“What is a cookie?” was a surprising question, because the person asking it makes most of the cookies I eat. Because of that I realized almost immediately, that the question referred to cookies commonly found on computers. I also realized that this could be an interesting topic for a weblog post. Why? because in my opinion, people do not take enough time to understand the implications of what they are doing when they are engaging the Internet with their computers.
When a web browser, such as Apple’s Safari, Google’s Chrome, Microsoft’s Edge or Mozilla’s Firefox connects with a website, that site typically transfers a data packet to the web browser. That packet is referred to as a cookie, sometimes with HTTP = Hypertext Transfer Protocol, as an adjective. This protocol is the foundation for data communication on the World Wide Web, an information system that enables content sharing over the Internet by users who are not computer specialists. Hypertext documents typically include hyperlinks to other resources that the user can easily access, for example by a mouse click or by tapping a screen. Cookies provide a unique identifier, and information about the visitor to the website. The information may include: website visits; activities performed, including pages viewed, links clicked, items added to a shopping cart; preferences such as language and currency as well as login information, including username and password.
Cookies allows websites to recognize specific computers and retrieve stored information about that computer’s user.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:
- When visiting a website, a browser sends a request to the website’s server for the page you want to view.
- The website’s server includes a Set-Cookie header in its response, which instructs the browser to store the cookie.
- The HTTP cookie is saved in a dedicated cookie file on the browser’s computer.
- When a site is revisited, the browser sends the cookie back to the server in its Cookie header.
- The server retrieves the information stored in the HTTP cookie and uses it to personalize the browsing experience.
People like me, don’t want random websites to store information about them. They especially don’t want hackers and criminals (potential or real) to have that information. There are websites where I have an account, where I am willing for information to be stored when I undertake a transaction. The last time I did this was when I logged onto Entur, a site that allows the purchase of Norwegian train tickets.
Cookies can be irritating. EU regulations require every website to obtain user permission before installing tracking cookies. I have the I don’t care about cookies app installed on my Firefox browser. This extension automatically repeatedly gives permission, removes cookie warnings from almost all websites and saves thousands of unnecessary clicks! Normally, it blocks/ hides cookie related pop-ups, automatically accept the cookie policy. It does not delete cookies.
Corporations typically and perpetually emphasize the benefits of cookies for users. These are minimal, but can in limited ways can personalize browsing experience to emphasize individual preferences and interests, remember login information, shopping cart contents and other preferences. Most of the benefits accrue to website owners and can be regarded as user hinders. Information about user behavior most often results in an attempt to oversell, disguised as improving website design and content. They also use cookies to reduce their costs. By storing information locally on users’ computers, cookies reduce the load on web servers. Thus, users are paying for increases in speed and efficiency.
Some of the worst characteristics of cookies has to do with users intrusion. They track online behavior across multiple websites, potentially creating a detailed profile of browsing habits. They store personal information, raising concerns about data security misuse.
There are different types of cookies: 1) Persistent cookies are stored on your computer for a predetermined period, and are unaffected by the closing of a browser. However, they do have an expiration date, which determines how long they remain on a computer. This ranges from days to years. They are typically used for authentication and tracking; 2) session cookies are temporary. They are deleted when the browser is closed. These ensure that the website remembers actions when a person navigates from page to page. They are also used to remembering the items added to a shopping cart. 3) First-party cookies are set by the website being visited. ing directly. These cookies are generally considered safe, they offer a) an enhanced browsing experience, enabling shopping cart, user account, and personalized content features. They can also set user preferences for language, location or a specific theme. These cookies remember choices. 4) Third-party cookies are set by domains other than the website you’re visiting. They should be avoided. Some browsers, including Safari and Firefox, block them by default. This is one reason I use Firefox as my standard web browser. 5) Supercookies = Zombie cookies, are persistent tracking cookies stored outside of a browser’s usual cookie storage location. They can be difficult to remove and often reappear even after they have been deleted. This is because they’re often stored in multiple locations. Supercookies raise significant privacy concerns.
Web browser’s settings can be used to control cookies. Most browsers offer these options: 1) Block all cookies: This setting prevents all websites from storing cookies on a computer. This is often a too severe option. 2) Block third-party cookies: This is usually a better choice, preventing tracking cookies from being stored, while still allowing first-party cookies. 3) Delete cookies: This option can a) Deletes all cookies, b) Delete cookies from specific websites or c) Delete specific types of cookies. It can also be used to delete cookies automatically when a browser is closed.
Most browsers provide a cookie manager, allowing a person to view and manage the cookies stored on a computer. Details about each cookie are provided, including its name, domain, expiration date and the data it contains. Cookies typically encrypt login credentials, which only the originating website can decode.
Here’s how to find the cookie settings in some popular browsers: Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data; Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data; Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data; Safari: Safari > Preferences > Privacy.
In countries where privacy is at risk, it can be useful to install an alternative browser, such as Brave, Librewolf or Tor. These are free and open-source web browsers. Brave is based on the Chromium web browser. Librewolf and Tor are both based on Firefox. All three browsers offer the most privacy protection compared to other browsers.
Chromium is not the same as Chrome. It is a free and open-source web browser project, primarily developed and maintained by Google. It is a widely-used codebase, providing the vast majority of code for Google Chrome and many other browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Samsung Internet, and Opera. The code is also used by several app frameworks.
Reviews of Brave praised the browser’s speed, privacy aspects and built-in ad blocking, as well as potential reduced battery usage. A 2021 research study analyzing the data reported by browsers to their back-end servers by Douglas J. Leith of the University of Dublin reported that Brave had the highest level of privacy. Brave is the only mainstream browser to pass the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Cover Your Tracks test.
Tor is a free overlay network = a logical network built on on top of a physical) network, that enables anonymous communication. Built on free and open-source software with seven thousand + volunteer-operated relays worldwide. Users typically have their Internet traffic randomly routed through the network. This makes it difficult to trace a user’s Internet activity, by preventing any point on the Internet, (except a user’s device) from being able to view both where traffic originated from and where it is ultimately going. This effectively exacerbates network surveillance. These are available for Windows, Linux, Apple and Android devices.
Cookie management summary: Install I Don’t Care about Cookies; block third-party cookies; Deleting cookies periodically to protect privacy by removing tracking data. Use private browsing mode to prevent a browser from storing cookies, history, and other browsing data. Avoid virtual private networks (VPNs). encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a different location, making it harder for websites to track your activity and identify your location.
While readers have to be free to make their own decisions. Mozilla Firefox is my standard web browser. In addition, I have Google Chromium, should Firefox fail. I also have Brave, if increased scrutiny is required. These browsers are all available for Android, iOS, Linux, Mac and Windows operating systems. So that I have them on my hand-held device, laptop computer and floortop computer (This new 37 litre machine, replaced my 0.5 litre desktop computer in late 2025). Most of the time, I only use Firefox, on my laptop as well as my floortop machine. I very seldom use a web browser with my hand-held device. That is because, use of a web browser encourages use of a keyboard, which functions best when a person can touch type. Touch typing is the one skill that I learned in my early teenage years, that has been most useful, and well worth the investment in time to learn. Yes, for almost forty years I have heard that touch typing will soon be out of date. I doubt it will be obsolete before the end of my life.