As you use the internet, share personal information, and allow websites to track your data, your data becomes increasingly susceptible to attack. If something’s free, your personal information is the price. Free social media apps and websites often track, store, and sell your personal information, which puts you at increased risk for scams and identity theft. One of the most common ways your data is harvested is the use of “cookies” by websites and applications.
Cookies are small text files that a website puts in the browser folder of your hard drive. When you revisit a website, your browser gives the cookie back to the website and the website builds a personalized experience for you based on the stored information.
What are cookies used for?
Cookies are used for features like auto filling username and password information, setting language preferences, and tracking your search information to make targeting advertisements.
Cookies are not inherently malicious, but they can be used to retrieve information about you, which is a security concern. Often, websites will require you to accept cookies for them to function, so it can be difficult to track which websites have access to your information. For websites where you don’t want to be tracked, use private or incognito windows unless you want a personalized experience.
While using the internet, your data is constantly exposed to risk. This risk often comes from applications or websites accessing personal data that they don’t need to function properly. This includes access to location, contacts, microphone, and camera. Be vigilant about only allowing trusted applications with privacy policies that align with the University of Massachusetts to access necessary information.
Reference other information security articles here to keep your data safe: