What is a cookie not?
It is not a virus or a Trojan or a worm, not spam, not spyware. No pop-up window opens.
What information does a cookie store?
Cookies do not usually store sensitive information about you such as credit card or bank account information, photos, your ID or personal information, etc… The data stored is technical – personal preferences, content personalization, etc.
The server identifies you through your web browser, not as a person. In fact, if you regularly browse with Internet Explorer and try to browse the same website with Firefox or Chrome you will see that the site does not realize that you are the same person because you are identified by your browser, not as a person.
Kinds of cookies
- Technical Cookies: these are the most basic and identify, among other things, if it is a human or automated application, if it is an anonymous user navigating or one who has already registered, etc – basic tasks for running any dynamic website.
- Analytic Cookies: collect information on the type of navigation being done, the sections you use most, viewed products, times of use, language, etc…
- Publicity Cookies: display advertising based on the user’s navigation pattern, their country of origin, language, etc…
What are own party cookies and third party cookies?
Own party cookies are those generated by the page you are visiting. Third party ones are generated by internal or external providers such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc…
What happens if you disable the cookies?
Here are some examples:
All social networks use cookies. If you disable them, you cannot share content of the website on Facebook, Twitter or any other social network.
It will not be possible to customize your preferences such as time zone, currency or language.
The website will not perform web analytics about visitor traffic to the website, making it difficult to target customers.
The website may not know whether you are human or an automated application that publishes spam.
Can I delete cookies?
Yes, not only remove but also block – in general or particular to a specific domain.
To remove cookies from a website, you should go to your browser settings. There you can find the domain in question and proceed with removal.
Setting cookies for the most used browsers
Here’s how to access specific browser cookies:
Chrome: Note these steps may vary depending on the browser version.
Go to Settings or Preferences via the File menu or by clicking the icon.
You will see different sections. Click Show Advanced Options.
Go to Privacy Settings content.
Select All cookies and site data.
A list of all cookies ordered by domain appears. To make it easier to find the cookies of a given domain, partially or fully enter the address in the search field cookies.
After making this filter, one or more lines with the requested website cookies will appear on the screen. Now simply select and press X to proceed with removal.
To access the cookie settings in Internet Explorer follow these steps (may vary depending on your browser version):
Go to Tools, Internet Options.
Click on Privacy.
Move the slider to adjust the level of privacy you want.
To access Firefox cookie settings, follow these steps (may vary depending on your browser version):
Go to Options or Preferences for your operating system.
Click on Privacy.
In History choose Use custom settings for history.
In the Accept Cookies option, you can enable or disable according to your preferences.
To access the cookie settings for OSX Safari, follow these steps (may vary depending on your browser version):
Scroll to Settings, then Privacy.
Here you will see Block cookies to fit the level of block you want.
To access the cookie settings for iOS Safari, follow these steps (may vary depending on your browser version):
Go to Settings, then Safari.
Go to Privacy & Security, and select Block cookies according to the type of block you want.
To access the browser’s cookie settings for Android devices, follow these steps (may vary depending on your browser version):
Run the browser and press Menu, then the Settings button.
Go to Security and Privacy. On the Accept Cookies option, check or uncheck the box.
To access the browser cookie settings for Windows Phone devices, follow these steps (may vary depending on your browser version):
Open Internet Explorer, then More, then Settings. Enable or disable the Allow cookies check box.
