After reading several online articles about internet cookies, I found interesting information about the topic that I would like to share including: their definition, types, usage, pros and cons, and there relevance to business.
“Cookies were introduced to Internet browsing by the pioneering firm Netscape” in 1994. They are small bits of information that contain a name, value, and expiration date. They are stored in text format with a size that doesn’t exceed 4KB. “They can be read with a regular text editor such as Notepad”. (Surf the Internet Safely 2011). They are not viruses since they don’t carry any plug-in or program but they could be a mean of the virus if infected. Cookies are stored “in a secure area on your computer…known as the cookie jar” (Internet Problems 2011). Each cookie is stored by the Web site you surf, “providers of the advertising banners, or other graphics that make up a Web page” (Surf the Internet Safely 2011). Cookies are accessible only by the website itself, unless a website deliberately passes information across.
There are different types of cookies including: session cookie: a cookie “stored in temporary memory and is not retained after the browser is closed”, and persistent cookie: “a cookie that is stored on a user’s hard drive until it expires… or until the user deletes the cookie. Persistent cookies are used to collect identifying information about the user”. (Vangie Beal 2010)
Cookies are used for different reasons. First, cookies are used to collect demographic information about users. As a result, “This can help companies refine their marketing strategies to meet consumer needs”. Second, they might be used to offer the user “a personalized experience at the web site” because the browser will recognize the user from the saved cookies. Third, cookies are used to monitor advertising messages. “Cookies can help tell the host server which banner ads you've seen and which you have not”. (Solve your problems 2007). Finally, “servers use cookies to help with back-end interaction as well, which can improve the utility of a site by being able to securely store any personal data that the user has shared with a site”. (David Whalen 2002).
Using cookies can also carry several disadvantages. First, “they are seen as an invasion of privacy” for two main reasons; most browsers usually accept cookies by default, and “they are being stored invisibly on your hard drive every time you browse the Internet”. Second, “since your IP address is usually collected, your browsing history and online activities become public knowledge”. Third, “cookies are actual files that are stored on your hard drive. The more you surf the Web, the more cookies you accumulate”. Finally, “there are some individuals and groups who collect personal information (from cookies) for unscrupulous purposes. They may sell the information to third parties, or even use it to hack into social networks or other online accounts”. (Linton, Kim).
In conclusion, cookies are used for various purposes that can benefit each business if disadvantages are avoided. In my opinion, marketers can efficiently target their customers by dividing the market into unique segments that share same interests or tastes using the data supported by cookies to achieve a competitive advantage.
Reference list:
Surf the Internet Safely 2011. Available from:
< http://surfthenetsafely.com/surfsafely5.htm>
Internet Problems 2011. Available from:
< http://www.internet-problems.com/cookies.asp>. [March 2011].
Surf the Internet Safely 2011. Available from:
< http://surfthenetsafely.com/surfsafely5.htm>
Vangie Beal, What are Cookies and What Do Cookies Do?, 2010. Available from:
< http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2007/all_about_cookies.asp >. [August 2010].
Solve Your Problem 2007. Available from:
< http://technology.solveyourproblem.com/internet-security/why_do_websites_use_cookies.shtml >
David Whalen, The unofficial Cookie FAQ, 2002. Available from:
< http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq/#1.1>. [6 August 2002].
Kim Linton, eHow Contributor, Disadvantages of Cookies on a Computer. Available from:
< http://www.ehow.com/about_5047612_disadvantages-cookies-computer.html >
“Cookies were introduced to Internet browsing by the pioneering firm Netscape” in 1994. They are small bits of information that contain a name, value, and expiration date. They are stored in text format with a size that doesn’t exceed 4KB. “They can be read with a regular text editor such as Notepad”. (Surf the Internet Safely 2011). They are not viruses since they don’t carry any plug-in or program but they could be a mean of the virus if infected. Cookies are stored “in a secure area on your computer…known as the cookie jar” (Internet Problems 2011). Each cookie is stored by the Web site you surf, “providers of the advertising banners, or other graphics that make up a Web page” (Surf the Internet Safely 2011). Cookies are accessible only by the website itself, unless a website deliberately passes information across.
There are different types of cookies including: session cookie: a cookie “stored in temporary memory and is not retained after the browser is closed”, and persistent cookie: “a cookie that is stored on a user’s hard drive until it expires… or until the user deletes the cookie. Persistent cookies are used to collect identifying information about the user”. (Vangie Beal 2010)
Cookies are used for different reasons. First, cookies are used to collect demographic information about users. As a result, “This can help companies refine their marketing strategies to meet consumer needs”. Second, they might be used to offer the user “a personalized experience at the web site” because the browser will recognize the user from the saved cookies. Third, cookies are used to monitor advertising messages. “Cookies can help tell the host server which banner ads you've seen and which you have not”. (Solve your problems 2007). Finally, “servers use cookies to help with back-end interaction as well, which can improve the utility of a site by being able to securely store any personal data that the user has shared with a site”. (David Whalen 2002).
Using cookies can also carry several disadvantages. First, “they are seen as an invasion of privacy” for two main reasons; most browsers usually accept cookies by default, and “they are being stored invisibly on your hard drive every time you browse the Internet”. Second, “since your IP address is usually collected, your browsing history and online activities become public knowledge”. Third, “cookies are actual files that are stored on your hard drive. The more you surf the Web, the more cookies you accumulate”. Finally, “there are some individuals and groups who collect personal information (from cookies) for unscrupulous purposes. They may sell the information to third parties, or even use it to hack into social networks or other online accounts”. (Linton, Kim).
In conclusion, cookies are used for various purposes that can benefit each business if disadvantages are avoided. In my opinion, marketers can efficiently target their customers by dividing the market into unique segments that share same interests or tastes using the data supported by cookies to achieve a competitive advantage.
Reference list:
Surf the Internet Safely 2011. Available from:
< http://surfthenetsafely.com/surfsafely5.htm>
Internet Problems 2011. Available from:
< http://www.internet-problems.com/cookies.asp>. [March 2011].
Surf the Internet Safely 2011. Available from:
< http://surfthenetsafely.com/surfsafely5.htm>
Vangie Beal, What are Cookies and What Do Cookies Do?, 2010. Available from:
< http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2007/all_about_cookies.asp >. [August 2010].
Solve Your Problem 2007. Available from:
< http://technology.solveyourproblem.com/internet-security/why_do_websites_use_cookies.shtml >
David Whalen, The unofficial Cookie FAQ, 2002. Available from:
< http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq/#1.1>. [6 August 2002].
Kim Linton, eHow Contributor, Disadvantages of Cookies on a Computer. Available from:
< http://www.ehow.com/about_5047612_disadvantages-cookies-computer.html >
Very true, and very informative. I personally don't agree with the use of cookies at all, as they eventually can and do lead to spam etc...
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff ! Thank a ton. Internet cookies are small pieces of information in text format that are downloaded to your computer when you visit many Web sites.
ReplyDelete