Everyone who uses the internet for anything must, at one point, have come across the word ‘cookie.’ Some websites would alert us that they work better by saving cookies on our system. Other times, the savvier users, when clearing their browsing history, may see a ‘clear cookies’ option of their web browsers, but what exactly is this cookie? No, cookies, in tech are not made in the kitchen.
What Do Cookies Really Do?
Internet or web cookies are messages a web server sends to users’ internet browsers, and cookies are primarily used for recognizing users and saving some of their browsing data in order to customize their web browsing experience.
When you visit a site that makes use of cookies, the website may require that you complete a form; on this form, you provide some information, such as your email address, name, address, and so on, depending on what the website or platform needs in order to enhance your browsing experience on your subsequent visits. Note that sites have no memory; this information is stored in the message sent to your web browser.
The next time you visit that website, they retrieve this information from your browser, and so the site recalls who you are and your browsing preferences on navigating their site. So, you get customized web pages like a page with your name on it.
Types of Internet Cookies
Websites store two major types of cookies on users’ PCs. Internet cookies could either be session cookies or persistent cookies. The simple difference between these two types of cookies is that the session cookies (AKA transient cookies) are deleted when the user closes his internet browser, but the persistent cookies (AKA stored cookies) are not.
Session cookies are stored temporarily on your computer, where the website can retrieve them at will until you close your browser. These cookies do not collect any data from your computer but will save information as a session indication that does not identify the user personally.
Persistent cookies, on the other hand, have expiration dates and remain on your hard disk till they expire, or till the user removes them. These cookies are used to collect user data, identifying his or her internet browsing preferences and browsing behavior for a particular website. They are not necessarily bad, but the considerably improve your browsing experience.
Why You Should Be Aware of Cookies
In this day and age, data is a big deal; you cannot say you do not care because you should. Internet cookies usually contain a string of texts with information about your browser and information that you must have provided at some point. Now, this information should be encrypted to prevent third parties from getting their hands on them.
Cookies do not usually compromise internet security. However, there are malicious cookies that the bad guys use in tracking and collecting your internet activity; these cookies are known as tracking cookies or simply malicious cookies. These cookies are the reason you should beware of cookies while on the net. These guys remain in your browser to spy on you. Malicious cookies are configured to monitor you, collect your information, and basically create a profile of your internet behavior. We call cookies developed for these kinds of activities adware or spyware. For example, a new trojan, named Stresspaint, discovered hidden inside a free Windows software called "Relieve Stress Paint," spread through аоӏ.net —a site that utilizes Unicode characters, which spell out ‘xn--80a2a18a.net,’ in Punycode.
Why You Should Be Afraid of Malicious Cookies Even If You Have Nothing to Hide
I mentioned that these malicious cookies build a profile about you; these profiles are often extremely valuable; enough for the proprietors to sell to advertising companies, who then use your profile information to target you with tailored advertisements.
Tailored advertisements can kill you because it is not just ads. Let’s say, for instance; you have two health products; the product A is of very high quality, but product B is made by quacks and only out to get your money. Now, the owners of product B (who happen to be crooked businessmen) lay their hands on user’s browsing behavior and do some incredibly targeted advertising. The user then gets on the web and starts Googling about the products; the user will be shown adverts of the products he or she is searching for; with the adverts even containing similar keywords the user had searched with previously. The unsuspecting user will end up opting for the wrong products due to such intense targeted advertising. As they say, the possibilities are endless. Still not bothered?
Some malware not only track your browsing behavior, but also your keystrokes. They monitor exactly everything you type including your passwords, bank account details, answers to security questions, and so on. Many antivirus programs detect malicious cookies on your computer when scanning for viruses. While most of these trusted antivirus programs will surely reduce your chances of getting spied on, you cannot completely rely on them for many reasons. I know big, reputable antivirus companies that develop and distribute viruses, while also marketing the antivirus programs that protect users from these viruses; funding both sides of the war.
Reason Core Security anti-malware is an anti-malware software I use and highly recommend.
Also, outdated versions or databases of antivirus programs make you more vulnerable to attacks, and some viruses are so well crafted that antiviruses can just not find them.
Even if you had 100% protection from viruses and spyware (which is not possible, by the way), harm could be done before your next scan. So, prevention is definitely better than cure. In my next post, I will show you how to identify internet cookies, view them, and how to remove these internet cookies from your system.
