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Introduction to Web Programming: Cookies
Web cookies, also known as majic cookies or virtual cookies, are bits of data that are placed on the hard drive when a web user visits a web site that generates them. Cookies were developed by Netscape Corporation as an enhancement to the HTTP specifications. ... Cookies are embedded in the HTTP header and are used to transfer information between the users computer and the server each time the website is accessed. Because they are not part of the standard HTTP specifications, cookies are not supported by all browsers.
Cookies can be used for a variety of purposes and can contain many types of information. ...
Cookies are frequently used on sites that request usernames and IDs. Developed properly, these cookies provide a great convenience for the web user with minimal security risk. Accepting cookies serves two purposes: 1) for the site developer, the cookie is a good way to track site activity, and 2) for the web user, the cookie usually makes using the site much easier.
Although the use of cookies by websites is a boon for the frequent user, the behind the scenes nature of cookies has elicited fear in many web users. ... The possibility of abuse does exist, but personal information, such as the users name, age, or address, is not passed through cookies. ...
Netscape addressed this issue by developing an HTTP enhancement- cookies. Cookies are a mechanism by which web site servers can store and retrieve information from the client side. Information recorded in cookies simulate an active session that may span multiple web pages. ...
Advantages of Web Cookies
Cookies are advantageous to both the user and the web site developer. For the most part, web cookies do not present any danger. ... Cookies are not the only way of gathering statistics. In fact, site logs gather a considerable amount of data, but cookies can be used to track individual users.
Users
Users can benefit greatly by accepting cookies generated by sites that require login names and passwords. ...
Cookies are also used on sites that use shopping carts. Cookies keep track of the purchases. ...
Web Developers
One good use of web cookies for the web developer is to gather statistics. Cookies provide the developer with information about the movement of the user through the site, and may provide information such as how long and how often a user viewed a particular page. ... For example, information in cookies might give valuable feedback when offering test pages to users on the same subject. ...
Cookies also measure the number of unique visitors to the site. ...
The Disadvantages of Web Cookies
Although cookies are perceived by many as inherently evil, you have seen that they really do serve a good purpose. A lot of people do not like cookies because they see them as a tool of "Big Brother". Their beliefs, though they seem radical, cannot be strewn aside as paranoia, as cookies do allow tracking across a website. ... People should know that this type of tracking can be done through the uses of other types of technologies, but cookies are usually utilized for this purpose because it is a bit more consistent than the alternatives. ...
People also do not like cookies because they come across as being sneaky. ... The contents of a cookie can also be encrypted, which does not sit well with many as they have no idea what an encrypted cookies purpose could be. ... They harvest information about Internet users, such as what kinds of sites theyve been to, what kinds of things they buy via the net, the individuals general interests, etc. ... Once you finish up they will take what theyve learned about you and send it on over to DoubleClick, where they can put you in their database for the other DoubleClick enabled sites to add to ( once you visit those other sites), or for them to grab info from, like when they want to know whether they should send you an ad for the new Martha Stewart book or for the Die Hard trilogy. ... That is the main concern and disadvantage about cookies. It is nearly impossible for a cookie to unleash a virus on your system, and the idea is so far fetched that it is not worth worrying about. Cookies also cannot damage your hard drive, or take a snapshot of what you have on your hard drive, or anything else like that. In a way, cookies really only know what you tell them. ... Future alternatives to cookies should be welcomed with open arms, and although they may not solve a whole lot, they will solve some of the concerns.
Security Issues with Web Cookies
Web cookies do present a security risk. ... )
Web site developers who build cookies that provide access to their web site, or cookies that will be used in other types of transactions with their servers should be aware of the possibility of web cookie interception, and should design a system to minimize the danger.
There are several things which the web site developer can do:
Make sure web cookies contain as little private information as possible.
Make sure that sensitive information contained in web cookies is always encrypted. ...
Cookies should contain sufficient information to verify that the individual using the cookie is the person authorized to do so. Most sites using cookies incorporate the following information:
Authorization information (Session ID)
Time and date
IP address of the web user
Expiration date
MAC code (Message Authenticity Check)
Including the IP address ensures that the cookie will only be verified if IP address stored on the server matches the IP address of the browser submittng the cookie. ...
Alternatives to Cookies
So you dont like cookies, but you dont like the hassle of having to enter your username and password onto a site everytime you enter it.
Approximate Word count = 4819
Approximate Pages = 19.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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