Cookie Notice

What does this notice deal with?

This Cookie Notice describes how and for what purpose we collect, process and use personal data and other data when our websites and mobile apps are being used, in particular in relation to cookies and similar technologies. For the sake of simplicity, where we refer below in general to websites, we also take this to cover mobile apps. We also describe data processing in relation to social media.

Further information about how we deal with personal data can be found in our Privacy Policy.

Who is responsible for data processing?

As a general rule, a company from the Medbase Group («we» or «us») is responsible under data protection law for any data processing falling under this Cookie Notice. This will generally be the company that has drawn your attention to this Cookie Notice. Please contact the respective controller company if you have any questions concerning this Cookie Notice or the processing of your personal data. You can also contact us at:

Medbase AG
Schützenstrasse 3
CH-8400 Winterthur
kontakt@medbase.ch
052 260 29 29

What are log files?

For technical reasons, whenever any of our websites is used certain data are collected, which are stored temporarily in log files. These include e.g. the following technical data:

IP address of the requesting device;
information concerning your internet service provider;
information concerning the operating system on your device (tablet, PC, smart phone etc.);
information concerning the referring URL;
information concerning the browser used;
date and time of access; and
content retrieved when visiting the website.

These data are processed for the purpose of enabling our website to be used (establishing a connection) and ensuring its proper operation, guaranteeing system security and stability and enabling our online content to be optimized as well as for statistical purposes.

The IP address is also assessed in conjunction with other log data and, where applicable, other data held by us in the event of attacks on the IT infrastructure or any other potentially prohibited usage or misuse of the website for investigative or defensive purposes and, where applicable, may be used within the ambit of a criminal prosecution for identification purposes and for the purpose of pursuing civil and criminal action against the perpetrators.

What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are files that your browser automatically stores on your device whenever you visit our websites. Cookies contain a unique identifier (an ID) that enables us to differentiate among individual visitors, although as a rule without identifying them. Depending upon their intended purpose, cookies may contain further information, for instance concerning the pages accessed and the duration of a visit to a page. We use session cookies, which are deleted when the browser is closed, as well as permanent cookies, which remain stored for a particular period of time after the browser has been closed (generally between a few days and two years). These are used in order to recognize users in the event of a subsequent visit.

We can also use similar technologies such as for instance pixel tags, fingerprints and other technologies for storing data in the browser or in an app. Pixel tags are small, generally invisible images or a program code downloaded from a server, which transmit certain information to the server operator, concerning for instance whether and when a website has been visited. Fingerprints refer to information concerning your device or browser configuration that is collected when you visit a website and that enables your device to be distinguished from other devices. Most browsers also support other technologies for storing data in browsers, in a similar manner to cookies, which we may also use (e.g. web storage).

Apps also feature options that enable us to establish for instance which functions of one of our apps are being used on a particular device (identified with reference to one specific ID) and how they are being used. These features transmit information to us, which helps us to understand and improve how our apps are used.

How can cookies and similar technologies be disabled?

In some cases you have the option when accessing our websites of enabling or disabling particular categories of cookie via an interface displayed in the browser. You can also configure your browser settings in such a manner that the browser blocks particular cookies or similar technologies or erases existing cookies and other data stored in the browser. You can also enhance your browser with software (so-called “plugins”), which prevent tracking by particular third parties. You can find out more about this in the help section of your browser (in most cases under the heading “Privacy”). Please note that our websites may no longer operate fully if you block cookies and similar technologies.

We may provide privacy settings within apps through which you can specify which data are collected and transmitted.

What types of cookies and similar technologies do we use?

We use the following types of cookies and similar technologies:

Necessary cookies: necessary cookies are required in order to enable a website and its functions to be used. These cookies ensure for instance that you can switch between different pages without the information entered into a form being lost.
Performance cookies: performance cookies collect information about how a website is being used and enable us to analyze for instance which pages are most popular and how users navigate through a website. These cookies are intended to simplify and accelerate the visit to the website and in general to enhance user-friendliness.
Functional cookies: functional cookies enable us to provide enhanced functions and to display personalized content. These cookies allow us for instance to store information previously obtained (e.g. choice of language) or to display content to you that may be relevant for you, based on the items you have viewed.
Marketing cookies: marketing cookies help us and our advertising partners to direct advertising at you on our websites and on third party websites concerning products and services that may be of interest for you, or to display our own adverts to you when subsequently using the internet after visiting our websites.

How do we use cookies and similar technologies of other companies?

The cookies and similar technologies used by us may originate from us or from third party companies, for instance if we use functions provided by third parties. These third party providers may also be situated outside Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA), provided that protection for your personal data can be adequately ensured.

