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If you think back to the first time that you were offered a cookie from a web site, you may remember your surprise. You may have wondered what a cookie was and whether or not you should accept it. It was probably even more confusing since some web sites never ask if they can give you a cookie while others require your acceptance of cookies in order for you to get information, read articles or look through their products.

So, what exactly is a cookie? It is something that CGI scripts use to store and retrieve information from you. Usually cookies are set only once and then they go away whenever you turn off your Internet browser. However, there are some cookies that once set remain on your hard drive until you run out of space for cookies or its time stamp expires.

If you accept the cookie, you are giving the web site permission to access any information that you provide. This information can include your IP address, the type of browser you use, the page that you came from and any forms that you fill out while on the web site itself. For this reason, you really need to understand what a web site’s privacy policy is before you accept the cookie.

The main objective of cookie is to identify user and its profile and then send information to web server from web browser. This helps web server in giving custom page to user as against generic home page. You may see website page addressing you “welcome john “or giving information such as when you visited last time to their website.

The background of this exercise is to get user information and user interest, so that next time user will find information or web links of his choice or interest. All these websites request users fill web form about name, interest etc, this information is stored in text file at user’s computer. When visiting same website, web browser will send cookie to web server with stored information. In return web server will present user information relevant to users interest.

Now we understand what is cookie and why it is used and how it is used. The next step is to understand, types of cookies and their use. There are two types of cookies, one is session cookie and other is persistent cookie. Both have different role to play in identifying user.

Session Cookie -

This type of cookie is also called as temporary cookie or transient cookie, the nature if this cookie is temporary. This cookie will be deleted once user closes web browser. The life of this cookie is temporary and it is stored in temporary memory and it is active till browser session is open. This type of cookie doesn’t store user information and does not identify user, they act as session identifiers.

Permanent Cookie -

This type of cookie is also called as persistent cookie. The nature of this cookie is not temporary and it is stored on users computer. These cookie comes with time stamp; they will expire once it reaches to expiration date. These cookies get created when you fill web form giving your information, preferences and your hobbies etc. This information is stored in text file in your computer. Whenever you visit same website, your web browser will send this cookie to web server and web server will provide you custom page built on your choice and with personal greeting.

As long above objectives are achieved there is no danger to computer user. Things get dangerous when information provided on web form in good faith is misused or information is sold to internet advertisers. It is recommended to read websites privacy policy, how they are handling users information. How can you stop malicious cookies, which are tracking your online activities?

Malicious Cookies -

This is a cookie designed to track your online activates and record your web behavior or shopping interest. These cookies are part of “spyware” or “adware”, both are used to spy on internet users to build user profile based on their interest, web surfing and online activities. These cookies record and send information to source, where all information is accumulated and then either used for malicious purpose or is sold to internet advertising website, which sends internet ads to you of your interest.

Because of these malicious cookies one should be care full visiting websites and providing them information. Most of the time your antivirus software will warn you from malicious cookies and you also have option of deleting these cookies from your hard disk. Use “Tools” option in your IE7 browser and then select “Internet Option”. After clicking on “Internet Option” you have option of deleting cookies and temporary internet files.