Cookies in browsers are not cookies at all, as it literally translates from English! These are text files in which the site stores certain information about the user (settings, country, etc.) the website makes our life easier for us and ourselves. But the use of such relief can be fraught with danger. Find out which ones you can from this article.
How it works
Cookies store a lot of textual information. These are essentially key-value pairs. Technically it looks like "cookie1 = value1; cookie2 = value2; " etc.
Items are stored on the hard drive of the computer. The storage location is always different - each browser creates a folder for its data. File lifespan can be from 3 seconds to 4 years, depending on the developers. But cookies do not always live the full life that they have been assigned. The browser settings allow you to set yourself how long the cookies "will live" or destroy them all at the first request.
Why are cookies needed
Cookies are almost mandatory for most sites. They store information about settings, an authorization form, various information (for example, if you turn them off, then when you go to another page of the online store, the basket will be cleared, since it does not have any data about you.)
Permanent and third-party - what is the difference
Constants are often referred to as "adware" or "follower". Most of them used to collect statistics about the user, his preferences, etc. Then, on the basis of the collected data, they select the advertisement that is most suitable for the interests of the user.
Third party. Installed by third party sites, but can be read by other sites. It can be both counters for tracking visits from google, Yandex and other services, and the "like" button at the bottom of the site. Third-party cookies can also cause unwanted tracking!
How to find cookies
You may need these files for a variety of reasons. Finding them is not difficult. Below is the location of cookies in the most popular browsers in Windows 7, 8, 10.
In all browsers, these files are on the way C: \ Users\Username\AppData\
The further path will differ depending on the browser
Google Chrome:Local \ Google \ Chrome \ User Data \ Default looking for an element called Cookies
Opera:Roaming \ Opera Software \ Opera Stable... An element named "Cookies"
Mozilla Firefox:Roaming \ Mozilla \ Firefox \ Profiles \ qx1fqa6b.Default User... An element named cookies.sqlite
Yandex. Browser: Local \ Yandex \ YandexBrowser \ User Data \ Default... An element named Cookies
Internet Explorer. There are two ways:
- Local \ Microsoft \ Windows \ INetCookies \
- Roaming \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Cookies \
Why is it necessary and how to carry out cleaning
Clearing cookies is necessary to prevent unwanted logins without the user's knowledge. Therefore, always using a browser somewhere - clear the cookies when finished. it will protect your accounts from unwanted visitors (I think many people forgot to leave the same contact with friends.)
To delete, just go to browser settings and find the coveted button. Then you can delete at least all the cookies at once, at least selectively. How can you do this:
GoogleChrome
In Google Chrome browser, click the icon settings(located in the upper right corner of the site)
At the bottom of the screen, enable the display of additional settings
In the options "Privacy and security" find the tab "" 
Select files cookie 
After these manipulations, we can delete cookies that we do not need.
Opera
To clear the cookies in the opera, you need to do actions very similar to the previous ones:
MozillaFirefox
Click on the me button and select " Settings»
Select the panel " Privacy and protection"And select the" history "option 
Click on the " show cookies« 
How to enable or disable cookies
Disabling cookies in your browser can cause many sites to malfunction.
But still, if they seem too scary, you can always turn them off. Disabling cookies won't be any harder than clearing them.
The permission to use can be set in the same order.
Google chrome
Go to the same settings block as when cleaning and disable the required item (indicated on the skin shot) 
If you disable this option, cookies will not be saved.
Opera
Carry out the same manipulations as for cleaning.
Select the option " Prevent sites from storing data locally« 
Mozilla Firefox
Like other browsers, you need to enter the same settings that are required for cleaning. Uncheck the box next to " accept cookies from websites« 
Myths and reality
There are many myths and misconceptions around such useful files. It should be noted that in some countries they prohibited by privacy policy... Without a clear understanding of what is myth and what is reality, it is impossible to give a constructive assessment.
