Do you know why, every time you visit a new website, you are faced with a pop-up asking you to accept cookies? Do you even know what you are accepting?

If you’ve ever wondered what cookies are, feel flustered when a website asks you for “permissions”, or if you are confused about which cookies you should accept, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve put together a beginner’s guide to cookies to answer all of your questions. So, if you're confused or worried about cookies, read on to find out more.

what are cookies? Data across your devices

The term “cookie” refers to a small text file which is sent from the website you are visiting to your browser. Your browser then processes and stores this file.

These text files—the "cookies"—help websites remember information about your visit. They also monitor your information and send this back to the website from your device the next time you visit.

This might sound alarming, but cookies can be helpful, and are generally easy to find and delete—if needed. More on that later.

Why Do Websites Have Cookies?

Nearly all websites have cookies because businesses can use them to provide insights on a user’s online activity.

Advertisers utilize cookies to track the online activity of web users. They do this by obtaining data from cookies to work out how to target individuals with their own highly specific ads.

Why Do Websites Ask Me to Accept Cookies?

Cookies and data security

Because cookies can contain vast amounts of data, the information can be considered as personal and is therefore regulated. In the European Union, for example, websites must adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The UK, although no longer an EU member, also has data privacy laws that are similar to GDPR.

Thanks to the GDPR’s ruling, you now have more control over which cookies you share from your device. The ePrivacy Directive—aka “the Cookie Law”—is the reason you will see cookie consent pop ups when you visit websites.

As annoying as these may be, these pop ups are what give you control over what data you share about yourself.

The Cookie Law dictates that all websites must ask visitors for permission to obtain and store any information from and about them. As cookies could potentially identify you from your data, choosing which cookies to accept or reject is important for privacy protection.

What Are The Different Types of Cookies?

devices and cookies

There are three types of cookies, which are generally classified by their:

  • Duration (how long they store your information for).
  • Provenance (that’s your first-party and third-party cookies).
  • Purpose (this is when you see “essential”, “preferences”, “statistics”, and “marketing” cookie options.

Let’s briefly explain each of the three types of cookies to help you understand what kind of data each may contain.

Duration cookies

There are two types of duration cookies:

  • Session Cookies: temporary cookies which expire once you end or session on the webpage, or close your browser.
  • Persistent Cookies: these are all other cookies that remain on your device until you or your browser delete them. This could be for up to 12 months or more.

Provenance Cookies

There are two types of provenance cookies:

  • First-Party Cookies: these are cookies which come directly from the website you are visiting and stored on your device.
  • Third-Party Cookies: these are cookies that come from a third party, such as an advertiser or an analytic system, and stored on your device.

Purpose Cookies

The four purpose cookies are:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies: Also known as “essential” cookies. These allow you to access secure areas of a website. For example: You can save items in a shopping basket while browsing the rest of the website. These cookies are mostly first-party cookies (they come directly from the website you are visiting).
  • Preferences Cookies: Commonly referred to as “functionality” cookies. These allow a website to remember your preferences that you made the last time you visited. This can include your language, or user name and password credentials.
  • Statistics Cookies: Also called “performance” cookies. Their aim is to improve website functions. They collect information on how you use a website. This data can’t be used to identify you, just which pages you visited and which links you clicked on. Cookies may be from third-party analytic services.
  • Marketing Cookies: advertisers use these cookies to track visitors online activity to inform and deliver relevant ads to them. These cookies can share information with other organizations. They are often from third parties.

Related: What Does the "Keep Me Logged In" Checkbox Do?

Should I be Worried About Cookies and My Privacy?

picture of someone's hands up against a screen

Some people worry about the risk of their privacy when it comes to cookies, especially when it comes to third-party marketing cookies.

These types of cookies can contain a significant amount of information about your online behaviour, preferences, and locations. As there can be a chain of who can access the data from these cookies, there can be a potential for the abuse of information acquired.

Luckily, you can choose to opt out of accepting third-party cookies to reduce the risk of your data being misused.

All websites should offer an opt-it pop up for cookies to give you more control over the data you share. If a website does not do this, it is not complying with the GDPR rules and could be fined.

Which Cookies Should I Accept?

only accept cookies from trusted websites

On any website, you do not have to accept cookies. You have the option to reject all. The problem with this is some websites may restrict or block your access to their website.

Some cookies can be helpful because:

  • They may grant you access to a website.
  • They can help improve your experience, such as remembering what you saved in your shopping basket, even if you left the website.
  • They can make logging in quicker by saving your credentials.

It’s okay to accept some cookies if you trust the website. Always check for a padlock symbol, displayed next to the URL address on your browser. This indicates that the site is secure, meaning your data is protected.

 

If you trust the website, you can accept:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies: Many websites require these for their site to function properly.
  • Preference Cookies: You can authorise these cookies to improve your experience. It may speed up the website or allow you to log in quicker by remembering your details.

If you do not trust the website, you always have the option to reject cookies.

Which Cookies Should I Reject?

Browser Cookies

There are a few occasions when it is worth rejecting cookies:

  • If it isn’t an encrypted website. Always check for the padlock sign next to the URL address on your browser. If you don’t see the padlock, don’t accept the cookies on that website.
  • Third-party cookies. As mentioned above, you don’t know who will obtain your data with third-party cookies, and there is the potential for abuse. Reject these ones.
  • Any time you are sharing sensitive data—bank information, for example—reject cookies. You don’t want this information shared.

Storing lots of cookies can also slow your browser, so reducing the amount you accept in the first place will reduce the impact on your hard drive.

Related: How to Disable or Enable Cookies in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

How Do I Delete Stored Cookies?

picture of the major web browser logos

If you’re worried about the cookies stored on your device, or if your device is running slow, you can always delete them.

Deleting cookies on different browsers is a fairly standard process:

  • Find the “settings” on your browser. This can often be identified by three vertical dots located in the top left or right of your screen.
  • Some browser settings have a search bar. Type in “cookies” to find the setting for these. If not, look for “privacy”, “cookies”, or “advanced” settings.
  • You should be able to click on “clear browsing data” or similar to remove all cookies.

You can find out how to delete cookies on different browsers in an article we wrote on the topic.

You can also choose to block cookies in your browser’s settings to stop them accumulating in the first place. This is useful if you want to block all third party cookies.

Related: Firefox Now Blocks Tracking Cookies for Everyone

Not All Cookies Are Bad

Hopefully this guide has helped you to understand what cookies are, why they exist, and the different types of cookies you can encounter. With this information you have the power to choose which cookies you accept or reject, and ultimately protect your privacy.