What are cookies?

Many web browsers contain a feature called "cookies," or client-side persistent information. Cookies are small files that can be placed on your computer’s hard drive by a website. These files can be retrieved by the website which placed them there, and can be very useful for remembering user preferences and other useful information. Cookies allow any web site to store information about your visit to that site on your hard drive. Every time you return to that site, "cookies" will read your hard drive to find out if you've been there before. Can Cookies Be Used to Give My Information to Unauthorized People? Cookies are usually harmless. They can't be used to gather information about you (unless you provide it). But some services do use cookies to create a profile of your interests based on the sites you visit and the things you do there.