Site cookies
Last updated: 9 September 2026
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small text file that is downloaded onto your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site. This can help in providing an effective website experience and relevant content.
The rules on cookies and similar technologies are covered by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR). PECR covers the storing of information, or the gaining of access to information stored, on a user’s device.
Cookie usage
This platform uses cookies to support essential website functions and, where enabled by site owners, embedded services such as video players. Some cookies are set directly by this platform, or by embedded first-party systems we control. Others are set by third-party services embedded within pages, including YouTube/Google and Vimeo.
For third-party services, the exact cookies set may vary depending on factors such as whether you are logged in to that service, whether you have previously visited it, your browser settings, the consent choices you make, and the provider’s own technical configuration.
We group cookies into categories to help you understand why we use them. You can manage your consent preferences via our cookie consent tool or by adjusting your browser preferences.
Updates to this page
This cookie policy may be updated from time to time as functionality on the platform changes, including the introduction of additional services or user features. We will publish any material changes on this page.
1. Necessary cookies
These cookies are essential to enable the website to work correctly. You can only deactivate them by changing your browser preferences.
Cookie banner
| Cookie |
Service |
Purpose |
Duration |
| frescocookiecontrol_oxford-centre-for-the-history-of-science-medicine-and-technology |
Platform |
Save cookie preferences |
13 weeks |
Login cookies
If you log in, we set a cookie so that we can remember this fact. This prevents you from having to log in again every time you visit a new page.
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| SSESS[random identifier] |
Drupal session identifier - used to distinguish authenticated user sessions and maintain login |
8 hours |
| SimpleSAMLAuthToken |
Token for the current user’s login session |
Until you close your browser |
| SimpleSAMLSessionID |
Identifies the current user session for login stability |
Until you close your browser |
2. Analytics
The platform does not currently set its own analytics cookies. However, embedded third-party video services may set cookies in these categories when video content is embedded or played.
Oxford Events
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| NRBA_SESSION NRBA_SESSION:<id> |
Local Storage: Performance monitoring Error tracking Telemetry |
Unknown |
SharePoint
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| MUID |
Microsoft device/user identifier. |
Persistent |
| ai_session |
Persistent analytics identifier. |
|
| ai_user |
Persistent analytics identifier. |
|
| fpc |
Microsoft telemetry correlation cookie. |
|
3. Functional
The platform does not currently set its own functional cookies. However, embedded third-party video services may set cookies in these categories when video content is embedded or played.
Facebook
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| datr |
This cookie appears to be used by Facebook to recognise the browser and help with security or fraud-prevention checks. |
388 days |
| ps_l |
This cookie is used by Facebook for session management and maintaining a secure environment during a user's visit. |
388 days |
| ps_n |
This cookie is used by Facebook to keep you logged in and help track activity for advertising and analytics. |
388 days |
| sb |
This cookie is used to support browser recognition and security checks on Facebook. |
388 days |
| wd |
This cookie stores the browser window size so Facebook can render content correctly for the current display. |
1 week |
Instagram
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| csrftoken |
This cookie helps protect Instagram requests from cross-site request forgery. |
388 days |
| mid |
A cookie used by Instagram to track sessions and measure performance across different domains. |
388 days |
MS Forms
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| .AspNetCore.OpenIdConnect.Nonce.* |
Authentication/security nonce |
Session |
| FormsWebSessionId |
Forms session management |
Session |
| Msal.cache.encryption |
Encryption of authentication tokens |
Session |
| Navigation StaticResource |
Cache storage |
Unknown |
| __RequestVerificationToken |
CSRF/security token |
Session |
| msats-telemetry-profile-id msal.version |
Microsoft telemetry/ authentication |
Unknown |
| workbox-expiration |
IndexedDB: Service for caching |
Unknown |
Oxford Events
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| cf_clearance |
Cloudflare security |
~ 45 weeks |
Panopto
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| Panopto.UserSettings[anonymous] |
Local Storage – caption preference |
Variable |
| UserSettings |
Stores player/user settings |
10 - 12 Months |
SharePoint
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| MUID |
Microsoft device/user identifier. |
Persistent |
| WSS_FullScreenMode |
Stores SharePoint viewer/display preferences. |
|
Twitter / X
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| __cf_bm |
Helps block bot traffic so the embed can load normally |
About 30 minutes |
4. Marketing
The platform does not currently set its own marketing cookies. However, embedded third-party video services may set cookies in these categories when video content is embedded or played.
