Information Security: Defining Cookies
A Cookie is a small file, typically of letters and numbers, downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies allow a website to recognize a user’s device. Cookies are categorized in two ways, the extent of data they store and the website that places the cookie on the user's device. A session cookie is one which is erased when the user closes the browser. Session cookies are considered to be less privacy intrusive than persistent cookies because they expire after a browser session so would not be stored longer term. For example, session cookies can be used for security when a user is accessing internet banking or to facilitate use of webmail. Persistent cookies differs from a session cookies. A persistent cookie remains on the user's computer/device for a pre-defined period of time. Persistent cookies are stored on a users’ device in between browser sessions which allows the preferences or actions of the user across a site (or in some cases across di