HTTP Cookies: Positive and Negative Impacts
IFSM 201 4060
April 30, 2017
Mercedes M. Silva
An HTTP cookie is a small text file of information that is stored on a user’s computer when it accesses a website and is passed back and forth between server and website. Typically, this data may record and track a user’s browser history, account details, among other information among other information (Randa Tantawi, 2016). While some types of cookies are necessary for web browsers to function, their use has raised concerns about violation of privacy and security.
Cookies were introduced by Netscape Communications in its first navigation browser, released in 1994 (Randa Tantawi, 2016). The name comes from the computer term “magic cookie,” (Randa Tantawi, 2016) used to let web servers create a custom pages for users and help web servers remember details about the user, often for identification purposes (Simon Perkins, 2000).
When a user is browsing the web, the browser server interacts with the server hosting a website. The server treats the connections as a new request and it does not recognize previous interactions. Cookies main used is for Session Management, which are stored only for the length of a user’s browsing session and are deleted when the browser is closed and persistent cookies which remain stored on the user’s computer until they are deleted or they expire. The next time the browser connects to the server, the server examines the cookie to find out which user is connecting and reminds the application of its state. If the user does something to change the application’s state,
Such as adding an additional item to a virtual shopping cart, the server updates the information in the cookie. Cookies also allow websites to track which pages you visit to better understand how a user navigates the site. With this information, they can organize the site so it is easier to use or so that information is easier to find (David Kristol 2000).
Cookies have two differentcategories: session cookies, which are store only for the length of a user’s browsing session and are deleted when the browser is closed, and persistent cookies, which remain stored on the user’s computer until they are deleted or they expire. First-party cookies include authentication cookies, which are created when a user logs into an account on a website and identify that user until he or she logs out, and can be either session cookies or persistent cookies. Third-party cookies can also usually persistent, are set by a website other than the one you are currently on. One type is the third-party tracking cooking, that maintains a record of a user’s browsing history, which may be used by companies to gather consumer data or more precisely target advertisements that the user is more likely to use, based on their browsing pattern (David Kristol, 2000) (Randa Tantawi, 2016).
The threat to privacy exist even, when cookie usage improves the web browsing process. Using cookies while provides a profile or a user based on their browsing activity, which can be sold by advertising companies. Should this information be sold, it could then be resold to someone else. Servers will sometimes log IP addresses of the computers connecting to them, to identify the user (Simon Perkins, 2000). Advertising companies often use images in junk mail to gain access to a user’s email address (Simon Perkins, 2000). A user’s identity could also be revealed through their e-mail address, which a cookie is allowed access to. This could result in a serious invasion of privacy and be a potential threat to security.
Luckily, all major browsers have settings that allow the user to block third-party cookies. This is a prevention for websites on other domains from putting a cookie in the user’s browser and will stop advertising networks from tracking the user (safervpn, 2017). However, disabling third-party cookies does not eliminate the profiling of users completely as some websites that serve their own ads can still create profiles of visitors (Simon Perkins, 2000).
Most browsers also come with a privacy browsing mode that prevents the browser from reading or storing any cookies for that session (safervpn, 2017). The user could also clear cookies through the browser setting, or regularly run a utility program, such as CCleaner (Piriform, Ltd, 2016).
Practice basic internet safeguards, use different passwords for all websites you browse. Cookies help provide the best web browsing experience. They personalize browsing, they make it easier to login to emails and other websites, and they save items in shopping carts. Cookies can track activities and store information. Users are vulnerable to security and privacy risks. Specifically, the use of cookies in online advertising. There are tools a user may use to reduce these risks and protect the user’s online privacy.
References
Kristol, D. (n.d.). HTTP Cookies: Standards, privacy and Politics. ACM Transactions on
internet Technology, Volume1,No(2), 151-198. Retrieved from Citeseerx.edu:
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download/doi=10.1.1.544.5747&rep=rep1&ty
Piriform. (2016). What is a Ccleaner. Retrieved from Piriform.com:
doi:https://www.piriform.com/docs/ccleaner/introducing-ccleaner
Tanwani, R. (2016, January). HTTP cookie. Retrieved April 29, 2017, from http://demo.stacksdiscovery.com/eds/detail?db=ers&an=90558350
Safervpn. (2017, January 15) Everything You Need to Know about Tracking Cookies. (2017, January 15). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://www.safervpn.com/blog/tracking-cookies/
