Cookies

Big brother is watching you. He knows every site you visit. Every mouse click you make. Seems like a George Orwell Novel transported to Cyber space, doesn't it? But it might be more true than you ever imagined. Somebody actually might be monitoring your PC through the net, without your knowledge. And some of the common agents used for this espionage are mechanisms like Cookies, ActiveX controls, Javascripts etc.

These Cookies are not the ones you have with your tea.

As per Netscape's definition:

Internet Cookies are a general mechanism which server side connections (such as CGI scripts) can use to both store and retrieve information on the client side of the connection. The addition of a simple, persistent, client-side state significantly extends the capabilities of Web-based client/server applications.

To put it more simply: A cookie is information put on your hard disk by a Web site in order to remember something about you at a later time. It is a mechanism that allows a web site to record your comings and goings, possibly without your knowledge or consent. Typically, a cookie records your preferences when using a particular site.

Initially cookies were not created to spy on or otherwise invade the privacy of Internet users. They were created to make browsing more convenient for users by allowing them to visit pages within a site without having to reintroduce themselves with each mouse click. The simple function of a cookie is that of helping the user navigate a web site with as little obstruction as possible. They can also be used to customize pages for the user based on the browser type. Unfortunately some unscrupulous elements have reversed the original intention and use the cookies to track the users on the web.

But the saving grace is that the Web site cookies contain only information that users volunteer, and they do not have the capability of infiltrating a user's hard drive and sneaking away with personal information. Also the browsers provide you the option to disable the cookies. Thus if you take the proper precautions, cookies won't be all that harmful, and might even help to provide a better surfing experience.