The Cookies You Can't Eat

Figure 1: A different kind of cookie!

Hi there! Do I look familiar to you? You're probably thinking, "Of course, you're a cookie!" You'd be right about that, but I am not the kind of cookie you eat! I go by many different names, sort of like how you have a middle name, a last name, and maybe a nickname, too. Some people call me a web or Internet cookie. Others call me a browser or HTTP cookie. For now, the name Internet cookie is just fine for me!

Figure 2: What I really look like. Look at the information I've found!

As you may have guessed, I live on the Internet. While I may look like food to you, I actually take the form of a small text file when I'm online (1). If you've ever opened up a Notes or Microsoft Word program on your computer, they kind of look like me. Anyways, I'm here to tell you about my job, one that is very important. This is very confidential, so don't tell anyone, but I am a SPY! Are you ready to hear all about my TOP SECRET missions? 

Inside the Life of a Private Eye

My job requires a lot of work. Day in and day out I patrol websites on the Internet. Think of your top 5 favorite websites to visit online. Now think of your friends' favorite websites. I've been to all of them. In fact, every time you go on a website, I'm there! This is because I am automatically downloaded to your computer, phone, or tablet the second you access the site (1). But keeping watch on websites isn't the only thing I do. The biggest, and most significant part of my job relates to you. Yes, you!

You see, even though I may only come from one website, I can see every other site you visit during your time on the Internet. From each one of those sites you go to, I am notified every time you like a post or video, click a link, search something, or buy something. My next task is to report my findings back to the original website I started at (2). Finally, I categorize you and millions of other people on the Internet by your online habits and patterns (2).

Figure 3: Being a spy requires a lot of thinking.

You might be wondering, why do I do these things? Well, the answer is, my information makes a lot of money. Have you ever had a friend at school tell you about a super cool game or toy and then gone home and looked it up? That's one of the things I am told about. When I pass this along, it goes from my main website to advertisers. Advertisers think this knowledge is very useful, because they can use it to figure out what things you might want to buy and then provide you with an easy way to get them. This is why you've likely gotten an ad for something you were just looking at, like the toy you heard about from your friend. The websites get money from the advertisers, and, if you click on the ad and buy the product, the advertisers get money from you.

Cover Blown?

Figure 4: I've been found out!

Honestly, I don't fit the definition of a spy exactly. A lot of the time, you've actually heard about me, maybe without even realizing it! Most people click away pop-ups immediately when they load on a website. By doing this, you've no doubt missed something pretty important that tells you about me! Look at Figure 4. Do you recognize this banner, or have you ever seen one similar to it? I won't go into too much detail, but there's a special reason for these banners. (Learn more)

Although I'm a very important part of the Internet, I often go undetected. Some people aren't recognizing all of my hard work! So remember, whenever you use the Internet, I'm using it with you.






References:

1. Maxim, M. (2016). Processing personal data by cookies. Revista De Stiinte Politice, (49), 66-76.

2. Gervais, N. (2013). Governmental internet information collection: Cookies placing personal privacy at risk. Bulletin Of The Association For Information Science & Technology, 40(2), 27-31.

3. Vector Cookie Drawing [Illustration] (2017). Retrieved from https://www.canstockphoto.pl/słodki-ciasteczka-dumny-litera-48910408.html

4. Cookie Text File [Screenshot] (2011). Retrieved from http://www.consumingexperience.com/2011/09/internet-explorer-cookie-contents-new.html

5. Vector Cookie Drawing 2 [Illustration] (2017). Retrieved from https://de.depositphotos.com/159923786/stock-illustration-thinking-face-sweet-cookies-character.html

6. Cookie Usage Notification [Screenshot] (2016). Retrieved from https://www.ostraining.com/blog/drupal/drupal-8-cookieconsent-law/