Daily Current Affairs : 30-September-2023
Internet cookies, those small pieces of data, have become an integral part of our online experience. They play a significant role in shaping the way we interact with websites and receive personalized content. In recent times, cookies have been in the news due to their use by platforms like Facebook and Google for tracking online behavior to tailor advertisements to users’ preferences. In this essay, we will delve into what cookies are, how they work, the different types of cookies, their uses, and the challenges they pose.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies, also known as internet cookies, are tiny text files that websites store on your computer while you navigate the internet. They serve as digital markers, allowing websites to recognize your device and remember specific information about your online activity. Here’s how they work:
- Identification: Cookies are created by the web server when you connect to a website and are assigned a unique ID for your computer.
- Exchange: When your computer communicates with the server, it shares this ID, enabling the server to provide tailored information.
How Do Cookies Work?
Cookies enhance your web experience in various ways:
- Personalization: Websites like Amazon use cookies to remember your past interactions, offering personalized product recommendations and content.
- Behavior Tracking: Platforms like Facebook and Google use cookies to track your online behavior, ensuring that the ads you encounter align with your preferences.
Types of Cookies
Cookies come in different types, each serving specific purposes:
- Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that exist only during your browsing session, like notes on a website.
- Persistent Cookies: Digital bookmarks that stay on your device after browsing ends, remembering login information and preferences.
- Secure Cookies: Sent over encrypted connections, making them safer for sensitive data.
- Third-Party Cookies: Used for tracking and advertising, sometimes raising concerns about privacy.
Uses of Cookies
Cookies have several essential functions:
- User Authentication: They act as digital ID cards, allowing websites to recognize and keep you logged in during your visit.
- Personalization: Cookies recall your preferences, such as language choice or website theme, providing a more tailored experience.
- Shopping Carts: They serve as digital shopping carts, ensuring that items you add online remain there when you return.
- Targeted Advertising: Cookies play a crucial role in targeted advertising, displaying ads aligned with your interests and browsing history, enhancing online shopping experiences.
Challenges
While cookies offer many benefits, they also pose challenges:
- Privacy Concerns: Cookies can track your online behavior, raising privacy concerns.
- Security Risks: Inadequately secured cookies can be exploited by cybercriminals to steal personal information.
- User Consent: New regulations like India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 require explicit user consent for collecting or processing personal data via cookies.
- Third-Party Cookies: Debates over the use of third-party cookies have led to restrictions in web browsers to safeguard user privacy.
- Slow Web Experience: The abundance of cookies can potentially slow down your browser due to the data they generate.
Important Points:
- What Are Cookies:
- Small text files used to identify computers during internet use.
- Created by servers with a unique ID for each computer.
- Enable personalized web experience by remembering user interactions.
- How Cookies Work:
- Remember customer interactions on websites like Amazon, providing tailored recommendations.
- Used by platforms like Facebook and Google to track online behavior for targeted advertising.
- Types of Cookies:
- Session Cookies:
- Temporary, existing only during a browsing session.
- Remember actions like items in a shopping cart.
- Persistent Cookies:
- Stay on devices after browsing, remembering login information and preferences.
- Secure Cookies:
- Sent over encrypted connections for secure data transmission.
- Third-Party Cookies:
- Used for tracking and advertising purposes, sometimes raising privacy concerns.
- Session Cookies:
- Uses of Cookies:
- Act as digital ID cards, aiding user authentication and keeping users logged in.
- Foster personalization by recalling preferences like language choice and website theme.
- Function as persistent shopping carts, ensuring items remain in the cart across visits.
- Play a pivotal role in targeted advertising, displaying ads aligned with users’ interests and browsing history.
- Challenges:
- Privacy Concerns:
- Cookies can track online behavior, leading to privacy concerns.
- Security Risks:
- Inadequately secured cookies can be exploited by cybercriminals.
- User Consent:
- Regulations like India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 require explicit user consent for data collection via cookies.
- Third-Party Cookies:
- Debate and restrictions exist in web browsers to safeguard user privacy.
- Slow Web Experience:
- Excessive data from cookies can slow down browsers, affecting user experience.
- Privacy Concerns:
Why In News
Platforms like Facebook and Google use cookies to track online behavior, ensuring ads users encounter align with preferences. These cookies help personalize the user experience, making online interactions more tailored and relevant to individual interests and preferences.
MCQs about Internet Cookies
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What is the primary purpose of session cookies?
A. To remember login information
B. To track online behavior
C. To exist only during a browsing session
D. To stay on the device after browsing ends
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Which type of cookies are used for secure transmission of sensitive data?
A. Session cookies
B. Persistent cookies
C. Secure cookies
D. Third-party cookies
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What role do cookies play in targeted advertising?
A. Display random ads to users
B. Display ads unrelated to users’ interests
C. Display ads based on users’ interests and browsing history
D. Disable all advertisements on websites
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