A few times a year I am contacted by a client who lets me know their legal department is updating or creating a privacy policy as it relates to the web site and they need some questions answered about the functions of their web site. On more than one occasion, I have replied that "non-identifying" cookies are used only to get an immediate response back about how they can't use cookies, users wont like it and it opens a can of privacy/legal issues. My response: "I said 'non-identifying' and your website wont work without them". Explaining exactly what browser cookies are and how they work is muddled task, especially given their bad rap. I recently found an article on a favorite site that does a great job of explaining the facts and myths of these little things. Check out Fact and Fiction: The Truth About Browser Cookies @ lifehacker.com
From Fact and Fiction: The Truth About Browser Cookies:
Myth: Cookies Spy On You and Track Everything You Are Doing
Myth: Cookies Are Viruses or Spyware and Create Spam and Popups
Fact: Spyware and Viruses Can Read Your Cookies, but So What?
Fact: Cookies Are Required for Logging Into Most Sites
Fact: Cookies are Used by Advertisers to Track Sites You Visit
Fact: Deleting or Blocking Cookies Can Cause More Annoying Ads
Fact: Disabling Cookies Doesn't Matter If You Have Flash Enabled
Posted on
Thursday, February 4, 2010
by Shane Larrabee