What is a Cookie?

Cookies are small text files saved on your computer or mobile device by the websites you visit. They usually include the website’s name and a unique ID to identify you, but they can also store other information. In this article we look at what cookies are, how they work and how you can manage them.

Cookie Basics

When you return to a website you’ve visited before, the cookie on your device makes it possible for the site to know that you’ve been there before.

Some websites also keep more than just their name and your user ID in their cookies. This information includes:-

• The amount of time you spend on a website
• Links you click while using the website
• The options, preferences and settings you choose
• Accounts you log into
• The pages you visit

What Are Cookies Used For?

Cookies are mainly used to “maintain” the sate of a browser session. If you place items in a shopping cart for example, and then go to another page or website, the shopping site will remember the items in your cart.

The cookies saved on your device can also keep a record of information you’ve entered so that when you go to a website you’ve visited before, it sends the related cookies with your user ID so that you don’t have to re-enter any information that was previously provided.

Are Cookies Dangerous?

Cookies are widely used on the internet and are generally safe. Third-party cookies however can be seen as intrusive. They track your behaviour in ways that you may not be aware of and you might consider them as an infringement on your privacy. Third-party cookies are mainly used by advertisers to track your activity in order to provide you with targeted advertising. So what’s the difference between a first-party and a third party cookie?

First-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are created by the actual website you visit to keep track of your personal preferences. They don’t share information with other websites or advertising partners and most web browsers will allow them. Their main purpose is to improve user experience.

Third-Party Cookies

Third-Party cookies are created by websites other than the one you are visiting and are mainly used by third-party advertisers. Because third-party cookies track your surfing habits, they and can be considered an invasion of privacy.

Web browsers like Firefox and Safari already block third-party cookies because of the privacy concerns. Google is expected to also start blocking third-party cookies in 2023.

Cookie Notifications

A lot of websites you visit use an annoying pop-up that will ask you to accept cookies. The reason for this is due to legislation in the USA and EU that makes it compulsory for a company to notify you if they use cookies and get your consent to collect any data that can identify you.

• The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) states that all California consumers have the right to know how their data is used.
• The General Data Protection Act (GDPR) in the European Union is a strict privacy law that affects anyone who collects data related to people in the EU.

Data Privacy in South Africa

In South Africa, the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) gives both individuals and organisations enforceable rights over their private information. The Act contains legislation to protect personal information that is processed by cookies.

Managing Cookies

Because cookies are saved on your device, you can delete them. All major browsers have built-in controls for you to set which types of cookies to accept and delete cookies that are already saved on your device. You can manage cookies by going to the user preferences in your browser settings.

You Don’t Have to Accept Cookies

Because of the fines companies are faced with under privacy laws, you don’t have to accept cookies. Any website you visit has to get your permission to place a cookie on your device. If you are concerned about about the collection of your personal information, you can refuse the cookie notice.

What Happens if You Don’t Accept?

You should still be able to access most websites even if you don’t accept their cookies. There are some companies that won’t allow you to access their site if you don’t accept and some websites may not work as intended. If you are concerned about your privacy, the choice is yours.

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