Many people do not know how mechanisms work to help us use the network everyday. One of them is just cookies, which, although invisible, play a key role in our digital life.
What exactly are cookies?
Cookies are small text files saved on our device by websites and tools embedded in them. Act like a digital memory – They remember our preferences, login details or the contents of the basket in the online store. It is thanks to them that we do not have to log in with each visit to the pages, a shops Internet remember what we added to the basket.
Types of cookies and their tasks
In the Cookie world we distinguish several main types. Session They only work during the current page browsing and disappear after closing the browser. Permanently They stay longer, remembering our preferences for subsequent visits. Cookies companies Outdoor enable tracking of our network activity, e.g. by advertisers, analytical tools and social plugins.
Are cookies safe?
Cookies in themselves do not pose a threat – They cannot contain malicious code or damage our device, but they can be used for attacks, e.g. intercepting the user session. That is why it is worth being aware of their presence and knowing how to manage them.
When is it worth removing cookies?
Regular cleaning of cookies can be a good habit, especially in several situations:
- When using public computers
- When we notice the slowdown of the browser
- If we want to limit tracking by advertisers
- After completing important banking operations
- When the pages begin to work incorrectly
How to effectively manage cookies?
Contrary to appearances, complete blocking of cookies is not the best solution, this may cause problems with logging in and functioning of some pages. It is better to learn to manage them:
- Use incognito mode for sensitive operations
- Regularly remove cookies from unknown sources
- Let cookies act on trusted pages
- Check the privacy settings in your browser
It can be said that cookies have two nature. On the one hand, they make our lives easier – the pages work faster, we don't have to still log in, and shops can recommend things to us that may actually interest us. On the other – we give part of our privacy to the hands of companies that can use this data for advertising purposes.