Barely do you open any website and a cookie consent banner pops up at you. We click it automatically, yet few know what they actually agreed to. Let us explain what cookies are, what they are for and why websites love collecting them.

A cookie is a small text file that a website stores in your browser. On your next visit it reads it, and thanks to this the website remembers you. In itself it is nothing bad, it is a common part of how the internet works.

What cookies are for

  • Remembering a login, so you do not have to log in with every click.
  • A shopping cart that remembers what you put in it.
  • Settings, like language or dark mode.
  • Statistics and advertising, where cookies are used to track behavior.

Necessary versus tracking cookies

This is the key difference:

  • Necessary cookies are those without which the website does not work, for example login and the cart. Those are fine.
  • Tracking and advertising cookies follow your behavior across websites so companies can target ads at you. These are exactly the reason cookies are collected so diligently.

Why websites love collecting them

The answer is simple: data about users has value. Thanks to tracking cookies, advertising systems know what interests you, what you browsed and what you almost bought. Based on this they show you targeted ads, which are far more valuable to advertisers. Your data is the currency in this business.

The law (especially GDPR and the privacy directive) requires a website to ask your consent for tracking cookies. That is why a cookie banner pops up at you. Necessary cookies do not require consent, tracking ones do, and you can refuse consent.

How to protect yourself from tracking

  • Refuse unnecessary cookies, you do not have to agree to everything, look for the option to refuse.
  • Use a privacy-focused browser, more in the article on browsers.
  • Occasionally delete cookies and browsing history.
  • Consider private mode for sensitive browsing.

For website owners

If you run a website, a cookie banner and correct handling of consents is an obligation related to GDPR. An incorrect setup can be a problem.

Dealing with cookies on your website or want more privacy while browsing? Get in touch, we will advise and set it up correctly.