A method of operating an intermediary server to provide content from a content source to a user device in a communications network, the method comprising; receiving a request, from the user device, for content stored at a content source; determining whether user device setting information is available to the intermediary server; if user device setting information is unavailable to the intermediary server, sending to the user device a request for user device setting information; receiving user device setting information from the user device in response to the request for user device setting information; storing the user device setting information for use in at least a current user session of the user device; causing a request to be sent to the content source for the content requested by the user device; receiving the content from the content source; applying the user device setting information to the content; sending the content, having had the user device setting information applied thereto, to the user device; and causing the device setting information to be sent to the user device, such that it is retrievable from the user device by the intermediary server for use by the intermediary server in providing content from a content source to the user device in a subsequent user session of the user device; wherein the user device setting information is stored for a time period which comprises: a duration of a network session of the user device; and a protection period following termination of the network session of the user device; wherein the protection period is shorter than a session identifier recycling period representative of a timeframe after which a session identifier for the device is released and available for user for another device. receiving a request, from the user device, for content stored at a content source; determining whether user device setting information is available to the intermediary server; if user device setting information is unavailable to the intermediary server, sending to the user device a request for user device setting information; receiving user device setting information from the user device in response to the request for user device setting information; storing the user device setting information for use in at least a current user session of the user device; causing a request to be sent to the content source for the content requested by the user device; receiving the content from the content source; applying the user device setting information to the content; sending the content, having had the user device setting information applied thereto, to the user device; and causing the device setting information to be sent to the user device, such that it is retrievable from the user device by the intermediary server for use by the intermediary server in providing content from a content source to the user device in a subsequent user session of the user device; wherein the user device setting information is stored for a time period which comprises: a duration of a network session of the user device; and a protection period following termination of the network session of the user device; wherein the protection period is shorter than a session identifier recycling period representative of a timeframe after which a session identifier for the device is released and available for user for another device. a duration of a network session of the user device; and a protection period following termination of the network session of the user device; wherein the protection period is shorter than a session identifier recycling period representative of a timeframe after which a session identifier for the device is released and available for user for another device.