What is a cookie?
Cookies are usually small text files, given ID tags that are
stored on your computer's browser directory or program data subfolders. Cookies
are created when you use your browser to visit a website that uses cookies to
keep track of your movements within the site, help you resume where you left
off, remember your registered login, theme selection, preferences, and other
customization functions. The website stores a corresponding file(with same ID
tag)to the one they set in your browser and in this file they can track and
keep information on your movements within the site and any information you may
have voluntarily given while visiting the website, such as email address.
Cookies are often indispensable for websites that have huge
databases, need logins, have customizable themes, other advanced features.
Cookies usually don't contain much information except for the
url of the website that created the cookie, the duration of the cookie's
abilities and effects, and a random number. Due to the little amount of
information a cookie contains, it usually cannot be used to reveal your
identity or personally identifying information. However, marketing is becoming
increasingly sophisticated and cookies in some cases can be aggressively used
to create a profile of your surfing habits.
There are two different types of cookies:
Session cookies -
these are temporary and are erased when you close your browser at
the end of your surfing session. The next time you visit that particular site
it will not recognize you and will treat you as a completely new visitor as
there is nothing in your browser to let the site know that you have visited
before.
Persistent cookies -
these remain on your hard drive until you erase them or they expire. How long a
cookie remains on your browser depends on how long the visited website has
programmed the cookie to last.
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