Attackers can steal cookies and use for their own purposes
Alas, this is true... The most risky are public networks. For example: a wi-fi network in a cafe. Using specialized software, a hacker can intercept cookies and see the browsing history, as well as gain access to the accounts that the user was logged into. But the developers are trying to protect their users and create more and more advanced security systems.
These files store important information (logins, passwords)
Delusion... Perhaps earlier it was possible to pull out such data, but now it is impossible. At least because at the moment almost everyone has switched to a secure connection (https).
Cookies are a type of virus, which means they can harm your computer.
Not true! Because it itself is not a program, but a text file! It just physically cannot start itself and perform any actions. This means that it is not able to launch the virus either.
For the most part, they are designed to record important information that makes it easier for the user to do everyday tasks.
Precautions
So that cookies do not harm, you should follow simple rules when surfing the web:
- Enable protection from third party cookies
- Keep local data before exiting the browser
- Periodically clean up and check the browser folder for hidden threats (additional software, such as CCleaner, will facilitate the process)
- At the end of the web surfing from other people's devices, always clean up!
What to do if you find a problem with your cookie settings
If the error "a problem was found in the cookie settings" pops up - do not be afraid! After performing simple actions, everything should work again, you must:
- Verify whether cookies are enabled.
- If strict filtering of sites is installed - add google.com or the site you need to exceptions.
- Clear cache and the rest of the necessary sections using CCleaner.
This should help. If the problem persists even after performing the above steps, uninstall the browser and then install its latest version.
For some sites to work correctly, you need to enable cookies support in your browser. What are cookies? What are they needed for? How do I enable cookies in my browser? The Land of Soviets answers these questions.
Cookies (cookies, cookies, cookies) are small pieces of text information transmitted by the browser to the server. The next time the server is accessed (in other words, the next visit to the site), it accesses the cookies stored on your computer and performs certain actions.
Why are cookies needed? The information stored in them allows you not to enter your username and password every time you visit sites that require authentication. They help to save personal settings provided by the site developers, for example, the chosen style of site design, the number of materials displayed on the page, etc. Search engines can store in cookies information about the number of search results that will be displayed for a given user on one page. Most online stores also use cookies.
Usually, the acceptance and storage of cookies is enabled in the browser by default, but in some cases this option has to be configured manually. We will show you how to enable cookies in the most common browsers.
How to enable cookies in Internet Explorer
To enable cookies in the browser Internet Explorer version 6 and higher, you need to perform the following sequence of steps. First, go to the Service menu in the upper browser panel (if the upper menu is not displayed, you need to press the Alt key, which will turn on the display of the menu). We select the Internet Options item in it and in the window that opens, go to the Privacy tab. Click on the Advanced button - the Advanced privacy settings window will open. In this window, you need to check the box in the Override automatic handling of cookies. In both columns (Essential cookies and Third party cookies), you need to select Accept and click OK twice - in the additional privacy settings window, and then in the Internet properties window.
How to enable cookies in Explorer
How to enable cookies in Opera
To enable cookies in the Opera browser version 10 and higher, click on the Menu button in the upper left part of the browser window, select the Settings item, and in it - the general settings section. You can simply use Ctrl + F12 - the result will be the same. In the settings window that opens, go to the Advanced tab. On the left we will see a vertical settings menu. We select in it the Cookies item, and in this item - the Accept Cookies option. Click on the OK button.
Cookies must be enabled in your browser
How to enable cookies in Mozilla Firefox
If you are using the Mozilla Firefox browser version 3 or higher, then you need to take these steps. In the Tools menu, select the Settings item. In the browser settings window, go to the privacy tab. At the very top of the window, we will see a drop-down list. We select in it the item Firefox will remember the history and click on the OK button. You can select Firefox will use your history storage settings, select the checkboxes Accept cookies from sites and Accept cookies from third-party sites and click on the OK button.
Cookies must be turned on!
