Applies to Product - Power Pages
What’s happening?
Customers have inquired about the purpose and implications of certain cookies, specifically "_ga" and "_ga_NUMBER", in Power Pages, as well as general questions regarding Microsoft cookies and their data collection practices.
Reason:
The cookies "_ga" and "_ga_NUMBER" are associated with Google Analytics, which uses them to track user interactions. Microsoft does not ship or use any Google products out of the box that would introduce these cookies. Additionally, there are questions regarding the collection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) by Microsoft cookies and the relevance of Flash cookies and third-party site cookies.
Resolution:
- The "_ga" and "_ga_NUMBER" cookies are from Google Analytics and are not set by Microsoft. They are used to track user interactions.
- It is confirmed that Microsoft cookies do not collect Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
- The cookie selection does not automatically refresh every six months; the cookies used in Power Pages have different lifetimes, primarily tied to session duration or specific time frames (e.g., 90 days).
- Flash cookies, also known as Local Shared Objects (LSOs), are not relevant to Power Pages, which primarily use standard HTTP cookies for session management and authentication.
- Referencing third-party site cookies is relevant, as Power Pages may use cookies set by third parties for various purposes.
- The list included in the draft captures all required Microsoft cookies used by Power Pages. For further details, refer to the document titled "Cookies in Power Pages" which provides a comprehensive table describing the cookies used, their descriptions, and their lifetimes.