What is a cookie?
A cookie is a harmless text file that is stored in your browser when you visit almost any website. The usefulness of the cookie is that it enables the website to be able to remember your visit next time you browse that page. Although many people do not know this, cookies have been used since 20 years ago, when first browsers for the World Wide Web appeared.
What IS NOT a cookie?
It is not a virus or a Trojan or a worm, or spam, no spyware, nor it opens pop-up window.
What information does a cookie store?
Cookies do not usually store sensitive information about you, such as credit card or bank account information, photographs, your identity card or personal information, etc. The data stored are technical, personal preferences, personalized content, etc.
The web server does not associate you as a person but to your web browser. In fact, if you usually browse with Internet Explorer and try browsing the same web with Firefox or Chrome you will see that the web does not realize that you are the same person because it really is partnering with the browser, not the person.
What kind of cookies are there?
Technical Cookies: These are the most basic and allow to know, among other things, a human or an automated application is navigating, and when an anonymous or a registered user navigates; basic tasks for the operation of any dynamic web.
Analysis Cookies: They compile information on the type of navigation performed, most used sections, reference numbers, time slot of use, language, etc.
Advertising Cookies: They show advertising based on your browsing, country of origin, language, etc.
What are own and third-party cookies?
Own cookies are those generated by the page you are visiting and third-party cookies are those generated by internal or external providers such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc.
What happens if I disable cookies?
To understand the extent of disabling cookies, we show some examples:
You cannot share content from that page on Facebook, Twitter or any other social network.
The web site will not adapt content to your personal preferences, as it often happens in the online stores.
You cannot access the personal area of the web, such as My Account, or My profile or My orders.
Online shopping: It will be impossible to make purchases online, you would have to make a telephone call or visit the physical store if there is one.
It will not be possible to customize your geographic preferences as time zone, currency or language.
The web site will not perform web analytics on visitors and web traffic, making it difficult to be competitive anywhere.
You may not blog, you can not upload photos, post comments, value or rate content. The web may not know whether you are a human or an automated application that publishes spam.
No sectorized advertising will be displayed, which will reduce advertising revenue on the web.
All social networks use cookies, if they are disabled you will not be able to use any social network.
Can I delete cookies?
Yes. You can not only remove them, but also block them, in general or in particular for an specific domain.
To remove cookies from a website should go to your browser settings, where you can find the associated domain in question and proceed to its elimination.
Cookie settings for popular browsers:
Here’s how to access to a particular Chrome browser cookie. Note: These steps may vary depending on the browser version:
- Go to Settings or Preferences using the File menu or by clicking the customized icon that appears top right.
- You will see different sections, click the “Show Advanced Options” option.
- Go to Privacy Settings content.
- Select “all cookies and site data”.
- A lists of all cookies, ordered by domain, will appear. To make it easier to find the cookies of a specific domain, partially or fully enter the address in the field “search cookies”.
- After using this filter you will see on the screen one or more lines with the cookies of the requested Web. Now just select it and press X to proceed with removal.
To access the cookie settings in Internet Explorer follow these steps (which may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Go to Tools, Internet Options
- Click on Privacy.
- Move the slider to adjust the level of privacy you want.
To access settings Firefox browser cookies follow these steps (which may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Go to Options or Preferences for your operating system.
- Click on Privacy.
- In History select “Use custom settings for history”.
- Now you will see the “Accept Cookies” option, you can enable it or disable it according to your preferences.
To access the settings of the Safari browser cookies OSX follow these steps (which may vary depending on the browser version):
- Go to Settings, then Privacy.
- Here you will find the “Block cookies” option, where you can adjust the type of lock to perform.
To access the cookie settings of the Safari browser for iOS follow these steps (which may vary depending on the browser version):
- Go to Settings, then Safari.
- Go to Privacy & Security, where you will find the “Block cookies” option, to fit the type of lock to perform
To access the browser cookie settings for Android devices follow these steps (which may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Run the browser and press Menu, then Settings button.
- Go to Security and Privacy, see the “Accept cookies” option to select or clear the check box.
To access the browser cookie settings for Windows Phone devices follow these steps (which may vary depending on the version of the browser):
- Open Internet Explorer, then More, then Settings
- Now you can enable or disable the Allow cookies.