What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small inoffensive text file that is stored on your computer when you visit websites. Its utility is that the website has the ability to remember your visit once you return to it. Although many people do not know it, cookies are not new. They have been used for around 20 years, almost since the implementation of web browsers. It is worth to highlight that cookies are not any type of virus, worm, spam or means of creating pop-ups.
Among its main functions is the control of users. Each time a user enters their username and password, a cookie is generated so you do not have to repeat this step each time you try to enter the same page. A cookie does not identify a person, but a combination of computer-browser-user.
Additionally, cookies are used to obtain information about the user's browsing habits. Cookies usually do not store sensitive information about you, such as credit cards or bank details, photographs, your ID or personal information, etc. The data they keep are of a technical nature, personal preferences, personalization of contents, among others.
In any case, cookies can be deleted, accepted or blocked as desired, for this you must only enter the configuration menu according to the web browser you use.
What kind of cookies are there?
Technical cookies: These are the most basic and they allow the web page to differentiate a human user from a robot, when an anonymous or registered user navigates, basic tasks for the operation of any dynamic web, among other things.
Analysis cookies: They store information about the type of navigation that is being done, the sections that are most used, products consulted, time zones, language, etc.
Advertising cookies: They show advertising based on your browsing habits, country of origin, language, etc.
Some of the cookies used in this website are:
Session cookies: To ensure that users who write comments on blogs are human and not automated applications.
Google Analytics: It stores cookies to be able to compile statistics on traffic and volume of visits to this website. By using this website, you are consenting to the processing of information about you by Google. Therefore, the exercise of any rights in this regard must be done by communicating directly with Google.
Social Networks: Each social network uses its own cookies to click on buttons as "Like" or "Share".
User-centric Security Cookies: To detect authentication abuses for a limited persistent duration, such as repeated unsuccessful login attempts. These cookies are configured for the specific task of increasing the security of the service.
Multimedia Content Player Session Cookies (Flash Cookies): Used during the session to store technical data needed to play video or audio content (e.g. image quality, network link speed, and buffer parameters).
Load Balancing Session Cookies: They are used during the session to identify the same server in the group, so that the load balancer can redirect user requests appropriately.
Persistent Cookies for Personalization of the User Interface: They are used to store the preferences of a user with respect to a service on the web page.
How to delete / deactivate cookies?
To remove cookies from a website in your browser, you must go to the browser's settings menu and delete those associated with the domain in question.
Google Chrome: Tools - Settings - Show advanced settings - Content settings - Cookies - Block data from third-party sites and cookies.
Mozilla Firefox: Tools - Options - Privacy - History - Use a custom configuration for the history (uncheck all boxes).
Internet Explorer: Tools - Security - Delete browsing history - Select Cookies and website data - Delete.
Safari: Edition - Preferences - Privacy - Block cookies (select "always").
Opera: Menu - Settings - Privacy and security - Cookies section (select Block third-party cookies and site data).
In the case of deactivating cookies, you should know that many of the features you enjoy on the page may not work. For example: