Cookies are sets of text information that are downloaded to your computer, laptop or another device when you visit a website.
Your web browser then sends these cookies back to the home site at each of the following visits or to another site that recognizes those cookies.
Cookie files are used on the website for several reasons. These include the following:
– to allow users to log in to the account;
– to allow users to choose their authentication preferences;
– to monitor and collect information on transactions carried out on the website;
– for advertising;
– for the purpose of preventing fraud and protecting confidentiality, etc.
Cookies are generally used to improve and optimize the user experience. Some of the cookie files we use are essential to the functioning of the website. There are two broad categories of cookies:
– session cookies – these are temporarily stored in the cookie folder of the web browser so that it stores them until the user exits the website or closes the browser window;
– persistent cookies – these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or equipment. Persistent cookies include those placed by a website other than the one the user is visiting at that time – known as cookies placed by third parties, which can be used anonymously to store a user’s interests, so as to deliver the most relevant advertising to users.
In general, an application used to access web pages allows the cookies to be saved on the terminal by default.
These settings can be changed so that the automatic administration of cookies is blocked by the web browser or the user is informed whenever cookies are sent to his terminal. Detailed information about the possibilities and ways of managing cookies can be found in the application settings area (web browser). Limiting the use of cookies may affect certain functionalities of the web page. Cookies are not viruses! They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code so they cannot be executed nor can they self-run. As a result, you cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks to run or replicate again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest websites use cookies, these are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user access to the most popular and used sites. Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make certain websites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
If you do not agree with the use of cookies, you may block any cookie from your browser settings. For more details visit one of the following links:
– http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/196955
– https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en