COOKIES POLICY

Cookies, also known as browser cookies or tracking cookies, are small, usually encrypted text files that are stored in your browser's directory. They are used by websites on the Internet to help users navigate websites and perform specific functions. Due to their primary role, which is to improve usability or website functionality, disabling cookies may prevent users from accessing and using certain websites. By using cookies, some websites can recognize when you return and keep you logged in or display a specific page that you prefer. Often, a cookie can be used to display certain content only once, such as a pop-up window or a pop-under ad that appears only the first time you visit a website and not every time you change pages or revisit it.

Cookies are created when your browser loads a specific website. The website sends information to the browser, which then creates a text file. Each time the user returns to the same website, the browser retrieves and sends this file to the web server. Cookies are not only created by the website the user is currently browsing but also by other websites that display advertisements, widgets, or other elements on the page. These cookies are responsible for the display of advertisements or the functionality of widgets and other elements on the website.

Websites create and use cookies to assist in controlling the identity of a user if they log into a secure area of a website. Login information or credentials are stored in a cookie so that the user can enter and exit the website without having to re-enter the same login information repeatedly.

Session cookies are used by the web server to store information about user activities on a website so that users can easily resume from where they left off on their last visit. Without the use of these cookies, a website cannot "remember" where you were on your last visit (this can only be done with session cookies). Session cookies indicate to the server which pages to show the user, so the user doesn't need to remember where they stopped browsing on the website. Session cookies function almost like a "bookmark" when used on such a website. Similarly, cookies can store the necessary order information to make shopping carts work, instead of requiring the user to remember all the items they added to the cart. This is very useful if your system experiences a connectivity interruption or if your computer shuts down while you're in the process of adding products to a shopping cart.

Tracking cookies store user preferences. Many websites allow users to customize exactly how information is presented through layouts or themes. These customizations facilitate navigation on the website and allow the user to leave part of their "personality" on the website.

Cookies are not viruses. They are simple text files. They are not pieces of code, so they cannot be executed or self-replicate. Consequently, they cannot create copies of themselves and spread to other networks to execute code and replicate themselves again. Because they cannot perform these functions, they do not fall under the typical definition of a virus.

While it is true that cookies can be used for malicious purposes, it is important to note that cookies themselves are not inherently malicious. They serve legitimate functions, such as remembering user preferences and improving website functionality. However, in some cases, cookies can be utilized as a form of spyware if they are used to track and collect sensitive information without the user's consent. It is crucial for users to be cautious and mindful of the websites they visit and to regularly review and manage their cookie settings to protect their privacy and security.

The way responsible and ethical web developers address the privacy issues caused by cookie tracking is by providing clear descriptions of how cookies are developed on their websites.