Cookies

Some websites implement cookies. A cookie is a small package of data that a web server passes to your web browser when you visit some Internet sites. Your browser stores each cookie as a small text file. When you request another page from the server, your browser sends the information in the cookie back to the server with the request

1. What are they?

Cookies are small text files, usually not much larger than 100Kb, that can be written to your device’s local storage by your browser and then accessed later by your browser. They have the file extension .tmp

Cookies contain data about the site you are visiting, including your browsing history, website permissions and settings, and other data such as information you have entered into that website. ^[1]

Some websites (and hackers) use these cookies for their own purposes resulting in cookies that can pose a security risk as well as privacy issues. Most countries now require website owners to notify users if and how they are using cookies on their sites.

2. Where are they?

The files are stored in the following locations on a Windows 10 machine:

2.1 Google Chrome

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Network ^[1]

Paste the following in the address bar of your File Explorer: %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Network

2.2 Microsoft Edge

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Network

Paste the following in the address bar of your File Explorer: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Network

3. Browser Settings

You can easily clear browsing data and browser cookies with a few quick steps.

3.1 Google Chrome

To delete Google Chrome cookies, you can clear your browsing data.

3.2 Microsoft Edge

Various browser settings are available to block, limit and otherwise manage cookies, such as deleting all cookies when closing the browser. This could impact your browsing experience negatively when you visit the same sites again.

Click on Settings and more (the three dots top-left) and select the Settings option:

1. Settings will open in a new tab
2. Select the Privacy, search, and services category from the menu on the left
3. To manually clear your browser history, select Clear browsing data now
4. The Clear browsing data dialog opens
5. Make your selections and click the Clear now button
6. Click the Choose what to clear button
7. To select options for the Clear browsing data on close option

4. Demo

View a simple demo here: Cookie Demo (stylus.co.za)

References:

1. All About Cookies. (2024) Complete Guide to Cookies and Where They’re Stored. Available at: https://allaboutcookies.org/what-is-a-cookie-file (Accessed: 27 April 2024).