across shared connections, like in a household
- Supporting household-level ad targeting
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Why we use cookies and similar technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to support how our sites and apps work, keep them secure, personalise your experience, show relevant ads, and help us understand and improve our Services.
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Providing our Services
We use cookies and similar technologies to help deliver the Services you use and ensure they function properly. This includes using them to:
- Remember you when you are signed in
- Monitor system and network performance
- Identify your legal jurisdiction and apply your privacy choices
- Provide requested features and content
These cookies are strictly necessary for our Services to work as expected.
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Authentication, security, and preventing abuse
We use cookies and similar technologies to help keep your account and our Services secure. This includes using them to:
- Authenticate you when you sign in
- Maintain the security of your account and our Services
- Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and other harmful activity
These cookies are strictly necessary for our Services to function securely.
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Personalising content on our Services
Depending on your preference, we use cookies and similar technologies to personalise the content you see on our sites and apps. This includes:
- Creating a profile of your interests based on your activity to show you content that is more relevant to you
- Selecting and showing content that is more relevant to you
- Measuring how you interact with content, such as what you read or watch
Depending on the applicable jurisdiction, we only use cookies and similar technologies for this purpose if you provide us with your consent.
You can manage your consent or opt-out from this processing at any time using your privacy dashboard.
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Advertising on our Services
Depending on your preference, we use cookies and similar technologies to support advertising on our sites and apps. This includes:
- Creating a profile of your interests based on your activity to show you ads that are more relevant to you
- Selecting and showing ads that are more relevant to you
- Matching cookies, device identifiers, advertising identifiers and persistent identifiers with those used by our advertising partners
- Measuring how you engage with ads, including views and clicks
- Limiting how often you see the same ad
- Detecting and preventing advertising fraud
Depending on the applicable jurisdiction, we only use cookies and similar technologies for this purpose if you provide us with your consent.
You can manage your consent or opt-out from this processing at any time using your privacy dashboard. If you do not give your consent or opt-out from this use of cookies, you will still see ads on our sites and apps, but we will not personalise them or use cookies to provide them.
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Cookies we use for measurement on our Services
We use cookies and similar technologies to create insights which help us to:
- Measure and understand how our Services are working and how they are being used
- Create more relevant content, services and features for our Services
- Compile aggregate statistics on the use of our Services and create general website metrics
- Monitor availability, stability and technical performance
These cookies are strictly necessary to operate and maintain our Services.
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Cookies we use for analytics on our Services
Depending on your preferences, we use cookies and similar technologies to perform analytics on how our Services are used.
We use these technologies to:
- Analyse your interactions with our Services to understand how our Services are performing
- Track how users move through pages and features
- Identify common behaviours and popular content
- Assess how changes to our Services affect engagement
- Analyse trends across different user groups, devices, or locations
To perform this analytics, we may use information such as device details, browsing activity, location (if available), account information (if you are signed in), and other information linked to your use of our Services.
Depending on the applicable jurisdiction, we only use cookies and similar technologies for this purpose if you provide us with your consent.
You can manage your consent or opt-out from this processing at any time using your privacy dashboard.
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Third party cookies on our Services
Depending on your preferences, our partners, such as advertising providers, content providers, analytics providers, and social media platforms, will place their own cookies and similar technologies on your device when you use our sites and apps. These are known as third-party cookies.
These technologies allow our partners to collect information from your browser and devices while you use our Services. They may combine this with data from other websites, apps, or Services you use. They use this information for a variety of purposes, which may include:
- Showing you personalised ads or content, based on your activity or interests
- Measuring how well ads or content perform
- Understanding what kinds of people are interacting with certain content or ads
- Limiting how often you see the same ad or piece of content
- Improving their own Services and developing new features
- Helping you share content on social media platforms
- Linking your activity across devices and Services, using identifiers and other data
The data collected may include:
- Your device type, browser settings and screen size
- Your IP address and general location
- Information about your activity on our Services, such as pages viewed or buttons clicked
- Search terms and browsing history within our Services
- Identifiers stored on your device (like cookies or mobile IDs)
Depending on the applicable jurisdiction, third party cookies are only installed if you provide us with your consent.
You can manage your consent or opt-out from these partners to use cookies and similar technologies at any time using your privacy dashboard. You can also view the list of third parties we work with, which includes content and social-media partners and those participating in the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework. This list includes links to each partner’s privacy policy, where you can learn more about how they use your personal data.
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How you can control the use of cookies and similar technologies on our Services
We use certain cookies and similar technologies on our Services that are strictly necessary for our Services to work. These are set by us to do things like keep you signed in, apply your privacy choices, maintain security, prevent fraud, and deliver core site or app features. You can disable (in whole or in part) these essential cookies through the specific functions of your browser. Please note, however, that if you don’t allow these cookies, you may not be able to use the Website, view its contents and take advantage of its services. Inhibiting essential cookies may result in some services or features of our Services not being available or not working properly and you may be required to modify or manually enter certain information or preferences.
You can manage how we and our partners use non-essential cookies and similar technologies. These are used for purposes such as personalisation, analytics, and advertising. You can make your choices through your privacy dashboard or through the specific functions of your browser.
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Using the controls provided by your device or browser
Your browser and device offer settings that allow you to manage cookies and other tracking technologies. These settings may help limit some tracking, but they may not block all technologies, such as tracking pixels, URL parameters, persistent identifiers, or IP addresses. For more comprehensive control, we recommend the controls we provide to you in your privacy dashboard.
On mobile devices (phones and tablets)
Your mobile device’s operating system may allow you to control how your device’s advertising identifiers are used for personalised advertising:
- iOS 16 and above: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking > Allow Apps to Request to Track
- Android devices: Go to Settings > Google services > Ads > Opt out of Ads Personalisation
Please consult your device manufacturer’s support documentation for the latest guidance.
