What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a small text file that is stored on a User’s computer for record-keeping purposes. Cookies gather information about the Users so the website is able to remember their visit when they navigate again. Although it is not known, cookies have been used for 20 years, when the first World Wide Web browsers appeared.
What IS NOT a Cookie?
It is not a virus or a worm, or spam, neither spy-ware, nor it opens pop-up windows.
¿What information does a Cookie store?
Cookies are not used to store personal information about you, such as credit card, bank data, photographs, your ID or personal information, etc. The stored data are technical, or regarding your personal preferences, content customisation, etc.
The web server does not associate you as a person but it focuses on your web browser. Indeed, if you usually navigate using Internet Explorer and try the navigation on the same website through Firefox or Chrome, you will find out that the website does not realise you are the same person because it is actually associating the browser, not the person.
What types of Cookies exist?
- Technical Cookies: these are the most basic ones and allow, amongst other things, to distinguish a human being from an automatised application, an anonymous user from a registered one, basic tasks for the basic performance of any dynamic website.
- Analytical Cookies: they gather information about the user´s browsing experience on the website, usually anonymously, although sometimes they can identify the user explicitly with the purpose to obtain reports about their interests offered by the website.
- Advertising Cookies: they show advertisements depending on your navigation, your home country, language, etc.
What are Own Cookies and Third-Party Cookies?
Own Cookies are those generated by the website you are visiting and Third-Party Cookies are generated by external services such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc.
What happen if I disable Cookies?
In order for you to understand the magnitude of cookies deactivation we show you some examples:
- You will not be able to share contents from that website on Facebook, Twitter or any other social network.
- The website will not be able to adapt its contents to your personal preferences, such as in on-line stores.
- You will not be able to access the personal area of that web, for example My Account, or My Profile, or My Orders.
- On-line Stores: you will not be allowed to carry out on-line shopping, this will have to be made on the telephone or by visiting the physical store.
- You will not be able to customise your geographic preferences such as the time band, currency or language.
- The website will not perform web analysis related to visitors or web traffic, which will affect its competitiveness.
- You will not be able to write on the blog, upload photographs, post comments or value the contents. The website will not be able to determine whether you are human or an automatised application posting spam.
- Sectioning advertising will not be shown, reducing the advertising income of the website.
- Every social network uses cookies, if you disable them, you will not be able to use any social network.
Can Cookies be deleted?
Yes. Not only deleted, also blocked, generally or partially for a specific domain.
In order to delete the cookies of a website you need to access your browser´s configuration and there you will look for those associated to the specific domain and proceed to their elimination.
Cookies configuration for the most popular browsers
Now, we will show you how to access to a particular cookie from the Chrome browser. Note: these steps may vary according to the browser´s version.
- Go to Settings of Preferences through the File menu or by clicking on the Personalisation icon at the top right.
- You will see different sections, click on the option Show Advanced Options.
- Go to Privacy. Content configuration.
- Select all the cookies and location data.
- A list with all the cookies ordered by domain will appear. To make the process of finding all the cookies of a determined domain easier, introduce partial or completely the address in the Find Cookies field.
- After performing this filtration one or several lines with the demanded website cookies will appear on screen. Now you only need to select it and press the X to continue with its elimination.
To access the configuration of the cookies on the browser Internet Explorer follow these steps (they may vary according to the version of the browser):
- Go to Tools, Internet Options.
- Click on Privacy.
- Adjust the slider until you reach the desired privacy level.
To access the cookies´ configuration on the Firefox browser follow these steps (they may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Go to Options or Preferences, depending on your operating system.
- Click on Privacy.
- Use custom settings for history.
- Now you will see the option Accept cookies, you can enable or disable it according to your preferences.
To access the cookies´ configuration on the Safari for OSX browser follow these steps (they may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Go to Preferences, then Privacy.
- Here you will see the Block Cookies option to adjust the kind of blocking you wish to do.
To access the cookies´ configuration on the Safari for iOS browser follow these steps (they may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Go to Settings, then Safari.
- Go to Privacy and Security, you will see the Block Cookies option to adjust the kind of blocking you wish to do.
To access the cookies´ configuration for Android devices follow these steps (they may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Open the browser, press the Menu button, then go to Settings.
- Go to Security and Privacy, you will see the option Accept Cookies, you´ll be able to able or disable them.
To access the cookies´ configuration for Windows Phone devices follow these steps (they may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Open Internet Explorer, then More, then Settings.
- Now you can able or disable the field Allow Cookies.
Cookies Adviser is a plug-in developed for Word Press