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A cookie is text file that a browser sends to a web server when a customer visits a website. This is stored on the customer’s computer the first time he or she accesses the site. It is also known as a web cookie, browser cookie, or HTTP cookie. Once stored, the browser uses this file to navigate the website more easily. Some of its uses are for log ins, themes, language settings, shopping cart contents and more features that use text data.

A number of cookies have dates of expiry. These may be stored by the browser and deleted as the expiration date passes. Other cookies do not have expiry dates. They are automatically deleted as the browser is terminated. Cookies help a website to deliver better services, even though cookies in themselves do not hold information.

Most cookies are stored in the browser’s cookie file. These contain the name of the server, its duration and the cookie value. The cookie value is a randomly generated number that makes the cookie unique. This cookie value is used by the server that created the cookie to remember the user when he or she comes back to the site, or to navigate through pages.

Unlike a virus, a cookie is not an executable file, meaning that it cannot copy itself. However, it can be a privacy concern in some circumstances. A browser has a means that sets and reads cookies so a cookie can be used as spyware, like the “zombie cookie” or an “evercookie”. As spyware, a cookie can be used to follow computer activity. This is why users are given the option to choose whether or not to allow cookies.

A cookie itself is not dangerous on a computer. Its function is just to help the website to distinguish the user and recall his or her information. For example, a website may request the user to input his or her name the first time he or she visits the site. The cookie then tells the server who the user is every time he or she visits the website. A user should not question why his or her name would appear on the “welcome” page the next time he or she returns to the same site.

Privacy risks can be an issue in the use of cookies. All private information uploaded by a user will be remembered by the cookie. This can expose the user to the potential of identity theft or computer hacking. This is one of the reasons why some users would want to erase cookies kept in their computers.

There are a variety of ways of deleting cookies, depending on the user’s browser, however, the process can generally be done in three steps for Internet Explorer.

First, on the browser, go to “Tools”.

Second, select “Internet Options” or “Options”.

Third, under the “General” tab, select “Delete Cookies”. This may call for a combination of other options. The “Browsing History” may be used where cookies may be deleted along with temporary files. The user can choose to delete all items or just the cookies.

Click here for more information on deleting cookies.

It is not just about cookies! Online privacy can be threatened by a number of issues. One issue is IP addresses. Mask your IP address by using an encrypted Proxy system to mask your IP address and protect your Internet identity. For more information about using a Private Proxy please read our blog.

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