Cookies are small text files created by websites that are stored on a users computer or device by their web browser. Cookies are used to store information about a users browsing session on a website, such as login information, items added to a shopping cart, or pages visited in the past. Cookies can be accessed by the browser user, the site a user is on, or by a third party that might use the information for different purposes. There are two types of cookies:

• First-party cookies: Created by the site a user visits.
• Third-party cookies: Created by other sites that a user visits, such as sites that embed content like images, ads, and text.

Cookies can be used for various purposes, including session management, personalization, and tracking. They enable web servers to store stateful information on a users device or to track the users browsing activity. Cookies can make online browsing and shopping easier, but they can also be used against users during a cyberattack. Users can choose to delete existing cookies, allow or block all cookies, and set preferences for certain websites.