Picture: Trailblaze Marketing.
Our short answer is no. Websites that employ these cookies must get your consent. Otherwise, they will face severe penalties under numerous laws. If a cookie may identify your locations and info, you may opt out altogether.
In short, do you want to have a cookie containing stored information about you? No? Then say no.
Picture: Boom Visibility
Cookies are files containing little data fragments, such as login details. HTTP chips identify unique users and enhance your online surfing experience. Meanwhile, websites employ them to recognize your machine during network connections. The server creates the data saved in a cookie during your connection.
How do they identify your data exactly? They employ a unique ID assigned to your machine. This process occurs when your laptop and the system network exchange cookies. The server examines the ID and determines what information to provide you personally.
Cookie alerts have become increasingly frequent. And there is a good reason for it: the implementation of EU legislation known as GDPR.
What does the GDPR issue? In a nutshell, websites have to request your consent before putting cookies on your machine. That is because corporations must get your express permission before collecting your data.
Each cookie at least contains the website's name and a unique identifier. We are certain this is common knowledge. However, some websites may contain extra details in the cookie they keep on your computer. For example, a cookie may include one (or more) of the following:
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Accounts into which you log in
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The links that you click when navigating around the website
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A shopping basket's contents
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The choices, preferences, or configurations that you choose
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A history of the pages you have viewed in the past.
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The duration of your visit to a website.
Cookies are a critical tool to boost user experience. Take a shopping website (like Shopee), for instance. Shopee may use cookies to keep track of purchased products. Also, the social network may use cookies to monitor the links you visit. Based on the collected data, it will display more appropriate or intriguing content.
There is no doubt about cookies' efficiency. However, privacy activists have raised concerns about personal info leakage. Surfing patterns - data collected by most cookies - are the most debated issues.
Picture: ICO.
Some businesses will not allow you to access their site if you refuse to accept cookies. Generally, this is because certain websites will not function properly without cookies. These sites will stop you from visiting them when you do not give them the necessary consent. That movement is compulsory, given the aftermath of GDPR (and its penalties).
Fortunately, that is not the case for many other websites. You can continue to access them without cookie acceptance.
Bear in mind, though, that there are advantages to accepting cookies. You will benefit from a better seamless experience with more pertinent data. So allowing cookies is typically a worth-it tactic. But if you are concerned about privacy, it is not necessary.
You can save cookies on your computer and delete them once they become redundant. Here are two simple steps:
Step 1: Scroll to the history area of your internet browser's settings
Step 2: Look for a tool to erase cookies. It should delete all caches from your smartphone and PC, freeing up disk space.
However, some pages will display differently from their standard layout. Worse, they might even lock you from access.
This article has addressed the question, Do you have to accept cookies? If you choose not to do so, there might be some inconveniences. But overall, your cookie refusal will not pose any actual harm to your computer or network. So do not worry! Write to us for more clarifications if you still feel unsettled, though.
