This Cookie Policy explains when and why cookies and similar tracking technologies are used by WebMD LLC ("WebMD," "we" or "us") and our partners on our websites, applications, advertisements and related services, including WebMD.com, MedicineNet.com, RxList.com, OnHealth.com, and eMedicineHealth.com and the mobile optimized versions of these sites and our Mobile Device Applications or "Apps" (we refer to these sites and Apps collectively as the "WebMD Sites"). We refer to the WebMD Sites, along with the information and services made available to you through the WebMD Sites, as the "Services."
Please refer to the WebMD Privacy Policy to learn more about the use of cookies and other tracking technologies on the WebMD Sites and how you can contact us for more information.
Cookies
"Cookies" are small data files that are stored on the hard drive of the computer you use to view a website. Every computer that accesses a WebMD Site is assigned a different cookie by WebMD. Different Cookies serve different purposes:
Session cookies are specific to a particular visit and carry information as you view different pages within a WebMD Site. Session cookies expire and delete themselves automatically in a short period of time, e.g., when you leave the website or when you close your browser.
Persistent cookies enable us to recognize you when you visit a WebMD Site and remember your preferences. Persistent cookies are stored on your browser or mobile device until you choose to delete them, and otherwise typically delete themselves at expiration.
Third-party cookies are placed by someone other than WebMD, and may gather browsing activity across multiple websites and sessions. They are usually persistent cookies and are stored until you delete them or they expire based on the time period set in each third-party cookie.
"Web Beacons" are graphic image files embedded in a page of a website typically used to monitor activity on the page and send back to its home server (which can belong to the host site, a network advertiser or some other third party) information from your browser, such as the IP address, the URL of the page on which the Web Beacon is located, the type of browser that is accessing the site and the ID number of any cookies on your computer previously placed by that server.
"Application SDKs" are mobile application third-party software development kits that are embedded in mobile applications. These app SDKs permit the collection of information about the app itself, activity in the app, and the device the application is running on.
Cookie on the WebMD Sites
The cookies on the WebMD Sites are generally used for one of the following purposes:
Strictly necessary. These cookies are necessary for the WebMD Sites to function and are essential to access some areas of the WebMD Sites. For example, certain cookies enable us to identify registered members and ensure that they have access to content that is only available to registered members.
Important functionality. These cookies enable us to remember your preferences, such as your user name, language or the region you are in, and provide enhanced, more personalized features. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for, such as watching a video.
Performance and Analytics. These cookies enable us to analyze how visitors use the WebMD Sites and to monitor website performance. We use the information collected by these Cookies to improve the performance of the WebMD Sites and our Services.
Advertising. These cookies are used by WebMD and our advertisers to deliver advertisements on the WebMD Sites and third party sites that are more relevant to you and your interests based on your WebMD account information, content browsing activity and in some cases, other information about you that we or our advertisers may have obtained from other sources. Cookies may be used to limit the number of times you see a particular advertisement and to enable measurement of the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. Information collected through the use of cookies may be collected directly by WebMD, our partners or third party advertisers and their ad servers.
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to recognize individual users when they access the Services, remember user preferences, keep track of users’ access to and use of the Services, track whether our emails opened and whether links are clicked, ensure that the Services are functioning properly, analyze trends and to personalize the Services, including advertising on the WebMD Sites and on third party websites, so that it is relevant to individual user’s interests which may be inferred based on location, prior activity on the WebMD Sites and other information that WebMD or our partners may have about our users. When you use the Services, we also automatically collect information from your browser or mobile device such as your IP address or unique device identifier, browser information (including referring URL), your preferences and settings, cookies and information about the content you have viewed and actions taken (e.g., search queries, ad engagement, clicks and the associated dates and times). WebMD may also collect device-specific information when you install and use an App including your device model, operating system information, advertising ID (which is a unique, user-resettable identification number for advertising associated with a mobile device) and app version and usage information. When enabled by you, we collect precise location information provided by your mobile device, which you may disable through the device settings.
