If you are in the habit of browsing the internet, you have most likely already come across them, cookies. If you still don't know what they mean and why they are important, don't worry, after all, they really are a mystery to most users.
Even though they are considered technical elements, the truth is that understanding how cookies work is very important, as they deal directly with data storage and can interfere with the personalization of access, the network, and the entire context of browsing security.

To clarify once and for all what cookies are and how they operate, we at the CodeBlog team have created a basic guide for you.

Follow along with the reading and check it out!

After all, what are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your browser to save data and information about your online activities and preferences.
They play an important role in the browsing experience because they enable websites to “remember” you and personalize the content presented.
For example, when a user accesses a shopping site and adds items to the cart, cookies help keep the products in place until the purchase is completed.
In addition, they can also be used to save language preferences, display relevant advertisements based on audience interests, and even keep users logged into a website without them needing to enter their login details.
Even though cookies are absolutely necessary, it must be mentioned that they can also track some online actions, so some precautions must be taken before accepting them.

How are cookies used by browsers?

Cookies are developed by websites and executed and stored on browsers. Generally, they are inserted into a single folder, located in the browser's profile environment. This information is used mainly for:

► Technical functions
Such as content storage, website traffic control, user and session identification.

► Personalization
To customize accesses according to each user's profile and promote adaptations according to the browser type, chosen language, and general configurations of the locations of use.

► Monitoring
To track and collect data and information about user behavior within the platforms and allow actions within these environments to be constantly analyzed.

► Advertising
To enable and personalize advertising content according to each user's profile, such as specific searches on websites.

Deleting cookies: when is it important?

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest concerns regarding cookies is related to the privacy of users and their data present on the internet.
Some people believe that collecting and storing data about browsing is an invasive action that should not be allowed. In these cases, it is possible to disable the use of these tools.
After all, it is necessary to consider that some browsers may have vulnerabilities and people with bad intentions may try to capture information and use it inappropriately.
In addition, site cookies are transmitted over the web without encryption, which facilitates this action.
For this reason, it is advisable to delete cookies periodically, especially in cases of shared devices.
This way, it is possible to prevent information saved in browsers from being collected and used by third parties without prior authorization.
Deleting cookie history, frequently also optimizes the performance of cell phones and computers. Although they are not very heavy, over time, the accumulation of cookies can result in a large volume of "dirt" - which harms the operation of browsers.

Advantages and disadvantages of storing cookies

Don't know whether to keep cookies on your device or not? Below, we list some advantages and disadvantages of this action.

Advantages of cookies

 Cookies optimize online browsing, personalize the user experience, and present relevant information, which can skip some steps and facilitate autofilling passwords, forms, and other information, which, with them, are performed automatically.
In addition, cookies also save the contents of the most accessed pages. Therefore, by allowing the use of cookies, information appears in a more practical and simplified manner, precisely because it is already saved on the device.

Disadvantages of cookies

The biggest disadvantage regarding cookies is related to user security, as they run the risk of having their personal information collected, stored, and used by third parties without consent.
In addition, browsing speed can also be compromised when a high volume of cookies is stored. For this reason, it is necessary to delete data frequently, as mentioned in the last topics.

Cookies and the LGPD

The General Data Protection Law (LGPD), in force in Brazil since 2020, presents some specific rules for the use of cookies.
According to the LGPD, websites must obtain user consent before storing or accessing any type of cookies on their devices.
In addition, companies are required to provide clear information about the use of cookies, as well as the collection and processing of personal data.
The law also requires organizations to adopt appropriate security measures to protect user data.
Therefore, before accepting cookies on a website, it is important to know the privacy policies and understand how the information will be used and protected.

And did you enjoy learning more about cookies?
If you want to stay on top of all the news, information, and updates in the technological universe, keep an eye on the CodeBit blog and follow all the posts to come.

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