World-renowned author Wayne Dyer once said that the highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about. That is why you do not have to join the ranks of those people who readily shun things they do not understand - like those who reject cookies for example.
Maybe it is from too much intake of wrong assumptions or from overly irrational fear, that a harmless text file of computer identification became a sensational thing to avoid in the internet world. So let us pull out the weeds from the garden of your knwledge and clear up what a cookie really is and what it is not.
Here are three of the most common misconceptions about cookies:
Myth no. 1: Cookies are a form of virus or worm.
A virus is a computer program that has the ability to replicate itself and invade a computer. A worm is also a program that has self-replicating capability which uses computer networks to spread. A cookie on the other hand, is a mere text file. It is not a program. And it cannot, in any way, duplicate itself. A cookie, therefore, cannot logically be considered a virus or a worm.
Myth no. 2: Cookies are spyware that give out your personal information
To see what details do an internet cookie hold, you could view my post about what a cookie is all about. As you can see with the image of a sample cookie from problogger, a cookie may contain details about the type of browser you use, IP address, or information you yourself have willingly given to a site, such as your username. This is to help you log in automatically if ever you return again to that site. Remember, under normal circumstances this exchange of information is only between you and your trusted site. You usually exchange first party cookies. What advertisers use, on the other hand, to infiltrate you with pop ups and other ads are third party cookies, which can appropriately be blocked by changing your browser settings. Spywares are computer malwares that can collect more information and can redirect your web browser activity or cause installation of additional software to your computer. A cookie absolutely does not and cannot do that!
Myth no. 3: The best way to get rid of cookies is to delete or disable them.
Yes, you do have options to delete all cookies or do it manually, and even disable them altogether depending on your internet browser - but these steps are not really that advisable.
On deletion of cookies: Cookies are there to make internet browsing easier for users. Instead of repeatedly entering your username or password repeatedly on textboxes, cookies can help users automatically log in to sites. They can also help an online shopper remember what they would want to place on their shopping cart. If you are using a personal computer, do not delete your cookies at all as they are of more help than harm. If you are, however, accessing in an public cafes or internet shops, it is recommended to delete your cookies after surfing.
On disabling of cookies: It is a very bad idea if you disable all cookies and it could cause major problems for you when you are surfing the web. Almost all of the websites in the online world, especially those you use frequently (like blogger or facebook for example) use cookies when establishing a connection with your browser. If you disable your cookies, you might not as well use the net at all. You can, however, block the kind of cookie that is called a third party cookie to minimize other servers from peeping into the cookie text file that you share with your main server. This is a better alternative than disabling all cookies you would encounter on the web.
It is better to be well-informed about the things that we fear than jump into conclusions. Cookies are more helpful than harmful. Separate the facts from the myths and have a better, smoother, surfing experience.
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