2021-11-19

The fallacy of cookies and tracking

    Error Message
It is said that web sites may track you via cookies. These are small text files, encrypted or not — placed on a computer or other device when visiting a web site with a browser. Sometimes multiple cookies may make their way to a machine during the course of activities.

The data stored is information derived during a 'session' or period of time at a site. It may be trivial or substantial information and may be persistent based on a number of factors.

Here's where I come in. My browser permits cookies. When my session is over all cookies are deleted upon exit of the browser session. I have a TSR (terminate and stay resident program) in core (memory) which ensures that:

1. Cookies only go where I permit them and
2. Cookies are removed when I terminate the browser

I find the notion of tracking me via a second visit to a non existent cookie to be somewhat dubious and I make no apologies for removing cookies from my machine even though the 'terms of service' state I must allow them.

Suffice it to say that you can leave a cookie but don't expect it to be there should I return. I expect that VPN connections I frequent further thwart the tracking of my web visits as well.