HTTP cookies, or more commonly referred to as Web cookies, tracking cookies or just cookies, are parcels of text sent by a server to a Web client (usually a browser) and then sent back unchanged by the client each time it accesses that server. HTTP cookies are used for authenticating, session tracking (state maintenance), and maintaining specific information about users, such as site preferences or the contents of their electronic shopping carts. The term "cookie" is derived from "magic cookie," a well-known concept in UNIX computing which inspired both the idea and the name of HTTP cookies. (www.wikipedia.com)
Cookies have expiration period, which means they will remove themselves from your computer after passing certain limit of time. This is for the sake of your security in case you forget to logout from your internet account. You can further edit your browsers’ expiration of cookies setting. You can choose to let them expire by themselves or after the end of your current session. Also, you can manually delete them at any moment you want to.
Browsers commonly have the setting to accept or reject cookies. Rejecting cookies will make some certain websites unable to provide service properly, for example shopping websites, websites which requires login, etc. For the rest there’s no problem. Rejecting third party cookies (which are used to track multiple website visits, usually for ads) commonly cause no problem and increase your security.
Many internet attack use cookies as the device, such as cookie hijacking, cookie poisoning, cross site cooking, etc. Cookies theft is highly dangerous toward your security, as it contain potential harm of internet attack. Cookies can be used to track your IP’s activity during your internet session. If you forget to logout from your web account, it won’t be good.
In summary, despite of their use, cookies posses some drawbacks which can threat your security, so if you want to increase your protection, you might want to reject cookies when you don’t need them, and use them only when you must, thus, saving you from unnecessary threat.
If you look for another ways to secure your internet sessions, Google provides many trusted links toward them on the upper right of this page. Fell free to check them out.
