COOKIES

If you have ever suffered the Web, your computer probably contains cookies. A cookie is a sample file that a Web site place on a visitor’s hard disk so that the Web site can remember something about the surfer later. Typically, a cookie records the surfer’s ID of some other unique identifier. Cookies have an important function in Web-based e-commerce, especially between business and customers. They provide convenience to customers. If the cookie contains your name and password for accessing a certain resource at the site, you do not have reentered the information. Cookies often help ensure that a user dose not receive the same unsolicited information multiple times. For instant, cookies are commonly used to rotate banner ads.Some cookies are temporary; they are installed only for that session, and are removed when the user leaves the site. Others are persistent and stay on the hard disk unless the user deletes them. Many cookies are installed to serve only first parties, which are the businesses with which the user interacts directly. Others serve third parties, which are organizations that collect information about the user whenever the user visits a site that subscribes to the service of these organizations.

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