Who doesn't love cookies?

From chocolate chip to peanut butter to sugar cookies that you can decorate any way you want, cookies are probably one of the most fun things to talk or read about.

Unfortunately, that will have to be for another time because this article is about the other type of cookies.

Instead, we’re talking about the not-so-yummy cookies that show up on your computer. These types of cookies are used to identify you when you’re new to a website. They act to transfer information between a site you’re visiting and your browser. Cookies help the site, as well as any advertisers, track when you visit and what you view.

Overall, they are a useful tool in helping to streamline your experience as you visit sites online. Think of them as leaving a trail of cookie crumbs to show where you’ve been.

It’s important to note that not all cookies are bad. But it’s just as important to be educated about them so that you know what to look for. Having this knowledge will help you to ensure you aren’t handing all your personal data over to hackers.

How cookies can be helpful

If you’ve ever saved login information on a site, then you’re aware you won’t need to type it again the next time you visit.

What about leaving items in an online shopping cart? You get distracted and have to log off the site. When you go back the next day to add items or checkout, all the items in your cart are still there. The same goes for sites where you’ve entered a zip code to check the weather or your favorite sports team to find a score.

All these scenarios are possible, thanks to cookies. They save your information on sites to your browser so that you can retrieve them later.

When cookies go bad

While it’s great to think of how cookies can enhance our online experience, they also have a dark side.

Technically, it’s not the cookies themselves that are bad. They’re not responsible for viruses or other malware that can unexpectedly show up on devices.

The problem is that hackers can gain access to them through unsecured sites and tap into the data that’s stored within them. That means they will have the capability to view and track your sensitive data and browsing activity.

Ever notice how when you visit certain sites or click on an ad, and then you’re inundated with additional ads from that company or product? Advertising networks set and utilize cookies to track ads you’ve clicked on. Then, they show you similar ads in an effort to increase the relevance of the ads you see.

While more ads may be a bit of a nuisance, there’s something else that happens when cookies are created. Since new cookies are created on every site you visit, they can take up disk space and slow down your computer.

What to do about cookies on your devices

As you’ve seen above, cookies can be a good thing and can help you surf the internet more easily. However, you do have options for limiting the cookies that end up on your devices.

If you want cookies to keep improving your online experience, you can change the settings in your browser to allow for them. Under your browser’s settings and privacy options, click where it states to allow cookies. You can always go back and change it if you decide you don’t want to allow them.

But what about the cookies already on your computer?

If you want to delete existing cookies, go to your browser settings and click the option to clear cookies. PC optimizers like System Mechanic can detect and remove expired browser cookies in addition repairing registry issues, removing broken shortcuts and more in just one click. Keep in mind that if you do remove them that all the saved login information on sites and any pending shopping carts will be emptied. Having a password manager like LastPass will securely save your usernames and passwords to help you access those sites again without having to remember login information. Also, turning off cookies could prevent you from visiting certain sites.

One tip to keep your site viewing anonymous is to use a virtual private network or VPN. By pointing your internet connection to a remote server, the cookies will be labeled there instead of your actual location.

Another tip, especially if you decide not to remove cookies, would be to keep your anti-virus software updated. Anti-virus software can help flag suspicious cookies and prevent them from being used to steal your valuable data. Wondering if you need to clear cookies?

The answer depends on your personal preferences and the potential need for you to re-key your information into frequently used sites.

If you’re performing tasks on your device that involve sensitive data, such as online banking or paying bills, the experts recommend deleting cookies as often as possible. If you only use your device for casual activities, like gaming, it’s not as essential, but it may still be a good idea to clear cookies to keep your data safe.

Published on 06/06/2023