Here's a guide to the few simple changes you can make to protect yourself and your information online. Use These Tools Make smart use of the tools available to keep your data safe. Even cookies which customise a website (such as providing a greeting message) are deemed to be non essential. Essential cookies are generally those which enable an online checkout process to work properly - or if required for technical or security purposes. Failure to comply with the Cookie Law can lead to fines of up to £500,000.
- Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy
- Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy Fence
- Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy Screens
Jan. 18, 2018
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Mention 'cookies,' and most people expect a treat to appear. When talking about computers, however, cookies aren't what's on the dessert menu. In fact, they're not even physical objects. Yet they do a great deal of the work that makes it possible for you to browse the Internet—and they can cause trouble if you don't know how to manage them.
Meet the Cookie
A computer 'cookie' is more formally known as an HTTP cookie, a web cookie, an Internet cookie, or a browser cookie. The name is a shorter version of 'magic cookie,' which is a term for a packet of data that a computer receives, then sends back without changing or altering it. No matter what it's called, a computer cookie consists of information. When you visit a website, the website sends the cookie to your computer. Your computer stores it in a file located inside your web browser. (To help you find it, this file is often called 'Cookies.')
What Do Cookies Do?
The purpose of the cookie is to help the website keep track of your visits and activity. This isn't always a bad thing. For example, many online retailers use cookies to keep track of the items in a user's shopping cart as they explore the site. Without cookies, your shopping cart would reset to zero every time you clicked a new link on the site. That would make it impossible to buy anything online!
A website might also use cookies to keep a record of your most recent visit or to record your login information. Many people find this useful so that they can store passwords on commonly used sites, or simply so they know what they have visited or downloaded in the past.
Different types of cookies keep track of different activities. Session cookies are used only when a person is actively navigating a website; once you leave the site, the session cookie disappears. Tracking cookies may be used to create long-term records of multiple visits to the same site. Authentication cookies track whether a user is logged in, and if so, under what name.
How to clear cookies in Chrome, Firefox, Safari and browsers
Computer cookies keep track of data for websites, but they also hold a host of personal information. Here's how to delete them.
How to Manage Your Cookies
Under normal circumstances, cookies cannot transfer viruses or malware to your computer. Because the data in a cookie doesn't change when it travels back and forth, it has no way to affect how your computer runs.
However, some viruses and malware may be disguised as cookies. For instance, 'supercookies' can be a potential security concern, and many browsers offer a way to block them. A 'zombie cookie' is a cookie that recreates itself after being deleted, making zombie cookies tough to manage. Third-party tracking cookies can also cause security concerns, since they make it easier for parties you can't identify to watch where you are going and what you are doing online.
Here's how to manage your cookies in order to protect your online activity from prying eyes:
Open your browser. Because cookies are stored in your web browser, the first step is to open your browser. Popular browsers include Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
Find the cookie storage. Each browser stores cookies in a slightly different location. In Internet Explorer 9, for example, you can find them by clicking 'Tools,' then 'Internet Options,' then 'Privacy.' In Chrome, choose the Chrome menu on the toolbar, then click 'Privacy.' Most browsers store cookie settings under the privacy options. Choose your setting. Every browser gives you a range of options for handling cookies. Internet Explorer, for instance, has a slider that you can adjust for greater or lesser amounts of protection. Chrome both lets you delete existing cookies in a single click and choose how future cookies are collected or stored.
Banning all cookies makes some websites difficult or impossible to navigate. However, a setting that controls or limits third-party and tracking cookies can help protect your privacy while still making it possible to shop online and carry out similar activities.
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Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Copyright © 2021 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Aug. 12, 2019
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Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy
*Terms Apply
Mention 'cookies' and most people expect a chocolate chip treat to appear. When talking about computers, however, cookies aren't on the dropdown menu. In fact, they're not even physical objects. Yet they do a great deal of the work that makes it more convenient for you to browse the Internet — and they can be troublesome if you don't know how to clear or delete cookies.
Meet the computer cookie
A computer 'cookie' is more formally known as an HTTP cookie, a web cookie, an Internet cookie or a browser cookie. The name is a shorter version of 'magic cookie,' which is a term for a packet of data that a computer receives and then sends back without changing or altering it.
No matter what it's called, a computer cookie consists of information. When you visit a website, the website sends the cookie to your computer. Your computer stores it in a file located inside your web browser. (To help you find it, this file is often called 'Cookies.')
