These are small text files which are saved to the users own computer hard drive. The Cookie may be used to help understand the users preferences while using a web site. This information could therefore be used at a later time to provide that user with a more content relevant site based on that users past interest.
Cookie Cutter. A collection of information, usually including a username and the current date and time, stored on the local computer of a person using the World Wide Web while surfing the Internet and opening
web pages..
One example is that Yahoo uses what they call web beacons, including in HTML emails and Yahoo! messages. To learn more about Yahoo's use of personal information please read Yahoo's Privacy Policy.
A new European Law makes over 90% of websites illegal. We argue the law is a misguided mess that hurts users, website owners, and does nothing to actually help real privacy problems.
From May 2011 a new privacy law came into effect across the EU. The law requires that websites ask visitors for consent to use most web cookies.
Nearly all websites use cookies, which are an extremely common technology for remembering anything about a visitor between webpages. Cookies are commonly used for login, remembering preferences, tracking visitors and more.
Does the law apply to me?
If you’re based in the EU, yes. If you do business in the EU, possibly, but it will be more difficult for anyone to prosecute you.
No Cookie Law Main Web Site provided a free tool that can check your website for cookies..
Advice: Only use Cookies if they are able to provide the user with real benefits. Some users have a fear about their privacy when Cookies are used and may avoid sites which use them. Some very well known sites use Cookies e.g. Google, etc. Cookies may improve generally your experience and help you find more relevant products to the users search using method such as Organic Search Engine Optimization.
Cookies are able to provide the user with some benefits. For example if a user has an interest in, (for example), cars then the same person may also have an interest in Speed Trap Detection and GPS in-car Satellite Navigation devices.
When they logon to a your car related web site the cookie could be used to know that this users has looked at Speed Trap Detection and GPS in-car Satellite Navigation device items on that site and change the layout of the web page they are viewing to suit this previous interest. (Read the Up Sales section)
Make sure that Cookies are able to provide the user with other choices. They may be looking for something different next time they log on. This may be particularly an issue if they have already purchase a product and don't wish to buy, or view that same product again. In this case Up Sales may be considered.
Many sites are still contravening the Anti-Spam and Privacy Laws which came into effect in December 2003. Officially titled The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, these new laws aim to protect customers privacy and control Spam.
Briefly the directive covering Cookies is:-
The introduction of controls on the use of cookies on web sites. Cookies and similar tracking devices are now subject to a new transparency requirement - anyone that employs these kinds of devices must provide information on them and allow subscribers or users to refuse to accept them if they wish.
A more manual approach may be used. This is where the users is asked to select there interests and these are stored for future use to allow the web pages returned to display mainly those interest. Allow users to edit or remove their details easily.
Cookies may be deleted by the user, from there
local hard drive, at any time. This may be done manually or by Anti-Spyware,
Anti-Virus
software. If a user, uses a different computer then Cookies may not
function reliable. Also Cookies may have a time limit after which time they may
not be used, unless the user reuses the web site. Therefore to use Cookies to complete
forms, etc. are not 100% reliable.
It is highly recommended, (it may
even be required in law), that you let users know that Cookies are used and what
for in your privacy statement.
Using Cookies, or a more manual approach, should help improve the targeting of that web page to their interest at any particular time.
Go to Tools\Internet Options\Privacy and click on "Advanced."
Check the box marked "Override automatic cookie handling" and then select "Block" on the Third-party cookies button.
Click "OK" and this should help, (it may not stop them all), prevent Cookies from being installed on your computer.
Note: if you do this you may lose some of the benefits that some Cookies are able to provide.
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