Summary
Cookies are pieces of data stored on the user's device to perform a variety of functions. Cookies are primarily intended to improve your web browsing experience, but are often also used to create profiles on your browsing habits.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small files that the web server sends to your browser when visiting a website. They attach themselves to a user’s browser to store information about the user’s interactions with the website. Cookies can be used to store a variety of data, including time spent on a website, what website a user was directed from, what account they are logged into, etc.
Some websites may require cookies in order to provide a proper user experience, while some may use cookies exclusively for user tracking, and usage information gathering.
Different types of cookies.
Session
They track an individual web session and end when the user closes the page or logs out. These are used to track user interaction, storing data like language choice, etc. This way they do not need to be enabled on each page.
Persistent
Like session cookies, but persistent cookies aren’t removed after the browser is closed. They can last weeks, months and years.
Authentication
When a user signs into their account and is authenticated, their login status is stored as a cookie. This is done to ensure no user’s data is accessed by an unauthorized user.
Tracking
They track a user’s activity between websites, allowing websites to share user interaction information. This is primarily used to create user interest and habit profiles.
Zombies
Like the creature they’re named after, these cookies return after being deleted. After the cookie is deleted it will restore itself without your knowledge and track information without your consent.
First-party vs third-party.
First-party cookies are listed under the domain and are associated with that website’s functionality. Features like saving user preferences and what’s in a shopping cart are both first-party. Third-party would be tracking and zombies, that aim to get information about the user so they can sell more products. Not a part of the first-party’s website functionality. However, some third-party cookies like saved live chats and the ability to quickly share an article through social media add functionality. The majority of third-party cookies are used for tracking.
Potential risks.
Too many cookies on a browser do have the capability of slowing down your device, however that would require a very large amount of cookies that have never been cleared. This can easily be fixed by clearing them on your respective browser. Third-party cookies do raise concerns about privacy and how that third-party handles your information. If they do become a problem, browsers do have an option to turn off third-party cookies. Cookies do raise a security concern as they are assigned to an individual’s account. The data first gets sent to the website before the browser, meaning third-party interception is possible. These kinds of attacks are rare and can be mitigated by a VPN (see our blog about VPNs). Computer cookies are generally more helpful than they are harmful.
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