Are Third-Party Cookies Harmful? Expert Opinion
Cookies are not harmful for most cases. With all cookies blocked, websites will not function and in fact, blockage of cookies will make your browsing session more insecure. Chrome and Edge – most popular browsers allow even third-party cookies by default, without any harmful effects on security of a user.
A good or bad cookie depends on the intentions of the programmer who created that cookie. Browsers and servers create safety walls against such malicious cookies. Search engines remove malicious websites from search results.
When Cookies Become Harmful?
Generally, cookies themselves are not harmful. Cookies become harmful when intercepted by a hacker or a man-in-the-middle during insecure connection of a user device with the server.
Cookies must be secured at both ends – user device and server. If hackers intercept the cookie, they may access the personal and private information of a user such as passwords, auto completion form entries, history of browsed websites. Hackers then try to use the information for impersonating and stealing web accounts of the user.
To secure cookies, several methods are used such as SSL encrypted data transmission, long and unguessable cookie string, proper identity of user device before transmitting vital data, frequently updating the cookie string.
Why websites Use Cookies? Should You Block Third-Party Cookies?
To cover costs, website owners implement ads provided by advertising companies such as such as Taboola which use cookies to track actions of users.
Cookies are used to show right ads for the right person, based upon user interests and browsing history. With blockage of cookie, you will not get personalized and focused ads. You will see a random ad; for example, you have interest in computers, but you may see ads related to agriculture products which will be useless for you. As a result, you will not click on the irrelevant ads and the website owner will lose revenue.
Personally, I don’t care if I get a smooth browsing experience at the cost of some tracking by third-party cookies. However, if you don’t mind irritating browsing experience, you can block third-party cookies in settings of browser.
Role of Browser in Allowing Legitimate Cookies
It is fact that most users don’t know anything about cookies or privacy issues, therefore it should be the prime job of a browser to secure its users from bad effects of cookies.
Well known browsers (Edge, Chrome) perform their job efficiently. Browsers warn users from opening an insecure link and user should take the warning of browser seriously and avoid bypassing the alerts of browser.
In most modern browsers, you can allow or block cookies from specific websites. Additionally, browsers by default block insecure content from even allowed websites.
Browsers store cookies in separate cache, and cookies have no access to static data of user in the device.
More Resources
Following resources might be helpful for you.
Online Security Tips and Internet Data Safety – Steps to Guard Yourself.
Online Browser Cookies Top Facts – See Example of an Internet Cookie.
Should you Allow or Block Browser Cookies?
Google Chrome Cookies Settings.
Microsoft Edge Cookies Settings | Pro Guide and Tips
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