Browser Cookies

When browsing websites, it is common to find messages asking your permission to use cookies. But what would that be? Cookies are small text files stored on your computer when you visit websites, which are sent back to the websites that generated them when you visit the page again. They are used to maintain information about you, usually to improve your browsing experience.

Cookies store user information and preferences during navigation and can be used, among other things, to keep the user logged in, save the shopping cart, save recently accessed links, and even to target the displayed ads according to your preferences. They are essential to the functioning of websites that require login and password. In shopping websites, for example, it would be impossible to properly navigate without cookies.

Cookies can be temporary (deleted when you close your browser) or permanent (written on your computer until deleted or expired). They can also be classified into primary, when generated by the own visited website, or third-parties’ ones, normally used to login in social networks and display advertisements.

The data obtained are accessible only to those web systems that created the cookies. For example, in the case of third-party cookies used for online ads, the cookies and the data they contain belong to advertising services used, and not to the website. The same third-party service can be adopted by many different websites, so the data stored in these cookies can contribute to the creation of a browsing and consumption profile. They can influence the advertisements shown in different places on the web. 

Important Tips: 

1) Before accepting the use of cookies, try to check for what purpose they will be used. This can usually be done by reading the Privacy Policy. Make sure your data will not be shared with other websites, affecting your privacy. Many websites even allow you to customize the permissions. Accept only those cookies that you consider essential for the functioning of the website you are visiting. 

2) You can perform some settings in your chosen browser, for example, setting privacy levels and restricting third-party cookies. Many advertising companies may use the information obtained to determine your browsing habits, thus affecting your privacy. This adjustment in the settings allows for greater privacy. Keep in mind, however, that this option may also affect the login service via social networks and cause advertisements that are less adherent to your habits to be displayed on websites.

3) Some browsers also have options to delete cookies once they are closed. This is a good option when using third-party equipment or navigating on unknown networks. Another option is to use anonymous or private browsing in your browser. This way, the histories and cookies will be automatically deleted once you close the browser, preventing, for example, that you remain logged in to a website on another person’s computer, even after closing the browser.

Topic suggested by Mayra Pizzott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayra-piz... 

Learn more at:  
https://cartilha.cert.br/livro/cartilha-seguranca-internet.pdf#page=56 (portuguese only)

https://cartilha.cert.br/fasciculos/#privacidade (portuguese only)

Video description

In the first scene, a man uses a laptop; a browser appears on the screen with the website “www.example.br.” Above, the phrase “Many websites generate cookies.” The website image disappears, giving way to an illustration with some chocolate chip cookies. A magnifying glass examines the illustration.

In the second scene, the phrase changes for “Cookies are files downloaded by the browser,” and a file with the image of a chocolate chip cookie appears on the screen along with the download symbol, showing that the file is being downloaded. 

In the third scene, the man visits a website and logs in. He selects the option “Keep logged in”; the file with the cookie saying “Keep logged in” appears. Above, the phrase “Sometimes for easier navigation.” The page changes and several ads appear; then, a cookie file and the phrase “Show ad” appear. After that, the phrase changes to “Sometimes for data collection.” 

In the fourth scene, the man observes the webpage with the title “Privacy Policy.” Above, the phrase “Pay attention to the privacy policies of websites” is shown.