What You Need To Know..

MicrosoftTeams image 15 v2 Let’s start With Cookie Alerts

When you visit a website for the first time or from a different device or browser, you will get a message that says the site "uses Cookies to provide you with a more customized experience" and asks whether you agree. Let's face it. Many of us don't bother to read the message before clicking "Accept" and continuing our surfing.

So, What Are These Cookies Anyway?

Cookies are tiny information packets that store data related to your interaction and behavior on websites. It is like walking into your favorite local diner and having them serve up the “usual” instantly. Cookies Track your digital footprint on a website and allow the site to offer you a more personalized browsing experience. For example, let’s say you visited Amazon.com and looked at some cameras; perhaps, you put one into your cart as well, but never checked out, or added one to your wishlist on the site. The next time the camera is on a sale, the Amazon app sends you a notification about the price reduction. That happens with the help of cookies. And, that’s just one example. Cookies are not necessarily limited to shopping sites.You know how sometimes you can save your password for some sites, so you don’t have to type it or log in every time you visit the website? You are able to do that because of cookies. Any site can have cookies, though shopping and banking sites can’t function without them.

Types Of Cookies

There are 3 kinds of cookies, each having different functions.

One of them is session cookies. If it weren’t for session cookies, you wouldn’t be able to do any online shopping, banking, social media posting or any other activity that requires you to be logged in/identified. These session cookies are temporary cookies and they disappear once you log out of the website, thus closing the session. It is the session cookie files that allow the website to identify you and your actions and respond accordingly. Without them, every click you made on the site will be considered as new, unrelated to a previous act For example, you logged into your bank account to transfer money to a friend. If you click on “Money Transfer”, without a session cookie, the bank’s website won’t recognize you from your log-in and you just won’t be able to proceed further. You'll be stuck in an endless cycle of system entry. Now doesn't that sound fun? 

The second kind of cookie are called persistent cookies. These cookies are stored in the hard drive of your computer. They aren't transient like session cookies, and they won't go away until you delete them. Websites utilize persistent cookies to provide you with a more personalized browsing experience. When you visit a worldwide company's website, for example, you may be offered the option of selecting your favorite language and nation so that the site shows appropriate information. Unless you explicitly delete the cookies from your computer, the next time you visit the site, you will be automatically redirected to the version you selected the last time. 

You may have observed that after visiting online shopping sites, adverts for the things you looked at on the shopping site appear on other websites as well. In this case, third-party cookies are used.

How Do Cookies Become A Security Threat?

So, we now know that cookies are not intrinsically harmful. Some cookies, such as session cookies, are required for web surfing, while others, such as permanent cookies, are optional.

How do cookies become a security threat, then? Cookies become a security threat when hackers get access to them. Hackers can gain access to your session, passwords, and other online actions if they hijack your cookies. To steal information from real cookies, hackers may build "Super Cookies" and "Zombie Cookies." Such cookies are difficult to detect and erase, and they might act like worms, multiplying themselves and making removal even more difficult. If they gain access to your network or the server of the website you're visiting, they can also take your cookies. If your bank's or shopping web site's server is compromised, the hacker is likely to get access to your cookies and hence all of your account information.

Managing Cookies Effectively

Now we know that while cookies by themselves are harmless, cybercriminals can use them as a medium to attack you virtually. But, as we discussed before, you just cannot make do without cookies. So, how do you manage cookies effectively to stay safe? Here are a few tips.

  1. Avoid third-party cookies: Third-party cookies are mostly used for internet advertising and retargeting, so removing them won't make you lose out on anything important. So, whenever you see a cookie alert on a website, check to see if it's for third-party cookies, and if it is, it's preferable to choose 'Not accept cookies.' Allowing third-party cookies on your website is not a good idea for a business.
  2. Secure sites: Make sure the sites you visit are secure (HTTPS) and have a valid SSL(Secure Socket Layer) certificate.The SSL certificate ensures that any data sent is encrypted, which means that even if hackers gain access to the cookies, the data will be distorted, preventing data spillage. Make sure your website is secure and has a valid SSL certificate if you're a business.
  3. Anti-malware software and security patches: Install antimalware software programs on your computers and make sure they are up-to-date. Install security plug-ins and patches as soon as they are available, without delay. Do not use outdated software or operating systems for which support and security upgrades have been discontinued. 
  4. Invest in a reliable password management tool: People often save passwords and other sensitive information online—which entails the usage of cookies—because they have trouble remembering them. A good password management system provides you with a safe and secure alternative.

Educate your staff: Train your staff to identify and steer clear of basic cybersecurity risks such as

  1. Phishing links
  2. Clone websites
  3. Using public Wi-Fi d.
  4. Poor password hygiene.
  5. Unverified app downloads, etc.,

Establish a solid IT policy that outlines the dos and don'ts for your employees in the office as well as when accessing work data remotely.

If all of this feels overwhelming on top of running a business, it makes good sense to bring an MSP onboard who can take care of not just the Cookie monster but also of your entire IT security setup.