About the use of cookies: Definition, Functioning and Types
Cookies are fundamental to modern web browsing, but their function and impact on privacy and user experience often raise many questions. This article offers a detailed, clear, and comprehensive explanation of what cookies are, how they work, the different types that exist, and their uses, integrating key and up-to-date information from multiple reference sources to give you a complete and current understanding of this important topic.
What exactly are cookies and why are they used?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) when you access certain websites. Their main function is to store and retrieve information related to your browsing activity on that device. Simply put, each time you visit a website, the server can send one of these files to your browser, which is then sent back to the server on your next visit so that the website can "recognize" you.
This recognition allows websites to personalize your digital experience , remembering information such as your login details, language preferences, items saved in a shopping cart, or even allowing you to remain logged in even if you temporarily close your browser. The use of cookies is based on improving and personalizing the user's browsing experience, while also enabling web developers to offer a more efficient service tailored to your browsing habits.
However, it's important to emphasize that cookies themselves do not allow for the personal identification of the user . The data they collect is mostly technical and statistical in nature, and their main purpose is to improve website functionality and optimize the user experience.
International regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), require websites to inform and request consent for the use of certain cookies, providing greater transparency and control for users over their privacy in the digital environment.
How Cookies Work: A Practical Example
To better understand how cookies work, let's use a common example: when you visit an online store, you add products to your shopping cart and browse through different sections. If you close your browser and later return to the same website, cookies allow your shopping cart to retain the products you selected. This is possible because the website identifies your previous visit using the cookie stored on your device.
Technically, this process involves generating and sending a cookie with a unique identifier to your browser when you connect to a website. On subsequent visits, your browser sends that cookie back to the server, allowing the website to recover your previous session status and provide a more seamless and personalized experience.
Cookies work through "name-value" pairs that indicate what information should be retrieved and associated with your session. For example, if you have configured your language preferences or visual themes, the website will consult these values to display the interface as you left it on previous visits.
What information do cookies actually store?
Cookies generally do not store sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, photographs, or bank details. The type of information contained in a cookie is technical and functional: session identifiers, browsing preferences, language settings, data related to user authentication, or anonymous browsing patterns for statistical analysis.
The association the web server makes is with your browser and device, not with your personal user identity. Therefore, if you access a website from different browsers or devices, each one will be managed independently.
Advantages and risks of cookies for the user
Advantages:
- They allow you to browse in a personalized way, remembering preferences, logins, and visited content.
- They make it easier to make online purchases and manage incomplete shopping carts or orders.
- They enable the operation of restricted areas (e.g. user profiles or forums).
- They provide developers with anonymous usage metrics that improve website performance and security.
Risks:
- Some cookies may track your browsing habits for advertising or marketing purposes, impacting your privacy.
- Certain persistent or third-party cookies can accumulate large amounts of data about your digital activity across different websites.
- In very specific scenarios, cybercriminals could attempt to exploit vulnerabilities associated with poorly managed cookies to gain unauthorized access to information.
Cookies are, in the vast majority of cases, secure and user-controllable. You simply need to manage their settings from your browser or through consent systems on the website itself.
Types of cookies according to their permanence and purpose
Cookies can be classified from different perspectives: their duration, their origin, and their purpose on the website. Here's a detailed classification with explanations and specific examples.
- Session Cookies: They are stored temporally Cookies are stored in the device's memory while the user remains on the page and are deleted when the browser is closed. They are essential for features such as temporary authentication and shopping cart maintenance.
- Persistent Cookies: These cookies remain stored on the device for a defined period, which can range from minutes to several years, until the user manually deletes them or they expire automatically. They are used to remember data and preferences from previous visits.
- own cookies: They are generated directly by the website being visited, managing its own information and operation.
- Third Party Cookies: These are installed by services external to the main website (for example, social networks, advertising services or analysis platforms such as Google Analytics) that may collect data for their own purposes.
Classification of cookies according to their purpose
- Technical or essential cookies: These cookies allow you to browse and use the website's various features, such as identifying your session, accessing restricted areas, making purchases, and managing security and data communication. These cookies are essential for the website to function properly.
- Personalization or preference cookies: They remember user settings, such as language, browser type, page layout, or previously selected content.
- Analysis or measurement cookies: They collect anonymous information about user behavior on the website, allowing us to measure activity and implement improvements based on statistics. For example, they can determine which sections are most visited or the average time spent on the site.
- Advertising cookies: They manage the display of advertisements based on the user's browsing history, location, or preferences, facilitating the creation of profiles to offer tailored advertising and increase the effectiveness of campaigns.
- Social cookies: These are used when sharing content on social networks from the page itself, allowing you to connect with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other accounts.
- Security cookies: They are used to detect security risks or identify unauthorized access attempts, protecting the integrity of the user and the website.
- Multimedia playback cookies: They allow you to automatically play videos, audios or other interactive content on the web.
