Understanding Web Cookies | Everything About Cookies

What are Web Cookies?

Web Cookies(also known as HTTP cookies, browser cookies, and Internet cookies) are collections of user data stored in a user's device and web server as they browse the web.

Web browsers store these data to personalize and improve the user's browsing experience by labeling them with a unique ID for you and your computer.
When the cookie is exchanged between your computer and the web server, the server reads the ID and specifically knows what to serve you.

Types of Cookies

There are several types of cookies:

• Session Cookies: are cookies deleted by the device after the session.
  Websites don't have memory, that's why they use session cookies to remember a user for a restricted period, these cookies are stored in the Random Access Memory(RAM).
  In order words, Session cookies deposit information on a current session. For example, if you're adding multiple products to your shopping cart, it will remain in place till the session has been terminated.

• Persistent(First party) Cookies: are created directly by the website you are visiting. These cookies exist in a more permanent way to maintain the user's preference.
  These cookies are generally not a threat as long as you browse the web safely.
  For example, language preference and currency are handled by persistent cookies.

• Third-Party Cookies: these are cookies coming from other websites other than the one you're visiting.

  These cookies are mostly embedded/linked content from other sites. They are usually spread through advertisement which tracks the user's surfing patterns.

Are Cookies Safe?

Cookies are originally safe as they don't change(only based on the user preference) nor contain viruses.
However, Accepting cookies that seem like a threat could be harmful to your device. While cookies won't harm your device on their own, hackers can infiltrate the information that cookies store to track your browsing history which can be used for stalking, harassing and monitoring the user.

The EU cookie law known as the ePrivacy Directive is a privacy legislation, which requires websites to seek permission from a user before placing cookies on their device.

Summary

Cookies are simply pieces of data stored in a user's device to personalize user experience. It is stored by web browsers in designated files in the user's device.
Cookies are used by 42.2% of all websites.
It is advisable to clear cookies once in a while to be more safe as you surf the web.