More information about cookies

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a harmless text file that is stored on your browser when you visit almost any web page. The purpose of the cookie is that the website is able to remember your visit when you return to browse this page. Although many people do not know it, cookies have been used since 20 years ago, when the first browsers for the World Wide Web appeared.

What IS NOT a cookie?

It is not a virus, not a trojan horse, not a spam, not spyware, nor does it open pop-up windows.

What information does a cookie store?

Cookies do not usually store sensitive information about you, such as credit card or bank details, photographs, your ID card or personal information, etc. The data they store are of a technical nature, personal preferences, personalization of contents, etc.

The web server does not associate you as a person but your web browser. In fact, if you usually browse with Internet Explorer and try to browse the same web with Firefox or Chrome you will see that the web does not know that you are the same person because it is actually associating the browser, not the person.

What types of cookies are there?

  • Technical Cookies: These are the most elementary and allow, among other things, to know when a human or an automated application is browsing, when an anonymous user and a registered user are browsing, basic tasks for the functioning of any dynamic web.
  • Analysis cookies: they collect information about the type of browsing you are doing, the sections you use the most, products consulted, time zone of use, language, etc.
  • Advertising Cookies: They show advertising based on your browsing, country of origin, language, etc.

What are own and third cookies?

First-party cookies are those generated by the page you are visiting and third-party cookies are those generated by external services or providers such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc.

What happens if I disable cookies?

So that you can understand the value that disabling cookies can have, we will show you some examples:

  • You may not share content from this website on Facebook, Twitter or any other social network.
  • The website will not be able to adapt the contents to your personal preferences, as it is the case with online stores.
  • You will not be able to access the personal area of this website, such as my account, my profile or my orders.
  • Online stores: It will be impossible for you to buy online, you will have to buy by phone or by visiting the physical store if you have one.
  • It will not be possible to customize your geographic preferences such as time zone, currency or language.
  • The website will not be able to perform web analytics on visitors and web traffic, which will make it difficult for the website to be competitive.
  • You will not be able to write to the blog, upload photos, post comments, rate or rate content. The web will not be able to know if you are a human being or an automated application that publishes spam.
  • It will not be possible to show sectored advertising, which will reduce the advertising revenue of the website.
  • All social networks use cookies, if you disable them you will not be able to use any social network.

Can I delete cookies?

Yes, not only eliminating, but also blocking, in a general or particular way for a specific domain.

To delete the cookies of a website you have to go to the configuration of your browser and there you can search for those associated with the domain in question and proceed to its elimination.

Here is how to access a specific cookie in the Chrome browser. Note: these steps may vary depending on the browser version:

  1. Go to Configuration or Preferences by using the Fitxer menu or by clicking on the customization icon on the top right.
  2. You will see different sections, press Show advanced options.
  3. Aneu a Privadesa, Configuració de contingut.
  4. Select all the cookies and location data.
  5. A list will appear with all the cookies sorted by domain. To make it easier for you to find the galleys of a certain domain, enter partially or completely the address of the field Near galleys.
  6. After making this filter, one or more lines with the requested web pages will appear on the screen. Now you only have to select it and press the X to proceed to its elimination.

To access the cookie settings of the Internet Explorer browser follow these steps (they may vary depending on the browser version):

  1. Go to Tools, Internet Options
  2. Click on Privacy.
  3. Move the slider to set the desired privacy level.

To access the Firefox browser cookie settings follow these steps (may vary depending on browser version):

  1. Go to Options or Preferences depending on your operating system.
  2. Click on Privacy.
  3. Under History choose Use custom settings for history.
  4. Now you will see the option Accept cookies, you can enable or disable it according to your preferences.

To access the cookie settings of the Safari browser for OSX follow these steps (may vary depending on browser version):

  1. Go to Preferences, then Privacy.
  2. Here you will see the option Block cookies for you to adjust the type of blocking you want to do.

To access the cookie settings of the Safari browser for iOS follow these steps (may vary depending on browser version):

  1. Go to Settings, then Safari.
  2. Go to Privacy and Security, you will see the option Block cookies for you to adjust the type of blocking you want to do.

To access the browser cookie settings for Android devices follow these steps (may vary depending on browser version):

  1. Launch the browser and press the Menu key, then Settings.
  2. Go to Security and Privacy, you will see the Accept cookies option to check or uncheck the box.

To access the browser cookie settings for Windows Phone devices follow these steps (may vary depending on browser version):

  1. Open Internet Explorer, then More, then Settings
  2. You can now enable or disable the Allow cookies checkbox.

Cookie Advisor is a WordPress plugin