Everyone knows about cookies, the delicious treats. However, some don’t know about the online cookies. These cookies are pieces of information that websites use to record your data.
For example, if I input “Honda” into Google’s search engine, Google’s cookie will record that I searched for “Honda.” Then it will use the information to shape my future results about cars. Google will try to personalize my results.
Also, cookies are used when one is accessing his or her account. The website would use a cookie to determine if it should send a page with sensitive information. I have encountered times when Google has refused to let me into my e-mail account because I disabled cookies.
However, not all cookies are useful. Sometimes, advertisers will try to follow you in order to lure you.
My former teacher was using her e-mail account when she saw an advertisement about politics. She thought it was interesting and clicked on it. However, there was nothing useful in the link that she clicked. The advertisement managed to pique her interest.
Also, some websites want to obtain the user’s data by using cookies, which is stalking, in a sense.
To prevent this tracking, one can clear the cookies. It is effective in deterring advertisers that want your online “profile.”