Internet Cookies
Why do sites use cookies?
-Track number of visitors -First timers vs. returning visitors -How often the user visits the site
Cons of Cookies
-multiple users on the same hard drive (family computer, internet cafes) -Credit card fraud -Easily erasable -Can contain spyware -Can pass on personal information without user's permission
Internet Cookies
1. Web browser requests a file from a browser 2. If no cookie, server issues one 3. Cookie is sent to server 4.Server reads cookie and sends it back with update
What is a cookie?
A text file which a website can store on its visitors' hard drives • Made up of numbers and letters • Generally, cookies are a simple ID file • Sometimes they can store more complicated information • Also called "name-value pairs -remember usernames and passwords for sites
What info can cookies return?
IP Address, your type of browser, operating system, number of visits to web site, volunteered information
Where are cookies?
Stored on your hard drive/"C" drive
Who can see the cookies?
The server that put the cookie on your hard drive, larger sites can set a domain attribute for other servers in the same subdomain
