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. <EOS>