LAST REVISED: AUGUST 22, 2017
We and our approved partners use cookies and similar technologies on our websites, services, applications, tools and electronic communications (collectively referred to as our “sites and services”) that automatically receive and track certain data about your device and interaction with our sites and services. You can read more here about the types of cookies and similar technologies we use, why we use them, and how you can exercise your choices.
Overview of Cookies and Similar Technologies
“Cookies” are small text files that are stored on your browser or device by websites. There are different types of cookies. Cookies served by the entity that operates the website or app you are visiting or using are called “first-party cookies” (for example, cookies served by Bentley while you are using our sites and services are first-party cookies). Cookies served by companies that are not operating the website or app you are visiting or using are called “third-party cookies” (for example, we may allow an analytics partner to set a cookie on your computer via our website while you visit our website, and that would be a third-party cookie). Cookies may also endure for different periods of time. “Session cookies” only last as long as your browser or app is open. These are deleted automatically once you close your browser or app. Other cookies are “persistent cookies” meaning that they survive after your browser or app is closed (for example, they may recognize your computer when you re-open our sites and services).
“Pixel tags” (also called Web beacons, clear GIFs or action tags) are small blocks of code installed on (or called by) a webpage, app or advertisement, which can retrieve certain information about your device and browser, including device type, operating system, browser type and version, website visited, time of visit, referring website, IP address, and other similar information (including the small text file (the cookie) that uniquely identifies the device). Pixels provide the means by which third parties can set and read browser cookies from a domain that they do not themselves operate and collect information about visitors to that domain, typically with the permission of the domain owner. “Software Development Kits” (also called SDKs) function like pixels and cookies, but operate in the mobile app context where pixels and cookies cannot always function. The primary app developer can install pieces of code (the SDK) from partners in the app, and thereby allow the partner to collect certain information about user interaction with the app, information about the user device and network information.
“Local storage” refers generally to other places on a browser or device where information can be stored by websites, ads or third parties (such as HTML5 local storage, Flash cookie storage and browser cache).
In this statement, these and similar technologies are collectively referred to as “cookies and similar technologies.”
Types and Purposes of Cookies and Similar Technologies
These cookies and similar technologies receive and track certain data about your device (such as your device type, operating system, device IP address, mobile network carrier, and anonymous device and advertising identifiers) and interaction with our sites and services (such as access dates and times, features or pages viewed, advertisements and ad features viewed, and approximate location based on your IP address).
If you have provided us with any information that may identify you (for example, through a registration or a request for certain materials), we may associate this identifiable information with information gathered through these cookies and similar technologies. This allows us to offer increased personalization and functionality.
The following table sets out the different categories of cookies and similar technologies that our sites and services use and why we use them.
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Purpose
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Operationally Necessary
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These cookies and similar technologies are necessary to the operation of our sites and services. This includes technologies that (i) allow you access to our sites and services, (ii) are required to identify irregular behavior on our sites and services, prevent fraudulent activity and improve security, or (iii) that allow you to make use of our functions such as shopping carts or similar functions.
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Functionality
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These first- and third-party cookies and similar technologies allow us to offer you enhanced functionality when accessing or using our sites and services. This may include identifying you when you sign into our sites and services or keeping track of your specified preferences, interests, or past items viewed or utilized so that we may enhance the presentation of content on our sites and services. These cookies and similar technologies also help us provide you and others with social plug-ins (for example, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn) and other customized content and experiences.
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Performance, Analytics and Research
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These first- and third-party cookies and similar technologies allow us to assess, improve and research the performance and use of our sites and services, uncover and resolve issues with our sites and services, better understand the interests of people who interact with our sites and services, and track advertisement campaign performance and efficiency. This includes our analytics activities that help us understand how our visitors use our sites and services, determine if you have interacted with our messaging or ads or whether you have viewed an advertisement or link, or to improve the content of our sites and services.
For example, our websites may use the following third-party analytics tools:
- Mouseflow. Tracks and records how users arrive at, navigate, interact with and leave our sites and services, including site clicks, mouse movement, scrolls and forms, partial IP address and general location, browser type, referring/exit pages and URLs, and other de-identified metadata ("website interaction data"). To do this, we embed Mouseflow computer code into our sites and services that allows cookies and similar technologies to collect and record website interaction data from site visitors. In addition, certain website interaction data is automatically reported by your browser or mobile application each time you access our website, such as your Web request, IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages and URLs, number of clicks, domain names, landing pages, pages viewed and other such information. The website interaction data is then sent to Mouseflow's servers in the United States where it is analyzed, used to create de-identified reports about the use of our sites and services, and made available to Bentley for the limited purposes described above. We do not link website interaction data to personally identifiable information. However, if you don’t want Mouseflow to track your interaction with our sites and services, you can opt-out here.