Source: www.ilesecure.com/why-you-should-bother-about-internet-cookies
What Do Cookies Really Do?
Internet or web cookies are messages a web server sends to users’ internet browsers, and cookies are primarily used for recognizing users and saving some of their browsing data in order to customize their web browsing experience.
When you visit a site that makes use of cookies, the website may require that you complete a form; on this form, you provide some information, such as your email address, name, address, and so on, depending on what the website or platform needs in order to enhance your browsing experience on your subsequent visits. Note that sites have no memory; this information is stored in the message sent to your web browser.
The next time you visit that website, they retrieve this information from your browser, and so the site recalls who you are and your browsing preferences on navigating their site. So, you get customized web pages like a page with your name on it.
Types of Internet Cookies
Websites store two major types of cookies on users’ PCs. Internet cookies could either be session cookies or persistent cookies. The simple difference between these two types of cookies is that the session cookies (AKA transient cookies) are deleted when the user closes his internet browser, but the persistent cookies (AKA stored cookies) are not.
Session cookies are stored temporarily on your computer, where the website can retrieve them at will until you close your browser. These cookies do not collect any data from your computer but will save information as a session indication that does not identify the user personally.
Persistent cookies, on the other hand, have expiration dates and remain on your hard disk till they expire, or till the user removes them. These cookies are used to collect user data, identifying his or her internet browsing preferences and browsing behavior for a particular website. They are not necessarily bad, but the considerably improve your browsing experience.
Why You Should Be Aware of Cookies
In this day and age, data is a big deal; you cannot say you do not care because you should. Internet cookies usually contain a string of texts with information about your browser and information that you must have provided at some point. Now, this information should be encrypted to prevent third parties from getting their hands on them.
Cookies do not usually compromise internet security. However, there are malicious cookies that the bad guys use in tracking and collecting your internet activity; these cookies are known as tracking cookies or simply malicious cookies. These cookies are the reason you should beware of cookies while on the net. These guys remain in your browser to spy on you. Malicious cookies are configured to monitor you, collect your information, and basically create a profile of your internet behavior. We call cookies developed for these kinds of activities adware or spyware. For example, a new trojan, named Stresspaint, discovered hidden inside a free Windows software called "Relieve Stress Paint," spread through аоӏ.net —a site that utilizes Unicode characters, which spell out ‘xn--80a2a18a.net,’ in Punycode.
Why You Should Be Afraid of Malicious Cookies Even If You Have Nothing to Hide
I mentioned that these malicious cookies build a profile about you; these profiles are often extremely valuable; enough for the proprietors to sell to advertising companies, who then use your profile information to target you with tailored advertisements.
Tailored advertisements can kill you because it is not just ads. Let’s say, for instance; you have two health products; the product A is of very high quality, but product B is made by quacks and only out to get your money. Now, the owners of product B (who happen to be crooked businessmen) lay their hands on user’s browsing behavior and do some incredibly targeted advertising. The user then gets on the web and starts Googling about the products; the user will be shown adverts of the products he or she is searching for; with the adverts even containing similar keywords the user had searched with previously. The unsuspecting user will end up opting for the wrong products due to such intense targeted advertising. As they say, the possibilities are endless. Still not bothered?
Some malware not only track your browsing behavior, but also your keystrokes. They monitor exactly everything you type including your passwords, bank account details, answers to security questions, and so on. Many antivirus programs detect malicious cookies on your computer when scanning for viruses. While most of these trusted antivirus programs will surely reduce your chances of getting spied on, you cannot completely rely on them for many reasons. I know big, reputable antivirus companies that develop and distribute viruses, while also marketing the antivirus programs that protect users from these viruses; funding both sides of the war.
Reason Core Security anti-malware is an anti-malware software I use and highly recommend.
Also, outdated versions or databases of antivirus programs make you more vulnerable to attacks, and some viruses are so well crafted that antiviruses can just not find them.
Even if you had 100% protection from viruses and spyware (which is not possible, by the way), harm could be done before your next scan. So, prevention is definitely better than cure. In my next post, I will show you how to identify internet cookies, view them, and how to remove these internet cookies from your system.
Source: www.ilesecure.com/why-you-should-bother-about-internet-cookies
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