2. INTERNET COOKIES
Internet cookie is a TEXT object send by a web server to a browser or
on your hard drive.
The main purpose of the cookie is to identify the users and remember
stateful information (Such as items in a shopping cart) or to save site
login information for you.
Most users are unaware of how HTTP cookies operate, they may be
aware that their browsers save them on their system. A little bit of
information received from a website and saved on a user's computer
upon accessing that page is known as an HTTP cookie. Unbeknownst
to the typical internet user, cookies are very helpful for monitoring a
person's activities on the website, including how often they see
different sites and which ones they visit most often.
3. TYPES OF COOKIES
1. Session cookies: Stored in memory
These cookies are valid for one session only.
One session means time between opening and closing browser.
As the browser store in memory this cookies also stored in memory. As the browser goes
out of the memory the cookies also deleted.
2. Persistent cookies: Stored in hard drive
These cookies are stored for more than one browser session. Hence, they are stored in in
hard drive.
Persistent cookies stay with our browser even after we have exited it.
The next time we open our browser and access the website that placed the cookie on our
browser, it will find the cookie still there.
3. Third Party Cookies
These cookies are generated from first party.
They just track us and expose our privacy.
For example, if the Web site we are on using third-party advertising those third-party
advertising Web sites may use a cookie to track Web habits for marketing purposes. 3
5. INTERNET PRIVACY
Internet privacy is the technological area where users can control how much
personal data and sensitive information is published through the Internet. It
entails the power to regulate the personal information one shares with others,
which includes who gets to view it and how one's data can be used.
Key aspects includes:
Data Security: Protecting personal information from unauthorized access,
use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording, or
destruction.
Anonymity: The ability to use the Internet without disclosing one's identity.
Consent: The need for informed consent before personal information is
collected, used, or shared by websites or applications.
User Control: Users having control over their own personal information
online, including who can collect it and how it can be used.
6. HOW COMPANIES COLLECT DATA
Amazon:
Generally speaking, Amazon collect three types of data to market items to consumers
more successfully, which boosts sales volume.
1. Baseline data
At baseline level, Amazon uses its own systems to gather and monitor every measurable
data point. When we visit Amazon.com and do actions like adding things to our basket,
searching for additional products, and so on, the massive online retailer is monitoring
our activity at a very detailed level.
2. Derivative/Interpretive Data
In the second layer of data, which is interpretative and derivative, Amazon aims to move
beyond aggregate data and become more individualised. Based on each user's unique
activity on the website, Amazon attempts to gather information about them.
“One obvious example is if we are buying diapers every week, it's pretty obvious we have
a newborn and so they should advertise other baby products to you. But Amazon gets a lot
more sophisticated than that”. 6
7. HOW COMPANIES COLLECT DATA
Amazon:
3. Third-party enhanced data
Cookies may also be set by authorized third parties when we use Amazon services. Search
engines, organizations that provide analytics and measurement services, social media
platforms, and advertising agencies are examples of third parties. Cookies are used by
third parties to serve content—including advertisements—that is relevant to our interests,
track the success of their advertisements, and carry out functions on Amazon's behalf.
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8. HOW AMAZON COLLECT DATA USING COOKIES
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I have taken the
snapshot of
information from
the Amazon
website that how
Amazon uses
cookies to collect
data.
9. HOW COMPANIES COLLECT DATA
Facebook:
Social networking sites such as Facebook enable "Like" and "Share" buttons to be
included on other websites, which in turn allows the sites to set cookies on users'
computers. These cookies have the ability to follow users across the internet,
obtaining data about their online activities and interests even when they are not
using social networking sites. Because of the substantial data collecting required,
this data is subsequently utilised for tailored content feeds and targeted advertising
on social media sites, which improves user engagement but also raises privacy
concerns.
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11. REFERENCES
AMAZON. 2020. Cookies [Online]. Available:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html%3FnodeId%3DGVAS
XV5UZ64R4Y25 [Accessed 23 2024].
COOKIEYES. 2021. A Guide to Tracking Cookies [Online]. Available:
https://www.cookieyes.com/blog/tracking-cookies/ [Accessed 23 2024].
KOMNENIC, M. 2023. What Are Tracking Cookies and How to Detect Them
[Online]. Available: https://termly.io/resources/articles/tracking-cookies/
[Accessed 23 2024].
LAKE, J. 2021. Tracking cookies: How to limit third-party data collection
[Online]. Available: https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-
security/tracking-cookies/ [Accessed 23 2024].
PRATT. 2024. INTERNET AND DATA PRIVACY GUIDE [Online]. Available:
https://libguides.pratt.edu/internet-data-privacy/introduction-internet-
privacy [Accessed 23 2024].
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