Cookie Policy





What are cookies, and why does MyHeritage use them?

Cookies are text files, containing small amounts of information, that are downloaded to your browsing device (such as a computer, mobile device or smartphone) when you visit some websites, including our website. Cookies help websites know if the browsing device has visited them previously and help improve the functionality of the services provided on the website. For example, every time you visit such a site you can be logged in automatically, and the website will remember your preferences. Some cookies are associated with your account and personal information (as defined in our Privacy Policy, located at https://www.myheritage.de/privacy-policy), while others are not. Both first-party cookies and third-party cookies (described below) can serve a number of different functions, such as tracking, marketing and directed advertising. In addition to using cookies we may also use other automated means of data collection similar to cookies, such as “clear gifs”, flash cookies and pixels, and when we refer to cookies in this Cookie Policy we’re referring to cookies and such other automated means.

What are the different types of cookies?

MyHeritage uses both “first-party cookies” and “third-party cookies”. First-party cookies are cookies that belong to MyHeritage, whereas third-party cookies are cookies that another party places on your browsing device through our website. Third-party cookies will generally be providing a service to MyHeritage, but we cannot control how those third-party cookies are used. You should check the third party’s website for more information on how they use cookies. In addition, please note that the parties that set third-party cookies can recognize your computer both when it visits our website and when it visits certain other websites or mobile applications.

In addition, MyHeritage may use both “sessions cookies” and “persistent cookies”. Session cookies are only stored on your device during a single browsing session to the site and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your device until they are set to expire or until you or your browser delete the cookies.

For these purposes, MyHeritage may use the following categories of cookies on our website:

  • Mandatory cookies, which enable you to move around this site and use its features. Without these cookies, services that are necessary for you to be able to use our website, such as ensuring that you stay logged on or remembering what is in your shopping basket, cannot be provided; and


  • Tracking and Advertising cookies, some of which are used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They are usually placed by advertising networks with our permission, which means that if you cease to use our services you may see some advertisements about our services elsewhere on the Internet. In addition, some of these cookies collect information about how visitors use the website, such as which pages visitors go to most often and if they receive error messages from web pages.


How to manage your cookie preferences?

To manage your cookie preferences, visit the “My cookie preferences” tab by going to “Settings” – “Privacy” – “My cookie preferences”. On the “My cookie preferences” page you can disable tracking and advertising cookies, but you may experience some loss of function in the services we provide. Please note, that we provide some third-party services (such as Facebook like buttons on our blog and embedded Vimeo videos) that place their own cookies on your browser, and such services can only be used if their cookies are not disabled. As a result, the specific cookies cannot be disabled.

How to manage cookies via your browser settings?

First-party cookies

You can use the browser that you are using to view the website to enable, disable or delete cookies. To do this, follow the instructions provided by your browser (usually located within the “Help”, “Tools” or “Edit” settings). Please note that if you set your browser to disable cookies entirely you will not be able to access secure areas of this website and may experience some loss of function in the services we provide.

Many browser manufacturers provide helpful information about cookie management, including, but not limited to:



Third-Party Cookies

Cookies that are placed on your browsing device by a third party can be managed through your browser (as described above) or by checking the third party’s website for more information about cookie management and how to “opt-out” of receiving cookies from them.

How to opt-out of interest-based advertising?

If you would like more information about cookies and targeted advertisements or to opt out of having this information used by companies that are part of the Network Advertising Initiative, please visit www.networkadvertising.org/choices. We adhere to the Self-Regulatory Principles established by the Digital Advertising Alliance.

Will this Cookie Policy be amended?

We reserve the right to amend this Cookie Policy from time to time. If we do, we will notify you via email or by other appropriate means

If you have any questions regarding MyHeritage’s policy on cookies, you can contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@myheritage.com.

Last modified: October 10, 2018