When you’re browsing the web, you probably often get a message asking you to “accept all cookies.” So, what are the functions of these internet cookies?
So, what exactly are internet cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of code that website stores in your web browser to keep track of what you do there and other information about you. They do a variety of things to improve your web browsing experience, such as remembering your preferences, what you put in your cart, and where you are located. Advertisers use cookies to track your online activities in order to present you with more relevant ads and offers.
Are cookies good or bad?
In a nutshell, cookies enable businesses and websites to recognize a device and remember it for the next time they see it. This can be both beneficial and harmful, depending on how the information is used. Continue reading to learn the fundamentals.
Types of cookies used on the internet
Cookies on the internet can be delivered by a variety of people. Most websites place multiple cookies on a visitor’s device, but it’s important to understand the differences between them.
The website that you are visiting sends first-party cookies to your device. These are useful because they allow the site to remember your preferences, such as displaying the site in English, and provide you with a more personalized experience. They can also remember what’s in your shopping cart, which comes in handy during the holidays.
Third-party cookies are those that advertisers place on your device and use to track your device after you leave that website and follow you around the internet. They allow advertisers to serve you with ads that are tailored to your interests. Consider a time when you looked at an item on a shopping website, such as a shirt, but didn’t buy it. Then you noticed that shirt in a Facebook or Instagram ad. Advertisers use cookies to recognize your device when you visit other websites and display ads that are relevant to you. If you don’t clear your cookies, they can stay on your device for up to 30 days. Advertisers are adapting to other tracking methods as companies begin to allow users to opt-out of third-party cookies.
A session cookie is another type of internet cookie. When you log into a website, session cookies save your login credentials and are used every time you visit that site. Session cookies are also used by websites to improve site performance, such as page load times.
What kinds of threats do internet cookies pose?
If you use the internet frequently (and almost everyone does these days), you should be aware of the risks that cookies pose so that you can decide when to delete them.
For the most part, the most serious concern is the threat to one’s privacy. It’s usually difficult to figure out exactly what information companies collect with cookies and with whom they share it. Advertisers and data brokers are typically the ones collecting data in this manner.
Cookie fraud is another risk posed by cookies. This involves using cookies to impersonate someone else in order to gain access to their account or to commit a crime in their name. To avoid cookie fraud, stay away from potentially malicious websites and make sure your browser is up to date by installing the latest updates as soon as they become available.
Why do I keep getting messages that say “Accept all cookies?”
You may have noticed that a majority of websites have begun to include a pop-up message asking you to allow them to place cookies on your device in recent years. This is done to comply with data privacy laws, which were enacted to protect users’ personal information and to require businesses to disclose what data they collect and how they use it.
The basic idea behind these laws is that companies must inform internet users about the collection of their data, as well as whether it is shared or sold to other companies, and that they should have the ability to opt-out. Accepting cookies may be preferable if the company is one you trust or if you want a more personalized browsing experience.
Cookies and how to manage them
Now that we’ve gained a better understanding of cookies and how they’re used, we can look at the best ways to manage cookies on your devices, allowing you to better manage your privacy.
You can delete cookies that have already been installed on your device. You can manually clear cookies in most internet browsers’ settings, or you can set it up so that cookies are cleared every time you close your browser. Sometimes you can opt-out of third-party cookies within your browser settings or decide what cookies you want to allow on a particular website by interacting with the cookie banner on the site to prevent cookies from being placed on your device in the first place. You will not be able to opt out of certain cookies that are required for the site’s operation, but you will be able to opt-out of others, such as those used for advertising.
Keep in mind that deleting cookies will result in some inconvenience, such as having to reenter information on websites that will not remember you. On the plus side, you’re less likely to feel like you’re being watched online. Moderation is key, just like with the delicious cookies you might come across this holiday season, so keep those cookies under control too.
If you want to learn even more about Internet cookies, read this blog!
