Cookie policy
May 2020
Last updated on May 2020.
Managing cookies on your device
We use cookies to personalize content and to provide you with an improved user experience. By using this website or application you consent to the deployment of cookies. You can control and manage cookies using your browser (see below). Please note that removing or blocking cookies can impact your user experience and some functionality may no longer be available.
Using your browser to control cookies
Most browsers allow you to view, manage, delete and block cookies for a website. Be aware that if you delete all cookies then any preferences you have set will be lost, including the ability to opt out from cookies, as this function itself requires placement of an opt-out cookie on your device. See the below for guidance on how to control cookies for common browsers.
For information on additional browsers and device types, please see aboutcookies.org or Cookie Central FAQs.
Managing analytics cookies
You can opt out of having your anonymised browsing history within our websites or applications recorded by analytics cookies. We use the following service providers:
- Adobe: Your privacy choices
- Google Analytics: Safeguard your data
- Hotjar: Do Not Track
You can learn more about their privacy policies and how to opt out of their analytics cookies by clicking on the above links.
Types of cookies
| Session | These cookies remain in your browser during yout session only, i.e. until you leave the wesbite | |
| Persistent | These cookies remain in your browser for a set period of time after the session (unless deleted) |
Cookie categories
| Advertising | PwC may present ads to you on websites that are not owned or operated by PwC to promote PwC services, articles or events. These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you and your interests. They also perform functions like preventing the same ad continuously reappearing. These advertisements are solely intended to make you aware of relevant PwC promotions. PwC does not sell your data to any third parties. Read our privacy policy for more information. |
| Customisation | These cookies help us understand the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns and enhance your online experiences with us through customisation |
| Performance | These cookies allow us to gather analytics to improve the performance and functionality of the website. These analytics can include measurements on page views, common patterns of how our users browse the website, and how frequently certain features are used. Data is typically aggregated for review, but in some cases we may collect information on content a user viewed to understand their interests. |
| Strictly necessary | These cookies are fundamental to the functionality of a website and cannot be switched off without blocking site features. They are usually set in response to user actions on the site such as completing forms, setting preferences or logins |
Use of cookies by PwC
The following tables explain the way in which we use cookies on this website. By using this website, you agree that we can place these cookies on your computer / device for the stated purposes.
Advertising cookies
| Provider | Cookie name | Purpose | Global consistency | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| datr | This cookie identifies the browser connecting to Facebook. It is not directly tied to individual Facebook users. Facebook reports that it is used to help with security and suspicious login activity, especially around detection of bots trying to access the service. Facebook also says the behavioural profile associated with each datr cookie is deleted after 10 days. This cookie is also read via Like and other Facebook buttons and tags placed on many different websites | Global (all) | Third party, persitent | ||
| _js_datr, _js_reg_ext_ref, _js_reg_fb_gate | These cookies are used by Facebook as part of their embedded functions on other websites such as likes and shares | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| JSESSIONID | General purpose platform session cookie, used by sites written in JSP. Usually used to maintain an anonymous user session by the server | Global (all) | Third party | Until end of session | |
| lidc | This cookie is used for routing from Share buttons and ad tags | Global (all) | Third party | 1 day | |
| bcookie | This cookie is used by LinkedIn for indentifying the Browser ID. It is set from LinkedIn share buttons and ad tags | Global (all) | Third party | 1 year | |
| bscookie | This cookies is used by LinkedIn to recognize a secure Browser ID | Global (all) | Third party | 1 year | |
| visit | This cookie is used by LinkedIn as part of their embedded functions on other websites | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| auth_token | This cookie is used by Twitter as part of their embedded functions on other websites | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| lang | This cookie is set by Twitter and is used to remember your language preference. PwC allows Twitter to set this cookie so that Twitter content on pwc.com is displayed in your preferred language | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| twll | Global (all) | Third party | |||
| secure_session | Global (all) | Third party | |||
| guest_id | Global (all) | Third party | |||
| remember_checked | Global (all) | Third party | |||
| remember_checked_on | Global (all) | Third party | |||
| YouTube | SID | This cookie is used by Google in combination with HSID to verify a Google user account and most recent login time | Global (all) | Third party | |
| YouTube | HSID | Used by Google in combination with SID to verify Google user account and most recent login time | Global (all) | Third party | |
| YouTube | APISID | This cookie is used by YouTube as part of their embedded functions on other websites | Global (all) | Third party | |
| YouTube | SSID | This cookie is used by YouTube as part of their embedded functions on other websites | Global (all) | Third party | |
