This website uses cookies to provide visitors with a much better browsing experience and services tailored to the needs and interests of each individual.
Cookies provide website owners with valuable feedback on how their sites are used by users, allowing them to make them more effective and accessible; they allow multimedia applications or different types from other sites to be included in a specific site to create a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience; they improve the efficiency of online advertising.
What is a "cookie"?
An "Internet Cookie" (also known as a "browser cookie" or "HTTP cookie" or simply "cookie") is a small file, consisting of letters and numbers, that will be stored on the computer, mobile device, or other equipment of a user accessing the internet. The cookie is installed through a request issued by a web server to a browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely "passive" (it does not contain software programs, viruses, or spyware and cannot access information from the user's hard drive).
A cookie consists of two parts: the name and the content (value) of the cookie. Furthermore, the lifespan of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web server that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that web server.
Cookies themselves do not request personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify internet users.
Session cookies – these are temporarily stored in the web browser's cookie folder to be remembered until the user exits the respective website or closes the browser window (e.g., during login/logout on a webmail account or social networks);
Permanent cookies – these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or on equipment (and generally depend on the predetermined lifespan of the cookie).
What are the advantages of cookies?
A cookie contains information that connects a web browser (user) and a specific web server (website). If a browser accesses that web server again, it can read the already stored information and react accordingly. Cookies ensure users a pleasant browsing experience and support the efforts of many websites to provide comfortable services to users (preferences for online privacy, language options for the site, shopping carts, or relevant advertising).
What is the lifespan of a cookie?
Cookies are managed by web servers. The lifespan of a cookie can vary significantly, depending on the purpose for which it is placed. Some cookies are used exclusively for a single session (session cookies) and are not retained after the user leaves the website, while other cookies are retained and reused each time the user returns to that website (permanent cookies). However, cookies can be deleted by the user at any time through the browser settings.
How are cookies used by this site?
A visit to this site can place cookies for the following purposes:
– Site performance;– Visitor analysis;– Targeting;– User registration and authentication;– Keeping products in the shopping cart;– Saving user preferences.
Why are cookies important for the Internet?
Cookies are at the center of the efficient functioning of the Internet, helping to generate a user-friendly browsing experience tailored to the preferences and interests of each user. Refusing or disabling cookies can make some sites impossible to use.
Refusing or disabling cookies does not mean that you will no longer receive online advertising, but it only means that it will not be able to take into account your preferences and interests, highlighted by browsing behavior.
Examples of important uses of cookies (that do not require user authentication through an account):
– Content and services tailored to user preferences;– Offers tailored to user interests – remembering passwords, language preferences (e.g., displaying search results in Romanian);– Retaining child protection filters regarding internet content (options such as "family mode," "safe search" functions).
Measurement, optimization, and analytics features – such as confirming a certain level of traffic on a website, what type of content is viewed, and how a user reaches a website (through search engines, directly, from other websites, etc.). Websites conduct these usage analyses to improve sites for the benefit of users.
Security and privacy issues
Cookies are NOT viruses. They use plain text formats. They are not composed of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed and cannot self-run. Consequently, they cannot duplicate or replicate on other networks to run or replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they cannot be considered viruses.
Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users' preferences and browsing history on both a specific site and other sites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this and consistently mark cookies to be deleted during antivirus/anti-spyware scanning procedures.
In general, browsers have integrated privacy settings that provide different levels of acceptance of cookies, lifespan, and automatic deletion after the user has visited a specific site.
Other security aspects related to cookies
Because identity protection is very valuable and represents the right of every internet user, it is advisable to know what potential issues cookies can create. Because they transmit information between the browser and the website constantly and in both directions, if an attacker or an unauthorized person intervenes in the data transmission process, the information contained in cookies can be intercepted. Although this rarely happens in practice, it can occur if the browser connects to the server using an unencrypted network (an unsecured WiFi network).
Other cookie-based attacks involve incorrect cookie settings on servers. If a website does not request the browser to use only encrypted channels, attackers can use this vulnerability to deceive browsers into sending information through unsecured channels. Attackers then use the information to access certain sites unauthorized. It is crucial to be careful in choosing the most suitable method of protecting personal information.
Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies
Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the most visited and largest sites use cookies, they are almost unavoidable. Disabling cookies will not allow user access to the most widespread and used sites: YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook, and others. Here are some tips that, if applied, can ensure worry-free browsing with the help of cookies:
Customize your browser settings regarding cookies according to your comfort level with their security use.
If you do not mind cookies and are the only person using the computer, you can set long expiration terms for storing browsing history and personal access data. However, if you share computer access, you may consider setting the browser to delete individual browsing data every time you close the browser. This is an option to access sites that place cookies and to delete any visitation information at the end of the browsing session.
Install and constantly update antispyware applications.
Many spyware detection and prevention applications include site attack detection. Thus, they prevent the browser from accessing websites that could exploit browser vulnerabilities or download dangerous software. Ensure that your browser is always up to date. Many cookie-based attacks are carried out by exploiting the weaknesses of old browser versions.
Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you want to enjoy access to the best and largest sites on the Internet – local or international. With a clear understanding of how they operate and the benefits they bring, you can take the necessary security measures to confidently browse the internet.
How can cookies be stopped?
Disabling and refusing to receive cookies can make certain sites impractical or difficult to visit and use.
It is possible to set your browser so that these cookies are no longer accepted, or you can set the browser to accept cookies from a specific site. But, for example, if you are not registered using cookies, you will not be able to leave comments.
All modern browsers offer the option to change cookie settings. These settings are usually found in the "options" or "preferences" menu of your browser.
To understand these settings, the following links may be useful. You can use the browser's "help" option for more details.