Everyone uses cookies, me included. They ensure the integrity of our registration process and help personalize the site. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your hard disk by a Web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a Web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you. One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time. For example, if you personalize a web page, or navigate within a site, a cookie helps the site to recall your specific information on subsequent visits. This simplifies the process of delivering relevant content, eases site navigation, and so on. When you return to the Web site, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you can easily use the site’s features that you customized.
Web beacons, also known as clear gif technology, or action tags, may be used to assist in delivering the cookie. This technology is a tool used to compile aggregated statistics about web site usage, such as how many visitors clicked on key elements (such as links or graphics) on a Web page, blog or a newsletter. I may share aggregated site statistics with partner companies who have provided customization software for use on my site. No private or personal information is transferred in this way.
In your browser, you have the option to accept or decline cookies. Your browser may automatically accept cookies, but there is a place where you can change the settings to decline cookies. Personally, I usually accept cookies. They are not generally a liability, and they make life easier by getting you directly back to where you just visited. In short, they make my life easier. And I’m all for easier.