Cookies
Internet cookies are small text files containing data like usernames and passwords that help identify your computer on a network. These cookies are used to recognize specific users and enhance their browsing experience. When you connect to a server, it creates this data, assigns it a unique ID, and sends it to your browser. The server reads this ID when you interact, allowing it to provide personalized information.
Due to laws like the EU’s GDPR and California’s CCPA, many websites must now request your consent to use cookies and inform you about their intended use.
There are two main types of cookies: magic cookies and HTTP cookies. Magic cookies, an older concept, involve data packets sent and received without alterations, typically used in database logins. HTTP cookies, inspired by magic cookies and developed in 1994 by Lou Montulli, are designed for modern web browsing and can be exploited by cybercriminals to track your online activities.
HTTP cookies are specifically used by web browsers to track, customize, and save information about your browsing session. A session refers to the time you spend on a website. When you visit a site, the server sends identifying information in the form of cookies to your browser. This data is stored locally, enabling the site to recognize you when you return and recall your previous session’s data.
To simplify, cookies function like a coat check system: you hand over your “coat” (data) to the website, receive a “ticket” (cookie) with a unique ID, and can use that ticket to retrieve your data when you revisit the site.
Cookies serve various purposes, such as managing sessions (remembering logins), personalizing experiences (targeted ads), and tracking user behavior (e.g., keeping items in a shopping cart). While cookies benefit users, they also help websites save server resources by storing data locally.
In summary, cookies are essential for session management, personalization, and tracking, making them a vital component of the modern internet experience.
There are two primary types of HTTP cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies.
Session Cookies
Session cookies are temporary and used only while you are navigating a website. They are stored in random access memory (RAM) and are never written to your hard drive. Once the session ends, these cookies are automatically deleted. They also play a role in enabling your browser’s “back” button.
Persistent cookies
Persistent cookies, on the other hand, remain on your device even after the session ends, although they often come with an expiration date after which they are deleted. They serve two main purposes:
- Authentication: These cookies track whether a user is logged in and under what username, making it easier to log in without needing to remember passwords.
- Tracking: These cookies monitor repeated visits to a website, tracking the pages you view and building a profile based on your browsing history. This information is often used by online stores to suggest products based on what you’ve previously viewed.
First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies
HTTP cookies can also be classified as first-party or third-party cookies:
- First-party cookies are created by the website you are currently visiting. They are generally safer, provided that the website is secure and has not experienced a data breach.
- Third-party cookies are generated by websites other than the one you’re currently visiting, typically because they’re linked to advertisements on the page. These cookies allow advertisers and analytics companies to track your activity across multiple sites. Due to new data privacy laws, users can now opt out of third-party cookies in many regions. In fact, many browsers are already phasing them out, and Google plans to end third-party cookies in Chrome by 2024.
Zombie cookies
Zombie cookies are a type of persistent, third-party cookie that can reinstall themselves even after deletion. Also known as flash cookies or supercookies, they are difficult to remove and are often used by web analytics firms to track browsing habits or by hackers to spread malware.
Essential cookies
Essential cookies are first-party session cookies necessary for a website’s basic functionality, like remembering your login credentials. These are often the cookies you’re asked to accept when first visiting a website.
Enabling and Removing Cookies
Some cookies are optional, and you can control which ones are stored on your device. When you visit a website, you’re often given the choice to enable or disable third-party cookies.
To enable cookies:
- Navigate to your browser’s Settings or Privacy section.
- Check the boxes to allow cookies (sometimes labeled as “local data”).
If you choose not to allow cookies, simply uncheck these options.
Removing cookies
Removing cookies can enhance your privacy by resetting tracking and personalization settings. However, it may make certain websites more difficult to navigate, requiring you to re-enter your data each time. The process for deleting cookies varies by browser, but generally involves accessing the Settings or Privacy section under Tools, Internet Options, or Advanced settings.
For more persistent tracking cookies or those created by hackers, you may need premium protection tools. Additionally, using a VPN can help anonymize your browsing, as cookies will be tied to a remote server instead of your local device.
Regardless of how you choose to manage cookies, it’s advisable to clean them regularly to maintain your privacy.
Cookies
The Website uses cookies. Cookies are small files stored on your computer’s hard drive which are used to collect your personal information. You may choose to refuse cookies but, if you do so, some of the functionality of the Website or Online Courses may no longer be available to you.
For more information about cookies, including further details as to what they are and how to refuse them, please see our Cookies Policy.
Contact details:
DataMigration.AI (brand of Towards AGI)
Aphrodite Court,
15 Dolis Valley Drive,
Barnet, England, EN5 2GH
E-mail: support@datamigration.ai