我们最近有一位读者问我们这个问题——在我的浏览器中应该启用还是禁用 Cookie(Should Cookies be Enabled or Disabled in my Browser)?现在,您可能已经在计算机屏幕上看到一条消息,要求您接受特定网站上的 cookie。今天,几乎所有网站都使用 cookie。Cookie是收集用户数据的跟踪器,旨在为他们提供更准确、更流畅的互联网浏览体验。
Cookies主要有两种类型:
用户可以在他们使用的网络浏览器上启用和禁用 cookie 。( enable and disable the cookies)问题是,当您启用或禁用 cookie 时会发生什么?您应该在网络浏览器中启用还是禁用 cookie?本文将告诉您是否应该在网络浏览器中启用或禁用 cookie。
每个网络浏览器都可以选择删除或禁用 cookie。您可以关闭或阻止 cookie 或删除它们。删除浏览器上的所有 cookie 数据意味着删除浏览器上所有保存的信息,例如网站偏好、帐户信息等。删除所有 cookie 数据在您使用共享计算机时非常有用。但是,禁用或删除 cookie 有其优点和缺点。
For most users letting the browser be at its default settings should be good enough, though!
阅读(Read):什么是 Cookie 窃取或抓取(What is Cookie Stealing or Scraping)?
启用和禁用浏览器 Cookie 的优势(Advantages of Enabling and Disabling Browser Cookies)
1]方便(Convenience)是启用 cookie 的最大优势。Cookies 在用户上网时跟踪他们的数据,并为他们提供预填信息的好处。例如,当您第一次登录Facebook等帐户时,您必须输入用户名和密码。但是当您重新访问Facebook时,它会在那里显示您的个人资料用户名。现在,您只需单击它并输入您的密码。这就是 cookie 使网页浏览变得方便的方式。网站还会跟踪您的位置,以便根据您所在地区最相关的信息为您提供更好的服务。但是,您可以禁用您的地理位置( disable your geolocation)。
2] Cookie 提供的另一个重要好处是个性化(personalization)。您有没有想过YouTube如何向您展示您感兴趣的视频?亚马逊(Amazon)和其他电子商务网站如何向您展示您喜欢的产品?这些网站使用 cookie 来跟踪用户的行为。这是增加YouTube观看时间和电子商务平台销售机会的间接方法。
阅读(Read):如何选择退出( opt-out of Data Tracking & Targetted ads)Internet 上的数据跟踪和定向广告。
3]网站(Websites)还使用 cookie 向用户展示最相关的广告(relevant ads),迫使他们点击。这对企业和消费者都有好处,因为企业可以获得收入,而消费者可以获得他们想要的产品或服务。
4]启用(Enabling)cookie 是让网站了解用户选择(users’ choices)的唯一方法,以便他们可以定制服务和产品以增强用户体验。
5]您的登录信息(login information)被存储,因此您不必每次访问该网站时都登录。您会自动登录。
阅读(Read):阻止或允许第三方 Cookie(Block or Allow Third-Party Cookies)。
6]您可以通过删除或禁用cookies来保护您的隐私。如果您禁用 cookie,则通过 cookie 使用和存储您的数据的网站将不再能够这样做。除此之外,您还可以从同一设备上的其他人那里保存您的信息,例如已保存的登录用户名、填写的表格等。
7] 没有您的 cookie 数据,网站主机无法知道您访问其网页的次数。此外,网站将无法根据您的跟踪数据准备您的数字角色。
8]每次(Every)您在网络浏览器上删除 cookie 数据时,您都会开始一个新的会话。因此(Hence),您会看到更少的定向广告。
阅读(Read):如何保护个人身份信息(How to protect Personally Identifiable Information)。
启用或禁用 Cookie 的缺点(Disadvantages of Enabling or Disabling Cookies)
1] 用户对 cookie 的最大问题是他们的隐私。他们觉得如果使用 cookie,就必须在隐私方面做出妥协。因此,一些用户每次退出时都会从网络浏览器中( every time they exit)清除 cookie( clear cookies)和其他数据。
那么这是真的吗?cookie 会侵犯用户的隐私吗?Cookie(Cookies)允许网站收集大量用户数据。这可能对用户构成威胁,因为任何人都可以访问它。
2] 允许个性化的 cookie 也存在一些风险。某些软件存在安全问题,允许第三方访问用户的姓名、地址和信用卡信息(如果存储在浏览器中)。
3]每次访问网络服务时,您都必须一次又一次地登录。
阅读(Read):对于Google和Facebook等公司而言,您在网上的价值是多少?
4] 禁用 cookie 会使您的网页浏览不那么方便。当您清除所有 cookie 数据时,您的网络浏览器将无法记住您的网站偏好。
5]禁用(Disabling)或清除cookie数据将删除您的登录信息和建议。因此(Hence),您必须再次重新输入信息。
6]清除(Clearing)cookie 不会消除数据跟踪。许多网站可以重建 cookie,除非您清除所有浏览历史记录和缓存数据。即使那样,由于活动的指纹跟踪器,您的数据仍然存在风险。如果需要,您还可以禁用浏览器指纹识别( disable browser fingerprinting)。
阅读(Read):什么是网络跟踪?(What is Web Tracking?)