| YouTube | PREF | This cookie is used by Google to set a user's preferred language preference | Global (all) | Third party | |
| YouTube | NID | Most Google users will have a preferences cookie called ‘NID’ in their browsers. A browser sends this cookie with requests to Google’s sites. The NID cookie contains a unique ID Google uses to remember your preferences and other information, such as your preferred language (e.g. English), how many search results you wish to have shown per page (e.g. 10 or 20), and whether or not you wish to have Google’s SafeSearch filter turned on | Global (all) | Third party | |
| YouTube | LOGIN_INFO | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| YouTube | SAPISID | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| YouTube | YSC | Global (all) | Third party | ||
| uid | This is intended to be a known identifier for a user provided by the site owner / tracking library user | Common | Third party, persistent | ||
| BizoID | LinkedIn ad analytics | Common | Third party | 6 months | |
| UserMatchHistory | This cookie is used by LinkedIn for advertisement analytics | Common | Third party | 6 months |
Customisation cookies
| Provider | Cookie name | Purpose | Global consistency | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eloqua | ELOQUA | This cookie is set by Eloqua and is used by PwC to track individual visitors and their use of the site. It is set when you first visit the site and updated on subsequent visits | Common | Third party, persistent | 2 years from set / update |
| Eloqua | ELQSTATUS | This cookie is set by Eloqua and is used by PwC to track individual visitors and their use of the site. It is set when you first visit the site and updated on subsequent visits | Common | Third party, persistent | 2 years from set / update |
Performance cookies
| Provider | Cookie name | Purpose | Global consistency | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Analytics | _sdsat_landing_page | Stores the first page you hit when visiting pwc.com | Global (all) | First party, session | Until end of session |
| Adobe Analytics | _sdsat_traffic_source | Stores the site you came from before reaching pwc.com | Global (all) | First party, session | Until end of session |
| Adobe Analytics | _sdsat_pages_viewed | Stores the quantity of pages that are viewed by a user during their visit | Global (all) | First party, session | Until end of session |
| Adobe Analytics | _sdsat_lt_pages_viewed | Stores the total number of pages viewed | Global (all) | First party, persistent | 2 years from set / update |
| Adobe Analytics | _sdsat_session_count | Stores a session counter | Global (all) | First party, persistent | 2 years from set / update |
| Adobe Analytics | s_vi | This cookie stores the visitor ID provided by our analytics provider whenever a user first visits the site | Global (all) | Third party, persistent | 2 years from set / update |
| Adobe Analytics | gpv | This cookie stores the quantity of pages viewed by a user visiting the site | Global (all) | First and third party | 30 minutes from set / update |
| Adobe Analytics | s_nr | This cookie stores the date of a user's visit to the site, and whether or not the visitor is new, or returning | Global (all) | First and third party | 2 years from set / update |
| Adobe Analytics | s_ppv | Stores information on the percentage of the page displayed | Global (all) | First and third party | Until end of session |
| Adobe Analytics | s_fid | This cookie is a "fallback" visitor identifier where the s_vi cookie is for some reason blocked. It contains a randomly generated unique ID | Global (all) | First and third party | 5 years from set / update |
| Adobe Analytics | s_ppvl | Stores information on the percentage of the page displayed | Global (all) | First and third party | Until end of session |
| Adobe Analytics | s_cc | This is a cookie which allows Adobe Analytics to determins whether or not cookies are enabled in the browser | Global (all) | First and third party | Until end of session |
| Adobe Analytics | s_sq | This cookie is set and read by the JavaScript code when the ClickMap functionality and the Activity Map functionality are enabled; it contains information about the previous link that was clicked by the user |
Global (all) | First party | 2 years from set / update |
| Google Analytics | __utma | This is one of the four main cookies set by the Google Analytics service which enables website owners to track visitor behaviour and measure site performance. It it used to calculate new and returning visitor statistics. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. The lifespan of the cookie can be customised by website owners | Global (all) | First and third party | 2 years from set / update |
| Google Analytics | __utmv | Used to store visitor-level custom variable data. This cookie is created when a developer uses the _setCustomVar method with a visitor level custom variable. This cookie was also used for the deprecated _setVar method. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics | Global (all) | Third party | 2 years from set / update |
| Google Analytics | __utmz | Stores the traffic source or campaign that explains how the user reached your site. The cookie is created when the JavaScript library executes and is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics | Global (all) | Third party | 6 months from set / update |
| YouTube | VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | This cookie is used as a unique identifier to track viewing of videos | Global (all) | Third party | |
| Adobe Target | mbox | This cookie gives website operators the ability to test which online content and offers are more relevant to visitors. Click here for more information | Common | First party | 2 weeks |
| Google Analytics | _gat | This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics, according to documentation it is used to throttle the request rate, limiting the collection of data on high-traffic sites. It expires after 10 minutes | Common | First party, session | 1 minute |
