Browser Cookies and Online Privacy

What are browser cookies and how to they effect your online privacy?

What Are Browser Cookies

When we first stumbled upon the internet and saw the word cookies, we had no real clue as to what they were talking about. Was someone offering you a warm chocolate chip cookie or was this some sort of trick? While browser cookies are nothing like the chewy chocolate chip cookies you really want, they are important to understand, particularly as an internet user.

Who Wants To Give Me Cookies?

You may have noticed during your internet travels that some websites want to give you cookies and others do not. Who is that wants to give you cookies? Well, typically these are websites that need some form of information from you, this might include your purchase information, user name and password, visit information, and so on. If a website does not apply any of these types of items, they will not offer you a cookie.

What Is A Browser Cookie?

A browser cookie is a script. This script is designed to store your information and retrieve it upon request, from your computer. There are several different types of cookies. For instance, one website may only have the need for your information one time, after which the cookie expires when you close the browser and that is that. Other types of cookies are those that stick to your computer and does not go away until it expires, you lack space, or you delete it.

To Accept or Not To Accept That Is The Question

Should you accept a cookie? Well, your mom always told you not to take sweets from strangers, but in some cases it can be a big help to accept browser cookies. It can make filling out forms extremely easy, they can remember your user name and password, preventing you from having to enter all of this information again, and it can keep your login active so you can return to any site with ease.

The key thing to remember about cookies however is that they are designed to get your information. The information can vary, depending on the site, this might include information such as an IP address, where you are coming from, where you are going, and what browser type you are currently using. Before accepting any cookies, make sure that you trust the website and you have a clear understanding of their privacy policies and conditions.

You want to avoid malicious cookies, which have the sole purpose of being spyware and tracks your interests in shopping, how you use the internet, and other activities you perform online. Be very choosy about the cookies you accept and the websites you accept them from.

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