In older versions of Google Chrome, h To enable cookies, you need to click on the wrench icon in the upper right corner of the browser window, select the Tools menu item, and in it - the Settings option. In the settings window, go to the Advanced tab and click on the Content Settings ... button in the Privacy section. We select the value Allow to save local data (recommended).
In the latest versions, you need to go to the settings using the drop-down menu in the upper right corner. The browser settings window will open. You need to click "Show advanced settings" at the bottom, then click "Content settings" under the heading "Personal data". In the window that opens, select "Allow saving local data". Click ready.
How to enable cookies in Apple Safari
If you prefer the Apple Safari browser for Windows, click on the gear icon in the upper right part of the browser window and select Preferences from the menu that opens. Then go to the Security tab, find the Accept cookies block there and select the Always function.
Many modern sites require, for their correct operation, that your browser supports cookies. A non-professional person has a very logical question - what are cookies, and how can I activate cookies support in my browser?
Cookies are information in the form of text that is stored in your browser. When you visit the site, the server requests cookies that are stored specifically for it. They help the server to obtain information about you and the history of your use of the site. Among the information recorded in cookies may be: your username and password on the site, personal settings and features of the site, the history of your requests and much more.
Thus, cookies can greatly simplify life and save both your time and the server time. Cookies are used by search engines, online stores, information and entertainment portals. It can be said on most sites.
Most often, the browser supports the use of cookies by default. However, sometimes you have to activate their use manually. Each browser has its own procedure for enabling cookies. We will tell you in detail how cookies are enabled on each of the popular browsers.
How to enable cookies in Internet Explorer
When installing Windows, the system automatically installs the latest version of the browser at the moment. Therefore, you are unlikely to see Internet Explorer versions lower than 6. In this and in subsequent versions, to enable cookies, you must open the Tools menu, the command bar at the top of the browser (remember that sometimes the browser does not display this bar. To activate its display, click Alt on keyboard). Opening the Tools menu, we find the Internet Options item, after clicking on which, the browser settings window will open to us.
At the top of this window, we will be able to observe several tabs. We are interested in the Privacy tab. On this tab, you need to find the Advanced button. Click it, and another window appears in front of us, namely Additional privacy options. There will be several points in it. Among them, we are looking for Override automatic cookie handling. After that, we will open additional settings, where we will see 2 lists - Essential cookies and Third party cookies. In both lists, select the Accept item, and then save all the selected settings by clicking OK.
Like Internet Explorer, Opera has a large number of different versions. Most often, this is version 10 or higher. To activate cookies in these versions, in the upper left part of the browser we find the Settings item. Among the sections of this item, we are interested in General settings. If you find it difficult to find this item, you can press Ctrl + F12 on the keyboard, and you will see the same settings window. In this window, go to the Advanced tab, and on its left side, the Cookies item. By clicking on it, select the Accept Cookies option. Confirm the setting with the OK button.
Click on the Tools menu, which contains the Options item. After clicking on it, we will see a settings window with several tabs. Go to the Privacy tab. A drop-down list will appear in which you must put a check mark next to “Firefox will remember history”. Next you will see a few more items - Accept cookies from sites and Accept cookies from third-party sites. Activate both items and save your settings.
In the upper right corner, you need to find a button in the form of a wrench. In the window that opens, we find the Tools item, and in it - Settings. The settings window will open, in which we are looking for the Advanced tab. On this tab, in the Privacy section, there is a Content Settings button, after clicking which you must activate the Allow local data storage option.
Despite the fact that this browser is part of the operating system installed on Apple computers, it can also be found on computers running Windows. To activate cookies in this browser, click on the gear icon in the already familiar to us, in the upper right corner. A menu will open in front of us, in which you should select Settings. In the window that opens, select the Security tab, in which you should activate the Accept cookies (always) item.
Have shared
Cookies are small text files that web servers can place on your computer when you visit their website.
Cookies are commonly used to help websites remember and identify you, and to store personal browsing data for that site. Cookies may also be needed to track your behavior on other sites linked to the main site.