| Google Analytics | _gid | This cookie is used to distinguish users. It stores a unique user session identifier | Common | First and third party, session | 24 hours |
| Google Analytics | _ga | This cookie is typically written to the browser upon the first visit. If the cookie has been deleted by the browser operator, and the browser subsequently visits pwc.com, a new _ga cookie is written with a different unique ID. In most cases, this cookie is used to determine unique visitors to pwc.com and it is updated with each page view. Additionally, this cookie is provided with a unique ID that Google Analytics uses to ensure both the validity and accessibility of the cookie as an extra security measure | Common | First and third party, persistent | 2 years |
| Google Analytics | __utmb | This cookie is used to determine new sessions / visits | Common | First party | 30 minutes from set / update |
Hotjar |
_hjIncludedInSample | This session cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that visitor is included in the sample which is used to generate funnels. | Common | Third party | 365 Days |
| Hotjar | _hjShownFeedbackMessage | This cookie is set when a visitor minimizes or completes Incoming Feedback. This is done so that the Incoming Feedback will load as minimized immediately if they navigate to another page where it is set to show. | Common | Third party | 365 Days |
| Hotjar | _hjRecordingLastActivity | This should be found in sessionStorage (as opposed to cookies). This gets updated when a visitor recording starts and when data is sent through the WebSocket (the visitor performs an action that Hotjar records). | Common |
Third party |
Until end of session |
| Hotjar | _hjTLDTest | When the Hotjar script executes we try to determine the most generic cookie path we should use, instead of the page hostname. This is done so that cookies can be shared across subdomains (where applicable). To determine this, we try to store the _hjTLDTest cookie for different URL substring alternatives until it fails. After this check, the cookie is removed. | Common |
Third party |
Until end of session |
| Hotjar | _hjUserAttributesHash | User Attributes sent through the Hotjar Identify API are cached for the duration of the session in order to know when an attribute has changed and needs to be updated. | Common |
Third party |
Until end of session |
| Hotjar | _hjCachedUserAttributes | This cookie stores User Attributes which are sent through the Hotjar Identify API, whenever the user is not in the sample. These attributes will only be saved if the user interacts with a Hotjar Feedback tool. |
Common |
Third party |
Until end of session |
| Hotjar | _hjLocalStorageTest | This cookie is used to check if the Hotjar Tracking Script can use local storage. If it can, a value of 1 is set in this cookie. The data stored in_hjLocalStorageTest has no expiration time, but it is deleted immediately after creating it so the expected storage time is under 100ms. | Common |
Third party |
N/A |
Strictly necessary cookies
| Provider | Cookie name | Purpose | Global consistency | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PwC | pwc-id | This cookie contains the encrypted email ID of the user. It is used to identify the registered user account (if available) for each request | Global (user registration) | First party, persistent | 1 day or 30 days (if “Remember me” is checked) |
| PwC | firsttime-login | This cookie is used by PwC during the registration process to ensure that any necessary password updates are completed | Global (user registration) | First party | Until password update is completed |
| PwC | pwc-overlay | This cookie is used by PwC to make sure that the overlay (registration panel) opens once per browser session | Global (user registration) | First party | Until the end of the browser session |
| Load balancer | BIGipServerPOOL-69.20.11.37-Dispatch | This cookie is set by the servers hosting PwC sites to allow a visitor to receive site content from one out of multiple servers as the visitor browses the site. This improves performance and allows the visitor’s session to be maintained | Global (all) | First party, persistent | Until end of session |
| PwC | pwc_closed_topics | This cookies is used by PwC to help personalize the content a user sees based on topics in which they've identified their interest | Global (all) | First party | Until the end of the browser session |
| PwC | pwc-cookie-accept | This cookie stores a "true" value when a user clicks on "I understand" in the cookie notification banner | Global (all) | First party | Until the end of the browser session |
| PwC | pwc_int_usr | This cookie is used by PwC to distinguish internal users from external visitors to the site. It is set when a person is accessing the website from within the PwC network (VPN or office) | Global (all) | First party | 3 months |
Retired cookies
No longer in use, but may be present for returning visitors. These cookies can be deleted.
Provider |
Cookie name |
Purpose |
Type |
Duration |
|
Webtrends |
PWC_WOD |
Visitor Identification sessions set by the tag server. Visitor ID based on IP address. The cookie records site ID, time of last access, time of start of visit and account ID. It was a performance cookie |
First party, persistent |
10 years |
|
Webtrends |
ACOOKIE |
Visitor Identification set by JavaScript. The cookie records visitor ID, time of last access and time of start of visit. It was a performance cookie |
First party, persistent |
2 years |
|
SumoMe |
__smVID |
This cookie is a chat session ID cookie used to allow the user to pick up where they left off in chat, upon return to the site |
Common |
Third party |
Until end of session |
SumoMe |
__smToken |
This cookie is set once the user logs in, and is checked to verify if they are logged in or not |
Common |
Third party |
Until end of session |
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