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What are website cookies?
In our article about how to protect your privacy online we discussed the unsettling feeling that occurs when you see an advertisement online for a product you were just discussing with a friend or worse, a product you only ever thought about in your head. This occurs because each website you visit and every action you take online gives advertisers information on what type of person you are. By tracking your unique IP address, websites can analyze your browsing habits and create personalized ads based on them. They make assumptions on where you live, your gender, your age.. even your religious and political views!
A web cookie, or HTTP cookie is a small data file that websites collect from you when you visit them. In some ways, cookies are helpful as they allow online stores to remember what was in your cart for example, and save your login info so you don’t have to type it in each time you visit. Most cookies are helpful and safe; they allow web developers to personalize the ads you see, making them more interesting and relevant. However, some third-party cookies allow companies to track your activity across multiple websites and are not necessarily cautious with your data. By clearing cookies from your browser, you make it more difficult to be tracked online; this is a very easy procedure that varies slightly depending on your browser.
Should you accept website cookies?
Most of the time, cookies will not cause you any trouble, and when prompted with the annoying pop up asking whether you accept a site’s cookie policy, most of us just click “yes” so we can continue browsing in peace. That being said, it’s always a good idea to take a moment and assess the website (does it look sketchy? Is it secure?) as well as what internet you are connected to (are you on a secure server or a public, free wi-fi?) before you blindly accept cookies. A big red flag is when a cookie policy mentions third parties. In this case, you should always decline as this means the website will sell your private data to other companies who may continue reselling your information indefinitely. By having this information circulating, it is easy to become a victim of identity theft, so it is important to be smart about which cookies you are accepting.
How to clear your cookies
The first step you can take to limit targeted ads and to keep your info secure is to occasionally clear your cookies. In Chrome for example, locate the History tab in your Tools menu and then simply click “Clear browsing data”. You will then be able to specify the dates from which you would like to clear the data. In Internet Explorer, locate Internet Options within Settings and click “delete” under the browsing history tab. In a similar way you can also clear cookies on your smartphone or any other device you use to browse the internet.
Stay safe online
We sincerely hope this article has been helpful to keep you safe and aware while online. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact our expert team. Stay on our site to benefit from all the official Asus spare parts and accessories we have to offer. Thanks for reading!
