Frequently Asked Question

With a few variations, cookies in the cyber world come in two types: session and persistent.

Session cookies are used only while navigating a website. They are stored in random access memory and are never written to the hard drive.

When the session ends, session cookies are automatically deleted. They also help the "back" button or third-party anonymizer plugins work. These plugins are designed for specific browsers to work and help maintain user privacy.

Persistent cookies remain on a computer indefinitely, although many include an expiration date and are automatically removed when that date is reached.

Persistent cookies are used for two primary purposes:

1. Authentication. These cookies track whether a user is logged in and under what name. They also streamline login information, so users don't have to remember site passwords.
2. Tracking. These cookies track multiple visits to the same site over time. Some online merchants, for example, use cookies to track visits from particular users, including the pages and products viewed. The information they gain allows them to suggest other items that might interest visitors. Gradually, a profile is built based on a user's browsing history on that site.