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 website. 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 webpages..
Cookies may also be used in HTML emails
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.
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.
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 website 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 websites. 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 website. 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.
The National Anti-Cookie League
If you wish to block Cookies In the Internet Explorer Brower:-
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.
Check the Data Protection Act and any other legal issues.
Take note of the Spyware and Adware issues
Read the Personalized Search, Google Information and Up Sales section.
SpyWare Removal Anti-Virus Software Tools & Utilities
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