Facebook
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| fr |
This cookie used by Facebook to deliver personalised advertisements and track interaction with these ads. |
90 days |
Instagram
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| ig_did |
This cookie is used by Instagram to tracks visits and optimise marketing functionality for personalised ads and embedded content. |
1 year |
Twitter / X
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| __cuid |
This cookie is a tracking and analytics cookie used by Twitter (X) to determine unique visitors and track user behaviour across its platforms |
388 days |
| __gt |
This cookie is a tracking and analytics cookie used by X.com (formerly Twitter) to measure marketing performance across different websites |
Less than 1 day |
| guest_id |
Used by X.com (formerly Twitter) to identify a guest visitor for ads and measurement |
388 days |
| guest_id_ads |
Used by X.com (formerly Twitter) to help with ad-related visitor tracking |
388 days |
| guest_id_marketing |
Used by X.com (formerly Twitter) to help with marketing and ad tracking |
388 days |
| personalization_id |
Used by X.com (formerly Twitter) to help tailor ads and measure engagement |
388 days |
5. Video
Sites on this platform may embed videos from YouTube/Google and Vimeo. These services set cookies to enable the video player to work, track views, and personalise advertising.
Note: If you are logged into a YouTube, Google or Vimeo account, these providers may link your viewing activity on this site to your account. This occurs via cookies already stored in your browser from those services.
SharePoint
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| ESTSAUTH |
Microsoft Entra ID authentication token. |
Session |
| ESTSAUTHPERSISTENT |
Persistent Microsoft login state. |
|
| FedAuth |
SharePoint federated authentication cookie. |
|
| SPOIDCRL |
SharePoint Online identity/session state. |
|
| Stsservicecookie |
Microsoft service routing/session management. |
|
| odspnonce |
Security/session nonce. |
|
| rtFa |
Stores reading progress, UI SharePoint federated session token. |
|
| x-ms-gateway-slice |
Microsoft traffic routing/load balancing. |
|
Vimeo
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| COOKIE_ID_PICOX_ID |
Functional: Manages session state/player performance. |
365 days |
| _cf_bm |
Necessary: Cloudflare cookie used to support Vimeo's bot management and security. |
30 mins |
| _cfuvid |
Necessary: Cloudflare Rate-limiting / DDoS protection. |
Until you close your browser |
| cf_clearance |
Necessary: Proof of ‘human’ verification (Captcha). |
365 days |
| player |
Functional: Stores the user's player preferences (e.g. volume level, captions setting). |
365 days |
| vuid |
Analytics: Primary analytics cookie used to track video views. |
365 days |
YouTube
| Cookie |
Purpose |
Duration |
| AEC |
Security: Detects spam, fraud, and abuse. |
180 days |
| CONSENT |
Necessary: Stores universal Google consent preferences. |
730 days |
| NID |
Marketing: Remembers preferences and personalises ads for signed-out users. |
180 days |
| OGP / OGPC |
Functional: Stores user settings and enables Google product functionality. |
30 days |
| SAPISID, APISID, SSID |
Marketing: Used to personalise advertising based on user activity and interests. |
400 days |
| SID / HSID |
Security: Encrypted account records used for security and authentication. |
400 days |
| SIDCC, __Secure-1PSIDCC, __Secure-3PSIDCC |
Security: Protect user data from unauthorised access. |
365 days |
| SOCS |
Necessary: Stores user's cookie consent state. |
395 days |
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE |
Functional/Analytics: bandwidth estimation for video quality/tracking of user behaviour and unique visitors |
180 days |
| VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA |
Necessary: Stores consent state for the current domain. |
180 days |
| YSC |
Analytics: video view statistics |
Until you close your browser |
| __Secure-1PSID, __Secure-3PSID, __Secure-1PAPISID, __Secure-3PAPISID |
Marketing: Used to profile visitor interests for ad personalisation and targeting across services. |
400 days |
| __Secure-1PSIDTS, __Secure-3PSIDTS |
Marketing: Collects and tracks information about interactions with Google ads. |
365 days |
| __Secure-ENID |
Functional: Remember preferences and security information. |
400 days |
Managing Your Preferences
You can adjust which non-essential cookies you allow by clicking on the ‘Set cookie preferences’ (‘C’ icon) button at the bottom of every page. You can then adjust the available sliders to ‘On’ or ‘Off’, then click ‘X’ to close. You may need to refresh your page for your settings to take effect.
It is also possible to prevent the setting of cookies by adjusting your browser settings. Be aware that doing this may affect the functionality of other websites that you visit. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides information on browser controls and where to find instructions for controlling cookies in different browsers. Please see the section on browser cookie settings at the end of the Cookies page on the ICO website.
Contact
If you have any queries or concerns about the use of cookies on this website, please contact our Fresco Service team.