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ShareThis. To do research regarding the results of our advertising campaigns or to better understand the interests and activities of users who share information through or from our sites and services (for example, when you share information from our sites and services on Facebook or via e-mail). More information on ShareThis can be found here. If you would like to opt-out of having your data used by ShareThis for these purposes, please visit the ShareThis opt-out page here.
- Google Analytics. A Web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to analyze use patterns and may collect information about your use of our sites and services. More information on Google Analytics can be found here. If you would like to opt-out of having your data used by these cookies and similar technologies, please use the Google Analytics opt-out available here.
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Adobe Analytics provided by Adobe Systems Inc. (“Adobe”). Adobe Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to create reports about the use of our sites and services, such as which links are used the most, how users are finding sites and services, and whether our sites and services are running efficiently. If you would like to opt-out of having your data used by these cookies and similar technologies, please visit the Adobe Analytics opt-out site here.
- AdRoll. Uses cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to serve you relevant advertisement services that may interest you. The AdRoll Privacy Policy explains how their cookies and similar technologies work, and gives you the option to adjust or opt-out of having your data used by these cookies and similar technologies.
- LinkedIn Ads Services. Uses cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to serve you relevant advertisement services that may interest you. The LinkedIn Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explains how their cookies and similar technologies work and gives you the option to adjust or opt-out of having your data used by these cookies and similar technologies.
- The Trade Desk. Uses cookies and similar technologies to analyze use patterns and may collect information about your use of our sites and services and other sites and services. This information is then passed back to the Trade Desk so they are able to serve you more relevant ads. The Trade Desk only collects information on the sites that you browse. The Trade Desk’s Privacy Policy explains how their cookies and similar technologies work and gives you the option to adjust or opt-out of having your data used by these cookies and similar technologies.
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Advertising and Targeting
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These first- and third-party cookies and similar technologies are used to deliver relevant ads. For example, we and our approved ad partners may rely on information gleaned through these cookies and similar technologies to serve you ads that may be interesting to you on other websites and apps. Similarly, our partners may use a cookie or other technology to group users that share a common interest into audience segments and to deliver advertisements and offers that may be of interest to users within a given segment. One way we do so is by allowing network advertising companies with whom we work to place their own cookies when an individual visits our sites and services. This enables the network advertising company to recognize individuals who have previously visited our sites and services. When the individual visits a third-party website on which that network advertising company has purchased ad space, the advertising company can then recognize the individual’s interest in our products and services and deliver one of our advertisements.
For example, some of our sites and services may use ShareThis to group users that share a common interest into audience segments, to match advertisements that may be of interest to our users that fall within those segments, and to help advertisers, ad networks, and publishers (like us) deliver advertisements and offers that may be of interest to users within a given segment. More information on ShareThis can be found here. If you would like to opt-out of having your data used by ShareThis for advertising and targeting purposes, please visit the ShareThis opt-out page here.
Some of our websites and applications may also use Google’s Remarketing with Google Analytics to allow Google to use data about your visits to our sites and services and other websites in order to measure advertising effectiveness and to provide advertisements about our goods and services that may be of interest to you. Google places its own cookies when an individual visits our sites and services that enable Google to recognize individuals who have previously visited our sites and services. When the individual visits a third-party website on which Google has ad space, Google can then recognize the individual’s interest in our products and services and deliver one of our advertisements. If you would like to opt-out of having your data used by these cookies, please use the Google Analytics opt-out available here.
Similarly, some of our sites and services may use Facebook Custom Audiences to provide advertisements about our goods and services that may be of interest to you on Facebook. If you would like to opt-out of having your data used by these cookies, please use the opt-out available here.
For more information about interest-based ads, or to opt out of having your web-browsing information used for targeting and behavioral advertising purposes by those network advertising companies that honor such requests, please visit: www.aboutads.info/choices (if you are in the United States) or http://youronlinechoices.eu/ (if you are in Europe).
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Your Choices
Most Web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. However, in addition to the specific opt-out mechanisms described above, you can typically choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. To do so, please follow the instructions provided by your browser, which are usually located within the "Help" or “Preferences” menu. Removing or rejecting browser cookies does not necessarily affect third-party Flash cookies (see “Local storage” above) which may be used by us or our partners in connection with our sites and services. To delete or disable Flash cookies, please visit this site for more information. For further information about cookies and similar technologies, including how to see what cookies have been set on your device and how to manage and delete them, you can visit www.allaboutcookies.org and www.youronlinechoices.eu.
Web Browser Do Not Track (DNT) Headers
Some Web browsers may transmit “do-not-track” signals to websites with which the browser communicates. Our sites and services do not currently respond to these “do-not-track” signals.