Cookies: Exploring Website Functionality and User Experience

This assignment explores the concept of cookies and their role in website functionality. It examines the advantages, such as website customization and ease of navigation, and disadvantages, including potential security risks and privacy concerns. The assignment covers how cookies store user preferences and browsing history, enabling personalized web experiences. It also highlights the importance of user control over cookies, including the ability to delete them or refuse their use. The assignment acknowledges that while cookies pose some risks, their benefits, such as enhancing user experience and providing relevant information, often outweigh the drawbacks. It also discusses legal considerations, particularly in the EU, where websites are required to disclose their use of cookies to visitors. The assignment draws on the reference Srivastava (2016) to support its analysis.

Running Head: COOKIES 1
Title: Cookies
Name:
Institution:

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Cookies found:
1. BBC.com
2. CNN.com
3. Gmail.com
4. Facebook.com
5. Twitter.com
6. Wikipedia.com
7. Questia.com
8. Youtube.com
9. Ebay.com
10. Amazon.com
Purpose of cookies
Cookies are usually stored in computers so that they can assist in formulating customized
web pages, and give the website administrators a better idea about the preferences of the
client. Cookies also help websites identify users more easily. Cookies also help users in
remembering passwords and giving them information they are most likely to be interested in,
going by their previous visits. It helps the user to navigate easily by saving the previous
frequent web pages they have visited.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cookies are stored on the client’s computer, so they do not use additional resources. At the
same time, they are easy to implement and configure, including the time when they are
supposed to expire (Srivastava, 2016). They also expose the user on the pages they have
visited especially if they are not deleted frequently.Because they can save passwords,they
pose a risk to the user in case they are hacked.
Users have the ultimate power over cookies. They can delete them, or refuse them. They also
pose a security risk to the user in some instances. Cookies may expose websites to legal

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issues, especially in the EU, where websites are required to disclose the use of cookies to
their visitors (Srivastava, 2016).
With these points in mind, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Cookies allow
customization, and make websites more relevant to their individual users.

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Reference
Srivastava, A. (2016). Live Project Training Guide ASP.net Practical Approach for Beginners.
Lucknow: Online Gatha.