Give A Computer A Cookie

By David Mckinney Jr (Intel) (13 posts) on December 7, 2007 at 3:30 pm

Like the famous childrens book "Give A Mouse A Cookie..." by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Illustrator Felicia Bond, "cookies" are often used by advertisers and Web analytic firms on most all web sites. They place "tracking cookies" on your computer. And like the book, the mouse will "ask for a glass of milk..." you can sure bet those web advertisers and analytic firms will be asking you for something.

In most cases they don't even let you know that they've ask! Let me explain. On the web, a "cookie" is a small text file that contains a string of alphanumeric characters. The tracking cookies tell companies what you are doing online, even though they don't typically record your name or other personably identifiable information. The cookies are used by companies to try and match merchandise ads to a user's interests and in the above mouse example, they will "ask for a glass of milk".

There are two types of cookies used on most websites: a persistent cookie and a session cookie. A persistent cookie gets entered by your Web browser into the "Cookies" folder on your computer and remains in this "Cookies" folder after you close your browser. Persistent cookies may be used by your browser on subsequent visits to the site. A session cookie is held temporarily in your computer's memory and disappears after you close your browser or shut off your computer. There are websites that use Web beacons (also called "clear GIFs" or "pixel tags") in conjunction with cookies. Web beacons are small strings of code that are placed in a Web page.

For example, if you arrive at website by clicking on a banner ad for a product or service, a session cookie may be used. This cookie will contain an identification number for the ad that you clicked on, or will contain an identification number for the site that you were visiting when you clicked on the banner ad.

Most web sites tell you nothing upfront about tracking cookies, or how to get rid of these tracking cookies assuming that you want too. Cookies are used all over the Web, but in most cases, their presence is only disclosed deep inside privacy policies. When was the last time you read a privacy policy? Some of the more reputable web sites want you to know how to get rid of these tracking cookies or opt out of the cookies set by any ad-placement or analytic contractor they might use and will provide the information. For example, here is a link to a page where you can opt out of the cookies set by an ad-placement or analytics contractor of Omniture.

I'd prefer a totally opt-in system, but, as far as I know, the ad industry doesn't have a practical one yet and not enough consumers have complained about tracking cookies to make an impact for the industry to change.

If you want to clean out all tracking cookies from all your Web sites the following links take you where you can download three "cool" applications that can help clean out tracking cookies:

I've used a couple of these applications and been satisfied with the results, but give them a try and let me know your results.

You can also change the preferences or settings in your Web browser to control cookies. In some cases, you can choose to accept cookies from the primary site, but block them from third parties. In others, you can block cookies from specific advertisers, or clear out all cookies.

I've recieved cookie questions about CoolSW. For purposes of web traffic reporting SiteCatalyst is used and is a persistent cookie. We increment a visit number in the cookie to track repeat visitors, but we don't keep track of any personally identifiable information in the cookie. The registration cookie is also persistent if you choose the "remember me" option, if not it is a session cookie. This cookie doesn't track behaviour only access to the site features and capture of actions related to a users account.

I'll take warm milk with my cookies, thank you.

Categories: Cool Software

Comments (5) Comments RSS Feed

By Michael Shadle (Intel) on December 8th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Cookies have a bad reputation, sadly. It's only third party cookies that are anything to be bothered about.

"Web bugs" are the tiny images embedded for web tracking. They've been the main reason cookies have a bad reputation. Those are third party cookies and those are the only kind of cookies anyone should be worried about.

First party cookies are between the website you're on and you. You're already on the website, you're not leaking information to anyone else. There's no reason to fear those. In fact, they're needed because that's the only persistent way to maintain the user's identity across sessions. Session cookies are safe as well. You're already on the website, it's not like the website is getting new information about you. It already knows you.

By David Mckinney Jr (Intel) on December 8th, 2007 at 9:00 am
@ Michael - good points! Thx for the additional details.

By Charlie Anzman on December 13th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
David - Thanks for your note. Glad to help! Charlie

By Jessica on December 28th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I have no cookies at all on my computer and when I try to view certain websites, I can't, they tell me that I have to enable cookies first. Any idea on how to get cookies on my computer? A little backwards I know, but I can't even view certain bills because of this. Thanks!

By ravedid on March 9th, 2008 at 4:31 am
cookies are a big problem it took me some time to understand cookies and how they work and from where to correct them


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