A computer browser cookie is a reference file with text based information. Web browsing can be personalized by the use of cookies, and they also enable quicker access to some websites. When a website is visited, browser cookies may be placed on the computer to identify the number of visits to the site, searches and purchases on the site.
Session Computer Browser Cookies
A session browser cookie can be stored in the web browser and deleted when the browser shuts down. Session cookies are used in shopping websites and keep track of things like what's in the shopping cart and the compare products features. These browser cookies let the user move from page to page without the need to repeatedly sign in.
Permanent Computer Browser Cookies
Permanent browser cookies are saved to the hard drive until they expire. Unlike session browser cookies, they are not deleted when the browser is shut down. They are used to profile internet users by surfing behavior within the website, and help the site manager monitor the performance of that website.
These browser cookies can only be read by the company that places the cookies on the computer.
Third Party Computer Browser Cookies
Banner ads and ads targeted to a user’s location and interest are the result of third-party cookies. Web sites give permission to companies to put these browser cookies on computers and that third party company can determine user interest by tracking the web surfer through browser activity.
If the marketing company has rights on hundreds of popular sites, browsing habits can be tracked over all of these sites for years, eventually providing enough data to identify a user’s politics, income, gender or any other information that is purposely or inadvertently provided.
Information Security and Computer Privacy
When surfing the internet, the Web server receives the IP address, web browser, the link used to access the page and the computer operating system without the aid of cookies.
Because a cookie can only be read by the company that places it, information security only becomes an issue if someone else gains access to the computer, or the website itself is hacked. Computer browser cookies cannot get any information stored on the computer that was not provided by the user to the website that placed the cookie. Browser cookies are not used to deliver viruses to a computer. As a browser cookie is a text file, there is no executable code in a cookie accepted by the computer.
On the other hand, cookies can send additional information to a website, such as a history log of web sites the user has visited.
Controlling Computer Browser Cookies
The computer user has control over the browser cookies placed on the system. Options include deleting browser cookies from the computer, adjusting the browser settings to delete cookies when exiting the browser, prompting before allowing cookies and blocking all third-party cookies.
The individual internet user must determine the balance of convenience and computer privacy. Some websites may not load properly is cookies are disabled.
Sources:
University of Wisconsin: Web Browser Cookies
State of Texas: Cyber Security Tips
Patrice Campbell - Patrice Campbell is a freelance writer working from the Denver, CO area. As an experienced news reporter and lifestyle writer, Patrice ...
Join the Conversation