Tech Tips: What's a Cookie?

Aside from being a tasty treat, a "cookie" is a piece of information stored in the form of text strings on your computer. When you visit a site that uses cookies for the first time, a cookie is downloaded onto your PC. The next time you visit that site, your PC checks to see if it has a cookie that is relevant (that is, one containing the site name), and sends the information contained in that cookie back to the site.

Generally, cookies are beneficial, helping your computer remember bits of information about websites and making your interaction with frequently visited sites faster and smoother, with no extra effort on your part. Simple as that.

There are some sites which use cookies for nefarious purposes, or ignore your PC's request not to be tracked (if you've activated such a setting). A strong anti-virus or anti-malware program can usually stop these in their tracks, or detect them later during a scan. That's another reason why proactive maintenance (like Bask's Security Suite, powered by Trend Micro) is so vital to the health of your computer. Just like a person, computers shouldn't have too many cookies ;)

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Have concerns about cookies? Wondering how Bask can protect you and your family online? Call us today for a free question & answer session, or schedule one here: Speak with a Bask Technology Advisor