Cookies are very small text files that are placed on your computer by a web server that you visit, for example, to view some web pages on the internet.
We mention some reasons why not all websites serve cookies.
They are used to store data about you and your preferences so that the server does not have to repeatedly request the specific information, which may slow down the loading time of the page you are interested in.
Cookies are commonly used to store registration data, such as your name, address, the contents of a shopping cart, the preferred layout you use on a website, and so on.
Thus, cookies make it easier for web servers to respond to your specific needs and preferences when you visit a page.
Why are they called cookies?
There are different versions. Some believe that cookies got their name from the “magic cookies” that are part of the UNIX operating system. Others believe that the name comes from the story of Hansel and Gretel, who managed to leave their tracks in the forest, scattering cookie crumbs behind them.
Are cookies dangerous?
The simplest answer is that cookies, by themselves, are completely harmless. However, some websites and search engines use them to track users as they browse the web, collecting highly personal information. This information can be secretly transferred to other websites without permission or warning to the end user. This is why we often hear about cookies in the tech news.
Can cookies be used to spy on me?
Cookies are simple text files. They cannot run programs or perform any tasks. They cannot be used to view data on your hard drive or to record other information from your computer.
Additionally, cookies can only “communicate” with the server that sent them. This makes it impossible for another web server to reach cookies set by other servers and grab your sensitive personal information.
Why are cookies on the Internet controversial?
Although cookies can only be retrieved from the server that served them, many online advertising companies serve cookies that contain a unique user identifier in advertisements. Many of the largest advertising companies advertise their products on thousands of different websites. So they can access cookies from all of those websites.
Result? Although the website displaying the ad cannot track your path through the web, the advertising company serving millions of ads can.
Sounds familiar, right? But tracking your progress online isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When tracking is used on a website, the data collected can help owners modify the appearance of the page, improve popular areas, and eliminate or redesign “dead ends” for a more efficient end-user experience.
For example, by tracking the visits a website receives, it can be shown which area or page is of most interest to visitors. This way, the owner can better understand what attracts visitors, which can be used in other parts of the site.
Thus, tracking data can be used to give users and website owners more targeted information or make recommendations for purchases, content, or services to end users, a feature that many appreciate.
Should I disable cookies on my computer?
It's a question that has different answers depending on how you use the web.
If you visit websites that customize your experience with cookies, you probably won't be able to see much if you turn them off. Many websites use these simple text files to make your session as personalized and efficient as possible. Simply so you don't have to enter the same information every time you visit.
If you disable cookies in your web browser, the server will not “remember” you and thus will have to be given the same information constantly.
Modern browsers can implement a partial cookie opt-out, with settings that offer a high level of sensitivity. This will give you a warning every time a page “serves” you a cookie. This allows you to accept or reject cookies on a per-site basis, if it doesn’t get on your nerves.
Before you proceed with a partial ban, consider that it will force you to spend more time accepting or rejecting cookies.
Remember: cookies do not harm your computer or your web browsing experience.
Those who can do harm are advertisers and perhaps hackers who can gain access to the sensitive data stored in your cookies.
Cookies: Epilogue
Cookies are small text files containing small amounts of data, and were originally designed to make life easier for users on the Web.
Popular services (and not only), such as Amazon, Google and Facebook, use them to offer highly customizable websites, which provide users with specific content.
Unfortunately, some websites and online advertisers have found other uses for cookies. They can and do collect sensitive personal information that can be used to create user profiles.
Cookies offer advantages that make browsing the Web very convenient. However, their unauthorized use by third parties can harm your privacy.