Third Party Cookies
Sponsors or advertisers on the WebMD Sites may use their own cookies or other tracking technologies in the banner advertisements and sponsored links and on the pages ("Brand Pages") on the WebMD Sites that consist solely of advertisements or other content from our advertisers. This advertiser content may also be served in emails, special promotions or newsletters we send you. Their advertisements may be displayed on the WebMD Sites or on other sites that you visit after you visit the WebMD Sites. Some advertisers use companies other than WebMD to serve their ads and to monitor users' responses to ads, and these ad servers may also collect information through the use of cookies on the WebMD Sites.
While we generally permit the use of these third party cookies on the assumption that they comply with our Advertising Policy and we assist our advertisers with the placement of cookies on Brand Pages, we do not control how third parties use cookies or how they manage the information they gather through the use of these technologies on the WebMD Sites and we may be unable to verify compliance with our Advertising Policy. To see how Google may use information collected through your use of Google's search services on the WebMD Sites visit https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners.
We work with third party ad networks to display advertising on the WebMD Sites and on third party sites. Our ad network vendors use technologies to collect information about your activities on the WebMD Sites and our flagship WebMD App to provide you cookie-based targeted advertising based upon your browsing activity and your interests. The specific providers we use are subject to change, however below is a list of some of our current ad network partners:
Direct
| Amazon | AppNexus | ||
| Index Exchange | Live Intent | Media.Net | PubMatic |
| Rubicon | Sharethrough | Teads | Trustx |
Resellers Through Media.net
| Brealtime | Conversant Media | District M | Lijit |
| OpenX | Pulsepoint | Sovrn | SpotX |
Because your browser, App, or device communicates with these third parties respective servers, these companies can collect information, including your IP address, page header information, browser or device information, just as if you had requested their website or used their apps directly. These companies may collect information to deliver you customized ads on both the WebMD Sites and non-WebMD websites, applications, and services. In some situations, WebMD may interact with these companies outside of your browser or device, directly between our web servers. Many of these third parties offer information about their data collection practices, and in some cases, an opt-out, on their respective websites. Please review each company’s privacy policy to better understand the controls available to you. We encourage you to periodically review this Cookie Policy for the latest information on our ad network partners.
Your Choices
Most browser software can be set to reject cookies, and offer instructions on how to reset the browser to reject cookies in the "Help" or "Settings" or "Preferences" section of your browser’s toolbar. If you reject our cookies, certain of the functions and conveniences of our websites may not work properly but you do not have to accept our cookies in order to productively use most features of our websites. It is important to note that in order to use the opt-out services described below, such as the Network Advertising Initiative and the TRUSTed Ads™ program, you must not reject all cookies because these opt-out procedures work by placing cookies on your browser that enable these opt-out procedures to function. The "opt-out cookies" are placed, for example, in order to help prevent the placement of Cookies used for the targeting of advertising..
Certain companies that serve ads allow you to prevent them from collecting data through the use of cookies. In order to do so, you must opt-out of such data collection with each individual site. You can also opt out of cookies for several ad servers by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative gateway opt-out site. This website will also allow you to review the privacy policies of these ad servers. You can find additional information and resources about how to opt out of advertising and related cookies by visiting the World Privacy Forum's Site. If you are located in the European Union (EU), you may also opt-out here.
In order to give you more control over your privacy choices WebMD has implemented a DAA (Digital Advertising Alliance) approved opt-out mechanism for interest-based advertising. At the bottom of every page of the WebMD Sites you will see an AdChoices logo (which looks like this:
You may also control interest-based advertising on your mobile device by enabling the “Limit Ad Tracking” setting in your iOS device’s settings or “Opt out of Ads Personalization” in your Android device’s settings. This will not prevent you from seeing advertisements, but will limit the use of device advertising identifiers to personalize ads based on your interests. If you have questions about how to reject Cookies on your specific device please check with the device manufacturer.
Additional Information for WebMD’s Visitors from the European Economic Area (“EEA”)
If you are a WebMD user in the EEA, before cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown a banner requesting that you either accept or decline the placement of cookies. By accepting the placement of cookies you are enabling us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, decline the placement of cookies unless those cookies are strictly necessary.
Changes
WebMD reserves the right to change this Cookie Policy at any time and any changes will be effective upon being posted unless we advise otherwise. We encourage you to periodically review this Cookie Policy for the latest information about the use of cookies on the WebMD Sites.