For example, we use analysis services to assess how you use our websites or apps with a view to optimizing and personalizing them. Cookies and similar technologies of third party providers also enable these providers to target you with individualized advertising on our websites or on other websites and in social networks that also cooperate with these third parties and to assess how effective adverts are (e.g. whether you reach our website after clicking on an advert as well as your subsequent interaction with our website).

Third party providers can then log this usage of the website concerned. These logs may be cross-referenced by the provider concerned with similar information from other websites. The behavior of particular users can thus be logged across multiple websites and across multiple devices. The provider concerned can often use these data also for its own purposes, for instance in order to display personalized advertising on its own website or on other websites to which it provides advertising. The provider may allocate the usage data to the particular person if that user is registered with the provider. In such cases, these personal data are processed by the provider under its own responsibility and in accordance with its own privacy policy.

Third party providers

Learn more

Two of the most important third party providers are Google and Facebook. You can find further information concerning them below. Other third party providers generally process personal data and other data in a similar manner.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics on many of our websites, an analysis service provided by Google LLC (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA, USA) and Google Ireland Ltd. (Google Building Gordon House, Barrow St, Dublin 4, Ireland; both jointly referred to as “Google“, whereby Google Ireland Ltd. is responsible for processing personal data). Google uses cookies and similar technologies in order to collect particular information concerning the behavior of individual users on or within the website concerned as well as the device used to access it (tablet, PC, smart phone etc.) (e.g. how often you have visited our website, how many purchases you have made or the interests that you have as well as data concerning the device used by you, such as e.g. the operating system). Further information concerning this matter can be found here.

The IP addresses of visitors to Google in Europe are shortened before being forwarded to the USA and can thus not be traced. We have turned off the "Data sharing" and "Signals" settings. Although we can assume that the information we share with Google is not personal data for Google, it is possible that Google can draw conclusions about the identity of visitors from this data for its own purposes, create personal profiles and link this data to the Google accounts of these individuals. Therefore, it is possible that the use of Google Analytics may result in transfers of personal data (in particular, website and app usage data, device information, and individual IDs) to the United States and other countries where your data may be accessible to authorities that are not subject to adequate data protection regulations. Information on the data protection of Google Analytics can be found here and if you have a Google account, you can find further details on processing by Google here.

Facebook Custom Audiences

Our websites may also use «Facebook Pixel» and similar technologies of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland (“Facebook“). We use these technologies in order to display the Facebook adds created by us only to users of Facebook and of Facebook’s cooperation partners (known as the “audience network”, www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork) who have displayed an interest in us or whose characteristics are consistent with the profile that we have provided to Facebook for this purpose (e.g. interests in particular issues or products that are apparent from the websites visited; “Custom Audiences“). We can also use these technologies to establish the efficacy of Facebook adverts for statistical and market research purposes by establishing whether users have been directed to our website after clicking on a Facebook advert (“conversion tracking”). Further information can be found here.

We and Facebook have the status of controllers in relation to the exchange of data that Facebook collects or receives via pixels or comparable functions for the purpose of displaying advertising information that reflects users’ interests, improving advert presentation and personalizing functions and content (although not any further processing). We have thus concluded a dedicated addendum with Facebook. Users may therefore direct any request for information and any other data subject enquiries in relation to this joint responsibility directly to Facebook.

How do we use social media networks?

We may operate our own profiles on social networks and similar third party platforms (e.g. Facebook fan pages). If you communicate with us via any such profile or comment on or share our content, we shall collect the information concerned and process it in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We are entitled, although are not obliged, to review content either before or after it is published and to erase content without prior notice, where this is technically possible, or to report it to the operator of the platform concerned. In the event of any breach of the rules of etiquette or common standards of behavior, we may also report the user account concerned to the platform operator with a view to obtaining its blocking or closure.

Whenever our social media profiles are visited, data (e.g. concerning your usage) may also be transmitted directly to the provider concerned, or may be collected by it directly and processed along with other data already available to it (e.g. for marketing and market research purposes and for the purpose of personalizing platform content). Where we have the status of joint controllers along with the provider in relation to particular forms of processing, we conclude a dedicated agreement with it; you can obtain details concerning the essential terms of any such agreement from the provider concerned. Further information concerning data processing by the providers of social networks may be found in the privacy policies of the respective social networks.

Amendments to this Cookie Notice

This Cookie Notice may be amended over time, in particular if we change the way in which we process data or if new legal provisions come into force. In general, the version of the Cookie Notice that was in force when the relevant processing began applies to data processing.