Key Takeaways

  • Session Cookies: Temporary. They allow you to add items to a shopping cart. They disappear when you close the browser.
  • Persistent Cookies: They remember your login so you don't have to type your password every day.
  • Third-Party Cookies: The bad guys. Ad networks place these to track you across different websites.
  • You can block third-party cookies in your browser settings.

Have you ever looked at a pair of shoes online, and then seen ads for those exact shoes on Facebook for the next week? That is the work of tracking cookies.

How Tracking Works

When you visit a news site, it might load a "Like" button from Facebook or an ad from Google. Even if you don't click them, these elements drop a cookie on your device.

When you visit another site with the same ad network, they read that cookie. "Ah, user #12345 visited the shoe store yesterday." They build a profile of your interests to sell ads.

The Death of the Cookie

Privacy laws like GDPR and browser changes (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) are slowly killing third-party cookies. Advertisers are moving to "Fingerprinting" instead, which is harder to block.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Should I accept all cookies?
Use the "Necessary Only" option when possible. This lets the site work (menus, login) but blocks the marketing trackers.
Does Incognito Mode delete cookies?
Yes. In Incognito/Private mode, cookies are stored temporarily. The moment you close the window, they are all wiped. This is great for shopping if you don't want retargeted ads.

Is your browser protecting you?
Check Fingerprinting