What is the uvc cookie?
The uvc cookie belongs to AddThis, a service best known for its social sharing widgets and website traffic analytics tools, previously embedded on many websites worldwide.
The cookie appears in a visitor's browser when a site loads the AddThis script, typically alongside a share widget or an associated content-recommendation/analytics module. It is set on the .addthis.com domain, meaning it functions as a third-party cookie rather than one belonging to the visited site itself.
What data it stores
The uvc cookie typically stores a unique identifier tied to the visitor's browser, used to recognize the same user across repeat visits to different sites running AddThis. The exact value format is not publicly documented in detail by the provider and may vary.
Data collected via this identifier is sent to AddThis servers (the .addthis.com domain), where it may be aggregated with information about other sites visited to build behavioral profiles.
What it is used for
For AddThis, the uvc cookie helps build a cross-site behavioral profile of the user, useful for audience segmentation, measuring the effectiveness of share widgets, and potentially serving targeted ads across its partner network.
For the site owner, the direct value is limited — the main benefit comes from social sharing statistics or content recommendations provided by AddThis, rather than data the site controls directly.
Does it require consent?
As a cross-site tracking cookie used for marketing/advertising purposes, uvc requires the visitor's prior consent under the ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC, transposed in Romania via Law 506/2004) and GDPR principles on personal data processing.
- Site owners must disclose this cookie in their cookie policy, under the marketing/advertising category.
- The AddThis script must not load before the visitor gives explicit consent.
- Refusing consent must not block access to the site's core content.
How to block or delete uvc
Visitors can delete the uvc cookie via browser settings (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — per-site cookie management) or block third-party cookies generally through browser privacy settings.
For site owners, correct blocking means preventing the AddThis script from loading until consent is obtained. A CMP like CookieFix can automatically block such marketing scripts until the visitor gives consent, preventing uvc-type cookies from being set prematurely.
Frequently asked questions
It is not malicious, but it is a tracking cookie used for cross-site behavioral profiling, which raises privacy concerns if set without consent.
It is set by AddThis, a social sharing and analytics widget service, on the .addthis.com domain, functioning as a third-party cookie.
Its typical duration is about 13 months from when it's set, after which it expires automatically unless renewed by a new visit.
Yes, since it is classified as a marketing/tracking cookie, it requires the visitor's prior consent under Law 506/2004 and GDPR.