What do browser cookies do?
The purpose of the computer cookie is to help the website keep track of your visits and activity. This isn't always a bad thing. For example, many online retailers use cookies to keep track of the items in a user's shopping cart as they explore the site. Without cookies, your shopping cart would reset to zero every time you clicked a new link on the site. That would make it difficult to buy anything online!
A website might also use cookies to keep a record of your most recent visit or to record your login information. Many people find this useful so that they can store passwords on frequently used sites, or simply so they know what they have visited or downloaded in the past.
Try Norton 360 FREE 30-Day Trial* - Includes Norton Secure VPN
30 days of FREE* comprehensive antivirus, device security and online privacy with Norton Secure VPN.
Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy
*Terms Apply
Mention 'cookies' and most people expect a chocolate chip treat to appear. When talking about computers, however, cookies aren't on the dropdown menu. In fact, they're not even physical objects. Yet they do a great deal of the work that makes it more convenient for you to browse the Internet — and they can be troublesome if you don't know how to clear or delete cookies.
Meet the computer cookie
A computer 'cookie' is more formally known as an HTTP cookie, a web cookie, an Internet cookie or a browser cookie. The name is a shorter version of 'magic cookie,' which is a term for a packet of data that a computer receives and then sends back without changing or altering it.
No matter what it's called, a computer cookie consists of information. When you visit a website, the website sends the cookie to your computer. Your computer stores it in a file located inside your web browser. (To help you find it, this file is often called 'Cookies.')
What do browser cookies do?
The purpose of the computer cookie is to help the website keep track of your visits and activity. This isn't always a bad thing. For example, many online retailers use cookies to keep track of the items in a user's shopping cart as they explore the site. Without cookies, your shopping cart would reset to zero every time you clicked a new link on the site. That would make it difficult to buy anything online!
A website might also use cookies to keep a record of your most recent visit or to record your login information. Many people find this useful so that they can store passwords on frequently used sites, or simply so they know what they have visited or downloaded in the past.
Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy Fence
Different types of cookies keep track of different activities. Session cookies are used only when a person is actively navigating a website; once you leave the site, the session cookie disappears. Tracking cookies may be used to create long-term records of multiple visits to the same site. Authentication cookies track whether a user is logged in, and if so, under what name.
Are Internet cookies safe?
Under normal circumstances, cookies cannot transfer viruses or malware to your computer. Because the data in a cookie doesn't change when it travels back and forth, it has no way to affect how your computer runs.
How to clear cookies in Chrome, Firefox, Safari and browsers
Computer cookies keep track of data for websites, but they also hold a host of personal information. Here's how to delete them.
However, some viruses and malware may be disguised as cookies. For instance, 'supercookies' can be a potential security concern, and many browsers offer a way to block them. A 'zombie cookie' is a cookie that re-creates itself after being deleted, making zombie cookies tough to manage. Third-party tracking cookies can also cause security and privacy concerns, since they make it easier for parties you can't identify to watch where you are going and what you are doing online.
Where to look to enable or delete cookies
Here's how to find and manage your cookies in order to protect your privacy online:
- Open your browser. Because cookies are stored in your web browser, the first step is to open your browser. Popular browsers include Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
- Find where cookies are stored. Each browser manages cookies in a different location. For example, in Internet Explorer, you can find them by clicking 'Tools' and then 'Internet Options.' From there, select 'General' and 'Browsing history' and 'Settings.' In Chrome, choose 'Preferences' from the Chrome menu in the navigation bar, which will display your settings. Then expand the 'Advanced' option to display 'Privacy and security.' From there, open 'Content settings' and 'Cookies.'
- Manage your cookies. Every browser gives you a range of options for enabling or deleting cookies. Internet Explorer, for instance, allows you to manage cookies under 'Privacy' and 'Advanced.' In Chrome, find where cookies are stored as outlined above, then select your management options under 'Cookies.'
Banning all browser cookies could make some websites difficult to navigate. However, a setting that controls or limits third-party and tracking cookies can help protect your privacy while still making it possible to shop online and carry out similar activities.
Cookie 3 0 12 – Protect Your Online Privacy Screens
Try Norton 360 FREE 30-Day Trial* - Includes Norton Secure VPN
30 days of FREE* comprehensive antivirus, device security and online privacy with Norton Secure VPN.
*Terms Apply
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Copyright © 2021 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
