When you are surfing the Internet, you often meet the term “cookie”. Many websites inform you about their use and ask you for permission to use them. Web browsers have many settings for managing cookies, and there are even browser extensions that can block cookies. Even if you know that these cookies are not cookies, you may not know what they really are and what their role is on the Internet. That is why, in this article, we explain to you what cookies are, what they do, and how they work, and what kind of cookies are most commonly used on the Internet.
What are Internet cookies?
Cookies are files that store information about you, your web browser, and your behavior on the Internet. They are very small files kept on your PC or device that can be used by sites or web applications to adjust your online experience.
When were cookies invented? Short history.
In July 1994, an employee of Netscape Communications was tasked with developing an online trading application. Having to find a way to remember the shopping cart for each user without overloading the server, he decided that the best method was to store all these criminals in each user's web browser. Because cookies were already used in other areas of its industry, he noticed that they might also be useful for surfing the Internet.
What are the benefits of cookies?
A cookie contains information that links a web browser (user) to a specific web-server (website). If a browser accesses that web-server again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly.
Cookies provide users with a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to offer user-friendly services: e.g., online privacy preferences, site language options, shopping baskets, or relevant advertising.
How are cookies used by websites?
A website may place the following types of cookies:
- Cookies strictly necessary for the operation of the site
- Analytic cookies
Strictly necessary cookies and/or similar technologies are essential to the proper functioning of the site, being set on your device when you access the site or following actions taken on the site as appropriate. You can set your browser to block cookies, but in this case, some sections of the site will not work properly.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest Internet sites – local or international. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures, so you can navigate the Internet with confidence.
