First introduced with Netscape 0.9 on October 13, 1994, a cookie is a small amount of text-only data saved on your computer or phone while you browse a website. This information can be used by websites to help create custom pages for you upon your return visits or save session information. For example, when you put items into an online shopping cart, cookies allow the host site to save them for when you return to the site at a later date.

Why are cookies called cookies?

The term “cookie” was coined by Lou Montulli, who got the idea from the term “magic cookie,” which are data packets a program receives and sends on Unix computers.

A cookie is very similar to the ticket you get when you take your clothes in for dry cleaning that helps the dry cleaner find your clothes when you return. The same analogy could be applied to the ticket you get for a repair being done, valet parking, and coat check.

  • Why are cookies called cookies?
  • Are cookies safe?
  • Are cookies programs or viruses?
  • What is a tracking cookie?
  • What is cookie stealing?
  • What is the cookie law?
  • Related information

Are cookies safe?

Cookies received over the Internet should be considered more useful than dangerous. Without cookies, you could not have customized settings and would have to verify your identity each time you visited a secure site. Because cookies can track you while at a site and can contain private information, the information could be potentially be compromised, but it is unlikely.

If you’re concerned about web pages gathering information about your viewing habits, you can disable cookies or increase browser security to prompt you before any cookie is created. However, realize some web pages require cookies to be enabled to work.

Are cookies programs or viruses?

No. Cookies are nothing more than plain-text files that are stored on your computer containing data that helps a website identify your computer. Because these files are plain-text files, they cannot be executed and cannot infect or destroy other data on your computer.

A tracking cookie is one that is used by Internet advertisers and marketing companies. It contains unique information about your computer and browsing history, which is used by the company to deliver advertisements it believes you’d be most interested in viewing.

Another type of tracking cookie is a third-party cookie. These cookies are added to a computer by a website other than that for which the cookie is used. For example, the cbs.com website has a button for liking them on Facebook. Clicking the Facebook Like button on cbs.com adds a Facebook cookie to your computer. Because the cookie for Facebook came from cbs.com, the cookie is considered a third-party tracking cookie.

Why do anti-spyware programs warn me about tracking cookies?

Because these cookies can track your computer, they can be considered an invasion of privacy. It’s up to you to decide if you want to save or delete these files. Apart from the potential privacy concerns, tracking cookies pose no threat to your computer and do not contain malware or viruses.

After logging in to a site, a cookie containing a unique token is saved to your computer and identifies you as an authorized visitor. Cookie stealing or cookie theft is a method of grabbing that cookie from your computer using XSS to access your account. Once stolen, any computer with that cookie can access your account without needing login details, as long as the cookie hasn’t expired or changed.

The cookie law or EU cookie law is a law enacted in the European Union requiring EU companies to notify visitors of the use of cookies on their website. The EU companies must also give their site visitors the chance to opt out of receiving cookies.

Browser, Cookie poisoning, Firesheep, Internet terms, Session cookie, Tracking, Web design terms

  • Use the system information tool to determine if your cookies are enabled or disabled.
  • How to enable, disable, view, or delete Internet cookies.
  • How to clear browser cache and cookies.
  • Are Internet cookies spyware?
  • Allow visitors to see history of visiting your page using cookies.