Have you noticed that whenever you visit a new website, there is always this little box at the bottom that asks you to accept something about cookies?
Usually, there are two or three options, like Accepts Necessary, Accept All and Reject. You just click one of them and continue on your merry way.
Well these are the cookies that we will explain to you more about. Technically they are called HTTP Cookies, but usually we refer to them as Internet Cookies or Web Cookies. They are little pieces of information that is used by websites so they can remember some basic information about you and your preferences.
To understand Internet Cookies easier, let us tell you the story of how they were created. Early online shops and websites in the 90s had a problem where, for example, if you purchase something on a website, the website had no way of remembering who you were. So next time you purchase you have to sign in again and the website couldn’t show you what you have purchased before. Because there was no way you can track users and what they do on your website.
A guy called Lou Montulli was working for Netscape, and came up with the idea of adding a little software to a browser that websites can remember. This software tracked your internet address and your movement through their website and helped you to have a better user experience.
These cookies can remember your login information, your purchases and your preferences, and make the usage of a website easier for you. Imagine having to log in and set preferences on websites like Facebook or Instagram every time you log in?
To make it more secure, it was decided that these little pieces of information would be stored on the user’s browser, so when the user came to the website, the website would recognize the cookie and then they would give them the information. So, cookies are safe and convenient way to make the internet work better and make your user experience better.
Types of Cookies
There are many different types of cookies, and we always advise you to check the Preference option when choosing your cookies, but generally there are these 4 types:
- Necessary Cookies: These cookies are needed for websites to work properly, like letting you log in or add things to your shopping cart. Without them, basic features like checking out or accessing your account wouldn’t work.
- Performance Cookies: These cookies track how people use a website, like which pages they visit and how long they stay. They help fix problems, make the site faster, and improve how it works for everyone. These cookies are important for gathering data for SEO.
- Functional Cookies: These cookies save your choices, like your language or login info, so the site feels more personalized. They make things easier by remembering your preferences each time you visit.
- Advertising Cookies: These cookies track what you do online, like the pages you visit, to show ads that match your interests. They’re often from other companies and follow you across different websites.
Where Were These Cookies When I was a Child?
If you are over 20 years old, you surely remember that years ago we these Cookies boxes didn’t appear on websites and we didn’t need to click anything, we just surfed the Internet.
That is because the laws around internet privacy and collecting user data were much laxed. Most websites used cookies without explicitly asking for user permission. Cookies were often added to a user’s browser automatically, and people usually didn’t know how their data was being collected or used.
In 2018 laws were introduced, like the European General Data Protection Regulation (known as the GDRP) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to protect user privacy by setting rules for how websites use cookies. These laws require websites to tell visitors about the cookies they use, explain why they’re needed, and let users choose which cookies they want to allow.
Websites now must show a clear cookie banner or pop-up when someone visits. These banners usually let users accept all cookies, only allow necessary ones, or choose specific options. A link to a cookie policy is also required, where websites explain what data they collect, how it’s used, and if it’s shared with others.
If websites don’t follow these rules, they could face large fines or lose users’ trust. To comply, website owners need to use cookie management tools and keep their policies up to date.
Should You Click “Accept All” Cookies?
When you visit a website, you might see a button to “Accept All” cookies. This means the site can use all types of cookies, like ones that make the site work, track how you use it, remember your preferences, and show you ads. While this can make your browsing easier and more personalized, it also means sharing more of your data.
If you click “Accept All,” you allow the site and sometimes third parties, like advertisers, to collect information about your browsing, preferences, and location. Some of this helps improve the website or show you relevant content, but it can also be used to track your activity across the web.
If you’re concerned about internet privacy, it’s better not to accept all cookies. Most cookie banners let you choose specific options, like allowing only the necessary cookies that help the site work. You can also turn off cookies used for ads or tracking.
So our recommendation is either go with only the Necessary Cookies or set up your Preferences, but be selective with choose Accept All cookies. We don’t say don’t ever do it, but if you are not sure about the website you are on, maybe it’s better not to do it.
Manage Cookies Through your Browser
Most of the popular browsers today have options that will block third-party cookies or any cookies for that matter, although we don’t recommend that. You can find these options in Chrome, Opera, Mozilla, Safari and other browsers.
On Chromes, as the most popular browser you can find this option in Chrome Settings – Privacy and Security – Cookies and Site Data – Choose a Cookie Setting, and you have this options:
Allow all cookies: Enables all types of cookies.
Block third-party cookies: Prevents cookies from advertisers or trackers but allows necessary cookies.
Block third-party cookies in Incognito: Blocks trackers only in private browsing mode.
Block all cookies: Prevents any cookies from being stored (not recommended, as some sites may not work).
You can safely go with the second option “Block third-party cookies”, which will automatically make your browsing safer and will save you time on clicking on countless Cookies notifications boxes.
Conclusion
Cookies are inevitable for the internet we use today. We are logged on so many websites and do so many things online which would be impossible without Internet Cookies.
But we also need to keep ourselves safe and be selective about what kind of Cookies permissions we give to different websites because we might find ourselves in danger.
Learning more about Cookies and how to recognize what are the bare minimum cookies that we need to agree on, and when to go “Accept All” will go a long way and keep us safe. Also we can configure our browser setting so we don’t get certain types of Cookies and this will also help us be safer online.
Lastly if you need any help with Cookies on your website, feel free to contact us today. We have over 10 years of experience building websites and keeping them secured, so we can surely help your business.
