A cookie is an electronic text file that a Web site parks on a visitor's browser. It can either be a session cookie, which expires when the visitor leaves a Web site; or a persistent cookie, which serves as a record of a user's trip to a particular Web site and allows for easier recognition on subsequent visits. When a visitor returns to a Web site that has previously given the computer a cookie, special text in the cookie program communicates with the Web site in order to present the visitor with customized information (ibid.).A shorter definition is given by Microsoft: "A very small text file placed on your hard drive by a Web Page server. It is essentially your identification card, and cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses. It is uniquely yours and can only be read by the server that gave it to you." The information cookie tells when and how often the user accessed the website and which pages she clicked. By collecting information from hundreds of users the web site get information on which pages are popular and when. This can be used in targeted advertising for people in search of special kind of information. For example people searching for music on amazon.com can get music as personal recommendations rather than book recommendations (Cox, 2002). I think this is worrying because you loose privacy. On the other hand: Is this something we have to accept when using Internet? Amazon's (and other advertisers) goal is to earn more money and of course we buy more when we see something we (probably) like. Microsoft puts it this way:
Next time you return, we know to show you the information you requested. Or, when you register for another product or service, all you need to do is type in your e-mail address and a password. We then fill in any questions you've already answered. Of course, if you never register or leave personal information with Microsoft, then the server only knows that someone with your cookie has returned to the Web site. You are in charge of deciding whether we know anything about you. But the more you tell us about yourself, the more we can help you find information or products you want.
But, of course, they are also advertising so they want you to leave as much information as possible. BBC has written an article about new net rules and how to restrict the use of cookies. A new European e-Privacy directive which came into force in May 2011 demands that users be fully informed about the information being stored in cookies and told why they see particular adverts. "The IAB - an industry body that represents web ad firms - created a site that explains how behavioural advertising works and lets people opt out of it (BBC News, 8 March 2011)."
You can turn off/disable cookies in your browser by adjusting the settings in the toolbar. Explania.com has a video showing what would happen if you don't accept cookies at all.
How can cookies make your surfing experience convenient? - Explania
Both Mozilla and Google Chrome has made it possible to choose "do not track" when you're on Internet (BBC News, 25 January 2011). If you want to control which cookies you accept choose Tools (Verktøy), then Internet Options (Innstillinger). Then click Security tab (Personvern). In Mozilla you get the following image (Norwegian version). Here you can remove recent history or you can remove certain cookies.
If you want to read more about cookies Wikipedia has written an article with many references about the topic.
Reference list
BBC News (2011, 25 January). Browser firms plan 'do not track' systems, collected May 27th 2012 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12275750.
BBC News (2011, 8 March). New net rules set to make cookies crumble, collected May 27th 2012 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12668552.
Cox, H. (2002). PC-sikkerhet og mysteriet med de forsvunne filer. Trondheim : Tapir akademisk forl.
Media Awareness Network (2010). How Information Privacy is compromised, collected May 5th 2012 from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/privacy/compromised_privacy.cfm
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