On your laptop or desktop
You can configure your browser to manage cookie usage.
Clearing browser cookies or history
Clearing your browser’s cookies and cache removes our cookies, but:
- It will not stop tracking methods that do not rely on storing data on your device
- It does not prevent cookies from being set again in future visits
Use your privacy dashboard to make persistent privacy choices.
Using ad and cookie blockers
Blocking cookies via browser settings, extensions, or plug-ins may interfere with how your privacy choices are stored and remembered:
- Many websites store consent preferences in cookies
- If cookies are blocked or cleared, your preferences may be lost and need to be set again
For more information about how to limit the use of third-party cookies installed in your browser, please visit www.youronlinechoices.com. Once arrived on the website, by accessing the "Your ad choices" section, you will be able to view the list of third parties that install cookies on your browser and manage your consent granularly ("On/Off"). Moreover, by expanding the "Info" section, you will be able to access more information about each third party and its privacy and cookie policies.
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Cookie information
The following tables list the cookies that are used on our Services. The retention period for each cookie is listed in the table below. These durations reflect the maximum lifetime of the cookie, but please note that the expiry period may be refreshed when you use our Services. For example, if a cookie has a retention period of 13 months, that 13-month period may restart on each new visit where valid consent has been provided.
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Cookies used for providing our Services
Cookie Name How long they last _yb Up to 12 months A1 Up to 12 months A1S Until the end of the browser session A3 Up to 12 months apeaf Up to 12 months autorf Up to 12 months B Up to 12 months CFC Up to 12 months cmp Up to 12 months COOKIE_ID_PICOX_ID Up to 12 months DNR Up to 12 months EuConsent Up to 1 day F Up to 12 months favftux Until the end of the browser session FS Up to 12 months gdprlh Until the end of the browser session gdprs Until the end of the browser session GUC Up to 12 months GUCS Until the end of the browser session idps Until the end of the browser session isNewsLetterEnable Up to 3 days K Until the end of the browser session lang Up to 15 minutes listOfSel Until the end of the browser session mode Until the end of the browser session OMPC Until the end of the browser session OOC Up to 12 months PH Up to 12 months PICOX_PING Until the end of the browser session PoliciesYahooCom Until the end of the browser session PRF Up to 24 months RRC Up to 1 minute rxx Up to 12 months sB Up to 12 months sBS Up to 6 months SESSION_STORAGE_ID_PICOX_ID Until the end of the browser session SESSION_STORAGE_ID_PICOX_SESSION_ID Until the end of the browser session show_savebk Until the end of the browser session show_savefdr Until the end of the browser session SPTB Up to 31 days sS Up to 12 months TAS Up to 12 months thamba Up to 7 days token_adap_tv Up to 24 months token_adaptv_advertising_com Up to 24 months token_adtech_de Up to 24 months token_adtechjp_com Up to 24 months token_adtechus_com Up to 24 months token_advertising_com Up to 24 months token_nexage_com Up to 24 months token_tacoda_at_atwola_com Up to 24 months token_yahoo_com Up to 24 months TRUST_TOKEN Up to 24 months ucs Up to 12 months uvf Until the end of the browser session uvts Up to 12 months vSP Up to 30 days Waldo Up to 7 days weathergeo Up to 12 months wmdata Until the end of the browser session WSCliSettings Up to 12 months WV Up to 12 months YHSDOM Up to 1 day yisn Up to 30 days YM.CLIENT.PARAMS Up to 30 days YM.NODIN.PARAMS Up to 2 days YM.NODIN.XOBNI Up to 1 day YM.OR.2 Up to 14 days YM.SSRBDGT Up to 1 minute YM.TZ Up to 1 day yspl Up to 1 month -
Cookies used for authentication, security, and preventing abuse
Cookie Name How long they last __cf_bm Up to 30 minutes A1 Up to 12 months A1S Until the end of the browser session AS Until the end of the browser session B Up to 12 months csrf Until the end of the browser session F Up to 12 months FS Up to 12 months GUCS Until the end of the browser session idps Until the end of the browser session K Until the end of the browser session OTH Up to 12 months OTHN Until the end of the browser session OTHP Up to 12 months T Up to 12 months Y Up to 12 months -
Cookies used for personalising content on our Services
Cookie Name How long they last A3 Up to 12 months apear Up to 10 days B Up to 12 months ddfq Up to 14 days DSS Up to 12 months FPNC Up to 30 days HNEL Up to 7 days lkl Up to 12 months stateful Up to 7 days weather_location Up to 12 months -
Cookies used for advertising on our Services
Cookie Name How long they last _gcl_aw Up to 90 days _uetsid Up to 1 day _uetvid Up to 13 months A3 Up to 12 months B Up to 12 months CRZY Up to 48 hours HP Up to 48 hours IDSYNC Up to 12 months lkl Up to 12 months maex Up to 6 months PROMO Up to 12 months SF Up to 13 months trc_cookie_storage Up to 12 months x_ms Up to 1 month ymuid Up to 12 months -
Cookies used for measurement on our Services
Cookie Name How long they last A1 Up to 12 months A1S Until the end of the browser session B Up to 12 months rxx Up to 12 months WV Up to 12 months -
Cookies from advertising partners on our Services
Depending on the applicable jurisdiction, third party cookies are only installed if you provide us with your consent. You can manage your consent or opt-out from these partners to use cookies and similar technologies at any time using your privacy dashboard.
Click here for a list of the cookies used by advertising partners on our Services.
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Contact us with any questions
If you have any questions about this cookie policy or how we process your personal data, or if you want to exercise any of your rights under data-protection law, please visit your privacy dashboard, which you can access here.