If you do not know how to enable cookies in your browser, then please refer to our guide below.
The screenshots below will help you to understand in detail the settings and enable cookies in the browser.
1. Press the button "Configuration and Management"
After clicking, a menu will open with many options. One of them will be called "Settings".
2. Select the menu item "Settings"
A new configuration window will appear.
3. Searching for Cookie Settings
Enter a word in the search "Cookie"(the request is not case sensitive) you will see Chrome start modifying the page content. The section will open "Privacy and Security" and the section we need will be highlighted in yellow.
- Click the button "Content settings"
- Further "Cookies"
4. Setting the required parameters
If you need to enable cookies in the Google Chrome browser, select the very first option - "Allow sites to save and read cookies (recommended)"... This will allow websites to store cookies (and other data) on your computer for as long as specified by the websites.
An alternative to this parameter is to choose "Delete local data when closing browser"... This will work with regular cookies (for example, registering on sites with a username and password), however, every time you close and reopen your web browser, you will need to log in to the site again. This setting can also help eliminate ad campaigns tracking your behavior across different sites.
And of course, if you want to completely disable cookies, select the option "Block third party cookies".
After the steps taken, you can close the settings tab, and preferably restart the browser to apply the specified functions.
This guide will help you correctly configure and enable cookies in your browser.
1. Select the "Service" menu
In Internet Explorer, "Tools" can be found in two places - this menu at the top of the screen:
You can also open the settings by clicking the gear icon on the right side of the browser window:
2. Select "Browser Options"
You can also open it using the "Service" list, or by clicking on the gear, and select the settings section we need.
3. Select the "Privacy" section
The window that appears in front of you will have several tabs, but we need to select the section "Confidentiality", click on it:
4. Enable / Disable Cookies
Internet Explorer has several settings that can block or disable cookies.
In the Privacy preferences, there is a slider at the top of the window that you can drag up or down to select different security levels.
By moving this panel up or down, on the right you can see a detailed description of each level of security provided.
It ranges from "Block all cookies" before "Accept all cookies"... The default is "Average", which strikes a balance between the correct use of cookies, and a significant restriction against the leakage of confidential data about visits to other sites.
Generally speaking, if you are having problems using some sites because your Cookie settings have been changed, the easiest way to fix this is to simply reset your default settings.
That's it, now your cookies in the Internet Explorer browser are enabled and configured correctly.
Cookies are special files that store data about users on various sites. They save passwords and login, design style and other settings of visited sites (you can find out where these files are stored). By default, this feature is already enabled, but there are situations when you have to configure cookies yourself. To do this, it is important to know where they are located and how to enable them (you can read how to disable cookies).
Enable cookies
So, to enable cookies in Mozilla Firefox:
Advice! Other settings do not need to be changed. To save files and history only when the window is open, you need to check the box "delete history when closing Firefox" with a tick.
Unblock cookies
There are times when the site displays a message that it is impossible to work with it due to blocking or disabling cookies. This is because there is an "Exceptions" button in the cookie settings.
If the site is on the list of exclusions, then you must take the following steps:
Important! Due to the legal requirement, foreign sites are obliged to report that they use cookies. This message is not a site error.
Delete cookies
Cookies take up a lot of hard disk space. And if the disk is almost completely clogged, then they need to be removed. You can read more about deleting cookies.
It is quite easy to do this and does not require additional installation of the utility:
Next to the “delete your recent history” link, there is a “delete individual cookies” link. It is needed in order not to delete everything in a row, but selectively, on individual sites. By clicking on it, in the window that appears, we see a list of saved sites. Select the desired one and press the Delete Selected button and close the window. 
Advice! To quickly open the cookie window in Mozilla, you can use the ctrl + shift + del hotkeys. After pressing this keyboard shortcut, the "Delete Recent History" window will appear.
Now you know how to configure cookies in Mozilla, how to unblock sites and delete information.
