Like most of us, if you too have been used to web surfing, you would have definitely come across the term cookies. Almost all latest websites show a pop-up message asking you to accept cookie usage or inform that the website uses cookies.
So, before you accept or reject cookies, understanding what they are may come in handy when you are trying to be mindful about your internet activity as well.
What Is A Cookie And How Does It Work?
Cookies are simple name-value pairs that store small pieces of information on your computer memory, which are later retrieved by the concerned website for various purposes. Cookies are stored through your browser application and can thus be used to collect and store information regarding the browser client and the user session details that can be later used to personalize the website services better.
A browser cookie is a relatively small file with sizes not more than 4 kb at most. Cookies can contain information like browser information, session details, and visitor navigation and behavior details.
For instance, consider this scenario. You visit a gambling platform and start a registration process. As you try to fill the second page, you leave the site and go on to do some other work. When you revisit the site again, the site will redirect you to the point in the form from where you can resume the registration process instead of starting all over again. This is made possible by using cookies that can store the session details and identify the browser client on further visits to enhance the user experience.
Cookies are extremely useful for enhancing user experience and website accessibility, especially when the user does not create a personal account with the website.
Here are some more example uses of browser cookies:
- Website authentication details like unique session identifiers can help sites remember login information from previous sessions.
- Shopping cart details of items previously added to the cart.
- Remarketing and ad-related information helps sites and ad networks display ads based on the pages you visited earlier.
- Theme personalization functions like product suggestions, resuming an activity like reading a book from the last read page, resuming video playbacks, and so on.
Types of Cookies
While used in many variations, cookies can be classified as either Session Cookies or Persistent Cookies.
Session Cookies are deleted once the user leaves the site and are used throughout the user season to provide better navigation across the site. These are never stored on the hard drive and are automatically deleted.
Persistent cookies are the ones that get stored into the hard drive and persist even after the session is over. If they come with an expiration date, they will be trashed on expiry. Otherwise, they will remain on the system and can be used for remembering login info and tracking purposes.
Cookies And Privacy Concerns
Cookies are an essential part of most modern websites, and some websites may not function properly without the use of cookies. But as with all good things, cookies too can be exploited and used to intervene with the personal privacy of an internet user.
But let us first clear the common misconception around cookies. Cookies are not programs, malware, or spyware that can infect your computer systems. They are simply pieces of information of very small size that barely make any dent in your total memory space.
But the actual concern with cookies is if hackers hijack them, they can be misused to gather your browsing history and track your internet behavior. This can be a serious privacy concern, especially when cookies contain personal and financial data. The level of threat from a cookie can vary depending on the source of the cookies.
- First party cookies are fairly safer as these come from the websites you visit, and you have an idea of what data they collect.
- Third-party cookies are riskier as they are generated by third-party ads placed on the websites you visit. They track the user’s browsing history without explicit permissions and can be troubling when misused.
- There is another class of third-party cookies called the zombie cookies that get stored on your systems even when you opt-out of those cookies. They may even exist after deletion and can be problematic to your privacy.
Tips To Manage Cookies
Most cookies are generally safe and help make your browsing experience feel smooth and easier. But if you are too concerned about their usage, you can always manage them through your browser settings and opt-out of cookies. All browsers allow you to manually clear cookies either selectively or manually. You can also make use of added plugins to take care of cookies.
If you never want to allow browser cookies, you can try browsing in incognito mode. Using incognito mode will make sure no cookies are stored on your hard drive, and all session-related details are deleted once you exit the browser.
There are legal compliances like the GDPR that regulate internet privacy, including cookie usage. You can prefer to use only such reputable sites compliant with such policies to ensure your privacy is protected.
The Wrap Up
So, this was a brief insight into how cookies work. As you can see, cookies enhance the user experience, but they come with their own security concerns. It is important to manage cookies well to ensure a flawless browsing experience.
What are your views on this? Let us know in the comments below.