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Cookie pop-ups don't have to be a fact of life online - how I block them and why
Apr 15, 2025
"C" is for cookie, gathering data on me.
You know them, you loathe them, but because of how the web works these days, you cannot avoid them. Unless your browser of choice does a good job of blocking them. If not, you have to deal with them.
Cookies store information
Cookies are tiny text files stored on your device by the websites you visit. They store information such as:
Session details (e.g., login credentials)
Preferences (e.g., language settings)
Advertising targeting data
Analytics and performance metrics
Cookies might seem innocuous at first, but the more data they gather, the better they become at helping a website construct a profile on you. With that profile, websites can target ads or even sell that information.
How websites use cookies
Depending on which browser you use and how it is configured, when a website employs a cookie, a pop-up may appear to inform you. The reasons websites use cookies include:
Tracking: To monitor user behavior across multiple pages or sessions
Advertising targeting: To deliver targeted ads based on your browsing history and interests
Analytics and performance monitoring: To collect data about website usage patterns
To be clear, cookies are not innocent. Their purpose is to gather data about you so it can be used for the benefit of the issuing company.
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