Cookie

=Cookie= Author: Chad Jacob

Computer users always see the cookie clean up when they start there Norton clean up, but what is a cookie? As Webopedia puts it, “The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized [|Web pages] for them.” It does this by sending a type of message by a Web server to a Web browser. The browser then stores the message and is sent back each time the browser requests a page from the server. This will allow the website to keep a user logged in and can be very helpful when using internet profiles. There are a few different types of cookies session cookies and persistent cookies. The first type of internet cookie is the session cookie, also called a transient cookie. This cookie is stored in temporary files; which, don’t personally identify the user, and is not retained when the browser is shut down. Theses cookies don’t collect information from your computer. The other type of cookie is a persistent cookie. This cookie is stored on the computers hard drive until it expires or is deleted by the user. Persistent cookies collect information about the user about the user’s web activity and preferences to specific web sites. Cookies can be used as spyware; these are known as malicious cookies. Malicious cookies are used to store and track users’ online activity. Over time they build up a profile of your interests and once the profile contains enough information they sell it to an advertising company. The advertising company uses the users information to target them with specific advertisement. These cookies are the cookies that will need to be removed which can be done with most spyware protection or anti virus protection. In conclusion, a cookie is a type of program that allows websites to identify the user and customize profiles. These cookies can be helpful when surfing the web, allowing profiles and quick logins. However if the cookie is malicious it could negatively affect the user.