Internet Cookies and Confidentiality
From Computing and Software Wiki
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Revision as of 22:18, 9 December 2007
Contents |
Internet Cookies and Confidentiality
Internet cookies or just cookies are small text files that are used by web site designers to enhance the browsing experience by enabling quick authentication, storing user prefernces, and tailoring sites for individual experience. Although cookies allow for a better browsing experience there is much misguided confusion and concern regarding internet cookies by the general public which will be addressed below. Internet cookies are not porgrams and cannot collect data, surfing tendencies debit or credit card information stored on a users computer. However there are a some confidentiality and privacy concerns regarding internet cookies that users should be aware of when browsing the internet.
Definition
An internet cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard drive by a web server when you access certain sites. These text files can contain data about your login informatoin, preferences, and keep track of current shopping carts. The text files only contain information that the user has given to the current site. Sites that do not share specific domains cannot share cookie information, collected or access another sites cookie.
Purpose
Cookies are used for serveral different purposes when creating a web site. They are used both by the site developers for keeping track of how many people visit the site, how many new versus repeat users are visiting the site and how ofter peopel visit the site. This informatoin allow owner and developers to monitor the susscess of their site or parts of their site. Cookies can also be used to enhance the users expeience as well. Cookes allow webstie to save specific user prefferences when they browse, such as page layouts, visual designs and favour sections. Cookies have also allowed sites to implement shopping carts which allow for e-commerce.
