Just a few years ago, when you would browse the web you would rarely see a site ask for permission to use cookies on your device. Clearing your cache due to an excessive amount of cookies was something only a few people ever had to do. Privacy was something that you still didn’t have to pay for to ensure. Some would argue that it was the age when the internet was truly free and truly for everyone.
Today, it’s strange to come across a site that doesn’t ask for permission for cookies, it’s a standard procedure to have to clear cache after every browsing session, and we have grown accustomed to not only seeing ads for things we searched for two weeks ago but even getting these ads on various devices and seeing someone send us an email about it.
The fact of the matter is that most internet users have grown immune to this ongoing problem of cookie permissions. Most users mindlessly click accept whenever that permission pop-up arises since they are in a hurry to just get to the content that they are looking for. Seldom stopping to see what kind of cookies the site wants to use and what their terms and conditions are.
The other problem with users that aren't very aware of the implications of having cookies on your computer for extended periods of time, is that they don't delete cookies frequently. Ideally, you should be clearing all cookies and third-party data after every session. While there are some cookies that are site-specific and they only track your behavior and usage while you are surfing that particular site, others follow you around everywhere you go on the internet.
How can you better manage cookies?
To better protect yourself from unwanted cookies that can compromise your privacy and your safety online, it's a good idea to manually disable cookies from your browser. You can do this by going to the cookie settings in your browser and disabling third-party cookies. In most cases, this will stop sites from using cookies when you visit them. Though there are some other sites that will still try to use cookies even when you have disabled them, however, since they are unable to use all cookies, it won't allow the site to use cookies properly. In this way, you can improve your security and privacy to quite a degree. However, it's important to note that there are still a lot of sites that will still try to use cookies on your browser without your consent.
What are permanent cookies?
Then there is another form of cookies which are known as permanent cookies. If a popup shows up and gives you the option to select 'remember me' realize that this is a permanent cookie and will be active until you manually clear your cache. These are the cookies that allow you to access a site without having to log in. While this is extremely convenient it can also be quite dangerous if you don't know exactly what kind of data the site is storing about you.
Takeaway
One other thing that you should be wary of is the fact that the way cookies are used and shared by those who collect them is largely unregulated. Generally, if a site is using cookies on your browser, that site is free to share this information with whomever they want, and those third parties are free to use this information in whichever way they wish to. This is especially alarming when the cookies could be storing vital data such as your login credential, banking details, or other personal information.
Therefore, it is best to limit the kind of cookies that you allow your system, and even the ones you do permit should be cleared frequently.
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