您已经了解了启用和禁用浏览器 cookie 的利弊。如果您禁用所有 cookie,您可能会遇到浏览问题。另一方面,启用 cookie 可能会产生隐私问题。因此,我们建议您明智地管理 cookie 。
阅读下一篇(Read next):不要让广告网络跟踪您。
Should Cookies be Enabled or Disabled in my Browser?
We recentlу had a reader asking us this question – Should Cookies be Enabled or Disabled in my Browser? Now, you might have seen a message displayed on the computer screen that asks you to accept the cookies on a particular website. Today, almost all websites use cookies. Cookies are the trackers that collect users’ data to provide them with a more accurate and smoother internet browsing experience.
Cookies are of two types mainly:
- First-party cookies
- Third-party cookies
Users can enable and disable the cookies on the web browser they use. The question is, what happens when you enable or disable the cookies? Should you enable or disable the cookies in your web browser? This article will let you know whether you should enable or disable cookies in your web browser.
Every web browser has an option to delete or disable the cookies. You can either turn off or block the cookies or delete them. Deleting all the cookies data on your browser means erasing all the saved information on your browser, like website preferences, account information, etc. Deleting all the cookie data is beneficial when you are using a shared computer. However, disabling or deleting cookies has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For most users letting the browser be at its default settings should be good enough, though!
Read: What is Cookie Stealing or Scraping?
Advantages of Enabling and Disabling Browser Cookies
1] Convenience is the most significant advantage of enabling cookies. Cookies track users’ data when they surf on the internet and provide them with the benefit of pre-filled information. For example, when you log into your account like Facebook for the first time, you have to enter both username and password. But when you revisit Facebook, it shows your profile username there. Now, you simply have to click on it and enter your password. This is how cookies make web browsing convenient. Websites also track your location in order to serve you better based on the most relevant information in your area. However, you can disable your geolocation.
2] Another significant benefit that cookies provide is personalization. Have you ever wondered how YouTube shows you videos of your interest? How do Amazon and other eCommerce websites show you the products of your taste? These websites use cookies to track users’ behavior. It is an indirect method of increasing watch time on YouTube and chances of sales on eCommerce platforms.
Read: How to opt-out of Data Tracking & Targetted ads on the Internet.
3] Websites also use cookies to show users the most relevant ads, which force them to click. This is beneficial for both businesses and consumers, as businesses get revenue and consumers get their desired product or service.
4] Enabling cookies is the only way that lets websites know the users’ choices so that they can tailor their services and products to enhance the users’ experience.
5] Your login information is stored so that you do not have to log in every time you visit the site. You get logged in automatically.
Read: Block or Allow Third-Party Cookies.
6] You can protect your privacy by deleting or disabling cookies. If you disable the cookies, the websites that use and store your data via cookies will no longer be able to do so. Apart from this, you can also save your information like saved login usernames, filled forms, etc., from another person on the same device.
7] Without your cookie data, website hosts cannot know how many times you visit their pages. Also, the websites will not be able to prepare your digital persona based on your tracked data.
8] Every time you delete cookie data on your web browser, you will start a new session. Hence, you will see fewer targeted ads.
Read: How to protect Personally Identifiable Information.
Disadvantages of Enabling or Disabling Cookies
1] The biggest problem that users have with the cookies is regarding their privacy. They feel that they have to compromise with their privacy if they use cookies. Due to this, some users clear cookies and other data from the web browsers every time they exit.
So is it really true? Do cookies invade the users’ privacy? Cookies allow websites to collect a lot of users’ data. This can become a threat to the users because anyone can access it.
2] The cookies that allow personalization also comes with some risks. Some software have security issues that allow third-parties to access the users’ name, address, and credit card information (if stored in the browser).
3] You will have to log in, again and again, every time you visit the webs service.
Read: How much are you worth online to companies like Google & Facebook?
4] Disabling the cookies makes your web browsing less convenient. When you clear all your cookie data, your web browser won’t be able to remember your site preferences.
5] Disabling or clearing the cookie data will delete your login information and suggestions. Hence, you have to re-enter the information again.
6] Clearing cookies does not eliminate data tracking. Many websites can reconstruct cookies unless you clear all browsing history and cache data. Even then, your data is still at risk due to active fingerprint trackers. If you want, you can also disable browser fingerprinting.
Read: What is Web Tracking?
You have seen the pros and cons of enabling and disabling the browser cookies. If you disable all the cookies, you may face browsing issues. On the other hand, enabling cookies can create a privacy issue. Therefore, we suggest you manage cookies wisely.
Read next: Don’t let advertising networks track you.