Cookies: Should I Delete Them?

We visit thousands of websites daily and most of them save our web browsing history. While some information is automatically saved, others take our permission before saving our information. Thus, when the websites upload your information, files are created, which are known as cookies. They are tracking files placed on your system by the websites you visit.

Companies use these cookies to understand the buyer’s behavior and ensure you have a seamless user experience. This is why when you are scrolling through your social media accounts you see personalized advertisements based on your search intent.

eCommerce giants want to retain their customers, so they chase their every click to advertise their products. While some of the websites are generally safe, others are not. Some cookies also save your login credentials, location, and so on. Since the use of the internet has increased a lot, this has given hackers a chance to invade our privacy for their malicious means.

Cookies undermine your privacy as hackers could use your data for malicious means. Therefore, you should avoid storing cookies and always clear them because hackers also create websites to steal your data.

Read this blog to know more about why you should clear your browsing cookies.

5 Reasons to Clear Your Browser’s Cookies

Below are five important reasons why you should delete cookies. Let’s read on!

Slower Computer Speeds

Web browsers save the files on your hard drive. They might be small in size, but if you are visiting hundreds of websites, then over time, you can accumulate a lot of them. Thus, your browser uses the cookies to properly load the websites, so your sessions will get slower. This is the reason you should always clear your cookies when you are about to exit the website.

Unencrypted Websites

Most of the websites are not encrypted, so they do not protect your privacy. This means if you allow the cookies, your personal information is easily available over the internet. So, always decline them and ensure you have a good antivirus installed on your system. This enhances your security as unencrypted websites might install files, and you might not even notice. It will remove the malware and prevent the hackers from achieving their aims. Some antivirus software also detects suspicious cookies. Since this issue has increased, internet service providers have started offering security tools to enhance the security of users.

For example, HughesNet offers secure satellite internet services and even provides Norton 360 Deluxe. This is one of the most popular and reliable antiviruses that detects and deletes viruses immediately. If you want to know more about their services and packages, visit here.

Bugs

When you have a lot of cookies saved, then these saved files might affect your browsing experience. The reason is that if the site owner introduces updates or new features, the site functions for you. Therefore, you should always update your browsers and delete cookies.

You Might Accept Third-Party Cookies

As mentioned earlier, most of us do not know the websites we visit are trustable or not. So, third-party cookies can leave you vulnerable, as the website owner can sell your data to hackers. Since cookies record our identifiable information such as name, address, login credentials, and others. Thus, this also puts your security at stake. Moreover, the major problem with the third parties cookies is that one has no control over how the other party shares your data. Most of us do not even know whether we are accepting third-party cookies or session cookies. Therefore, it is better to avoid them or delete them.

Account Protection

Most of us have saved our social media login credentials so we can use them with just one click. So, if hackers hack your data or system, they can easily use your accounts and steal your identity. Thus, when you erase cookies, you erase all the information saved in your browser, including your password and all your details.

In Brief

The internet is indeed one of the most impressive technologies that we use, but it has posed serious threats to our online security. One needs to be diligent about their online activities and never share confidential data over the internet. One way to beef up your internet security is to avoid storing cookies. As cookies store your personal data, it is better to clear them otherwise, you can easily be the victim of cybercrime. Not every website wants to enhance your browsing experience, as some might have malicious means. Your information can be easily sold to the third-parties, and this does not only affect your online privacy but your physical security as well.