HTTP cookies are probably as old as the Internet. These are small files that get written onto your computer’s http browser cookiehard drive every time you visit a website. They are not even files as such, just text packets. These text packets are sent to a web browser (like IE or Firefox) when it connects to any website server on the internet via a server. Then, each time you log back onto the site, the browser will send the cookie back to the server. What purpose does this serve? Well, the cookie contains information as to when you last visited the site, which pages you went to, what you did, and any information you gave out. A simple example: when you sign in to your Gmail account, you use an ID and a password. How does the Gmail server manage to identify that ID and password is correct the next time you visit? Cookies! Thus, cookies are a way of authenticating users. They are also a way of tracking your behavior on the website, each time you visit it. Often on many websites, it is impossible for you to do anything without cookies. For example, the shopping cart feature on websites requires use of cookies.

Contrary to popular belief, cookies will not erase your hard disk, or corrupt your files. They are not spyware or malware. They are actually not software programs at all; therefore they are not even viruses. What they are, are just text files with some information about you stored on them.

The problem with cookies is that since they store information, they seem to be invading a user’s privacy. The other problem is that a cookie is a parcel in continuous transit between your browser and the server and thus could get stolen or poisoned, both of which put your personal data at risk. The other problem arises when third parties install their cookies on your computer without your permission. Thankfully, your browser will give you options to overcome this.

  1. Try the ‘Privacy’ tab under the ‘Tools’ menu on your browser and change your cookie settings by disallowing storage of third-party cookies and set the duration for which cookies can stay on your computer.
  2. Type: javascript:alert(“Cookies: “+document.cookie) in your address bar to know what cookies are being placed on your computer from the displayed web page.
  3. Delete your Temporary internet files and clear out all the data offline website data that your browser stores. This option will also be available in the ‘Tools’ menu.