- Plug-in cookies: They are typically used to integrate specific functionalities provided by third parties, such as video players, commenting systems, or advanced forms.
Practical examples: How cookies influence your digital experience
- Al Log In On a page, an authentication cookie remembers your identity until you close your browser or click "log out."
- A news site may use personalization cookies to show you your favorite sections directly upon accessing the site.
- Online stores retain products added to your shopping cart, even if you temporarily leave the page, using session or persistent cookies.
- Analytics cookies collect information about how you navigate the website, allowing site managers to improve your experience and detect errors.
- The ads you see while browsing are usually tailored to your preferences and interests, detected through behavioral advertising cookies.
First-party cookies vs. third-party cookies: Key differences
First-party cookies are issued directly by the domain of the website you visited. They are generally safer because they can only be read by that domain. In contrast, third-party cookies are implemented by different domains; they are usually associated with external services such as social networks, data analytics platforms, or advertisers. These cookies can track your activity across different websites and, therefore, have more significant privacy implications.
Currently, many regulations and browsers have significantly reduced the use of third-party cookies to protect user privacy, allowing for greater customization of cookie control through each browser's settings.
Other special categories of cookies
- Zombie cookies or "supercookies"These persistent cookies are particularly problematic because they can be restored even after being deleted, making them difficult to permanently remove. They are often used for advanced tracking and require specific tools for their management.
- Magic Cookies: A historical concept, now obsolete, that referred to information exchanged without modification between the user and the server, inspired by the "magic cookie" formerly used in corporate database systems.
What happens if you disable or delete cookies?
Disabling or deleting cookies from your browser can have different consequences, depending on the types of cookies involved:
- You won't be able to automatically access personal accounts or saved sessions; you'll need to log in manually each time you visit.
- Your personalized settings, shopping carts, and saved preferences will be lost when you close your browser.
- Personalization and content customization features will be limited.
- Web platforms will not be able to offer you ads or recommendations based on your browsing history.
- Many advanced website features, such as forums, comments, or online shopping, may not function properly if technical cookies are blocked.
- Some pages may prevent access if you block all cookies, as these are necessary to ensure security and proper functioning of the system.
Is it possible to delete or manage cookies?
Yes, most major browsers allow you to manage, delete, or block cookies both generally and by specific domain. These options are generally found in the "Privacy" or "Security" section of the settings menu:
- You can choose whether to accept all cookies, only first-party cookies, or block third-party cookies.
- You can set your browser to delete all cookies each time you close it or to keep them only during specific sessions.
- Most browsers offer an "incognito" or "private" mode option, where cookies are automatically deleted at the end of the session.
Cookie settings in the most used browsers
Google Chrome :
- Go to Settings or Settings.
- Select Privacy and security.
- Access Cookie Settings and other site data.
- From here you can manage cookie permissions, block them, or selectively delete them.
Mozilla Firefox :
- You must access the Options menu.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Manage cookies in the History or Cookies and site data section.
- Allows you to disable or delete cookies, as well as configure exceptions.
Safari (Mac/iOS):
- On Mac: Preferences > Privacy > Cookie Management.
- On iOS: Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
Microsoft Edge :
- Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
- Manage permissions and deleting cookies from there.
Internet Explorer :
- Tools > Internet Options > Privacy.
- From here you can adjust your privacy level and manage cookies individually.
Remember that browser updates can change access to these settings, but they typically remain in the sections mentioned above.
Recommendations for responsible cookie management
- Always read the cookie policies of the websites you visit and check what types of cookies you accept.
- Use your browser settings to limit or allow only necessary or trusted cookies.
- Delete cookies regularly if you're concerned about your privacy or want to prevent tracking of your online habits.
- Consider using extensions or specific tools to increase control over cookies and online tracking.
- Keeping in mind that blocking cookies completely can negatively affect the functionality of many websites.
Legal compliance and cookie consent
Currently, compliance with cookie legislation requires websites to:
- Notify the user about the existence and use of non-essential cookies.
- Obtain explicit consent before installing any cookie that is not technical or necessary for the basic functioning of the website.
- Provide clear information about the type of cookies used, their purpose, and how the user can manage them.
The user always has the right to withdraw consent for the use of cookies at any time by configuring their settings or by contacting the website administrators.
Frequently asked questions about cookies
- Can cookies infect my computer? No. Cookies are not programs, nor do they contain executable code. They cannot spread viruses or malware.
- Can I browse the Internet without accepting cookies? Yes, but the functionality and customization of many sites may be limited.
- Are there alternatives to cookies? There are other local storage or tracking technologies on the web, but cookies remain the most widely used and user-controllable system.
- Can I easily delete all cookies? Most browsers offer the ability to delete all cookies in just a few clicks from the settings menu.
Cookies, an essential tool in the modern digital experience, have evolved from simple login reminders to sophisticated personalization and web behavior analysis systems. With proper knowledge and responsible management, you can enjoy all the benefits that cookies offer while maintaining a high level of privacy and security while browsing.
