What are cookies, and why are Google, Mozilla, and others going to war against them?

Web browsers are waging war on cookies, and it's impacting how we browse. Let's understand why.

Cookies are small data files websites store on your devices during visits. They remember your past activity, allowing websites to personalize your experience. For example, they remember if you've subscribed to a newsletter, saving you repeated prompts. They also store location data for localized content and remember site layout preferences. They can even store personal information like email addresses, if provided.

While this might seem invasive, cookies simply store information the website already possesses. Facebook needs your email, and Amazon needs to track your browsing history to function effectively; cookies are an extension of this. Ideally, cookies enhance online convenience. To experience browsing without cookies, try a private browsing window; you'll notice a less personalized, less convenient experience, requiring logins for every site.

However, cookies' ability to track user activity across multiple websites is a privacy concern. Third-party cookies, often embedded in ads, are particularly problematic. These can track your behavior across various sites, allowing marketers to connect your shopping habits with your social media activity.

Browsers are addressing this. Safari and Firefox block third-party cookies by default, while Chrome currently allows them (though this is changing). You can manually adjust cookie settings in your browser.

Google's plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome aims to improve transparency, not eliminate targeted advertising. The goal is to make ad tracking clearer, enabling users to better manage their privacy.

To control cookies:

• Chrome: Advanced > Site settings > Cookies and site data
• Firefox: Privacy & Security
• Safari: Privacy
• Microsoft Edge: Privacy and services

These settings allow you to block or allow cookies on a per-site basis and clear all stored cookies. Remember, even if you clear your cookies, advertisers retain the data they've already collected.

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