A cookie (also tracking cookie, browser cookie, and HTTP cookie) is a small piece of text stored on a user's computer by a web browser. A cookie consists of one or more name-value pairs containing bits of information.

The cookie is sent as an HTTP header by a web server to a web browser and then sent back unchanged by the browser each time it accesses that server. A cookie can be used for authentication, session tracking (state maintenance), storing site preferences, shopping cart contents, the identifier for a server-based session, or anything else that can be accomplished through storing textual data.

As text, cookies are not executable. Because they are not executed, they cannot replicate themselves and are not viruses. Due to the browser mechanism to set and read cookies, they can be used as spyware. Anti-spyware products may warn users about some cookies because cookies can be used to track people or violate privacy concerns.

Most modern browsers allow users to decide whether to accept cookies, and the time frame to keep them, but rejecting cookies makes some websites unusable.

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Guest comment: A click too far the dangers of ad serving and reporting - Netimperative
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Guest comment: A click too far the dangers of ad serving and reporting

Netimperative

Flash cookies can be used to reconstruct deleted HTTP cookies . Attribution and tracking technologies that rely on user ignorance are unlikely to remain ...
Google News Search: HTTP cookies,
Fri Dec 4 20:45:25 2009