Should You Delete Your Cookies? – Guide to Cookie Management

Should you delete the little sticky notes you collect “important info” on if they take up extra space and seem to leak the info to third parties? In other words, should you delete your cookies that might be doing the same? 

But before we begin, let’s self-reflect whether you’re a privacy aficionado or only prefer a smooth browser experience. The answer will help determine if you’d mind if your data, such as saved passwords, shopping cart contents, or address bar predictions, are removed.

Clearing cookies is easy, but only if you’re sure you want to proceed with it. By the end of the article, you’ll know how to delete cookies and if you should do so. 

What are Cookies on Websites?

Cookies are small data files stored on a user’s computer or mobile device by a website. They are used to store information about a user’s browsing activity and preferences and can be accessed by the website or third-party services that are embedded in the site. 

Types of Online Cookies

Here are the three main types of cookies used on websites:

1. Session cookies: These are temporary cookies stored in the user’s browser’s memory during a browsing session. They are used to remember user preferences and interactions with the website during the session but are deleted once the user closes the browser.
2. Persistent cookies: These are stored on a user’s computer or mobile device for a longer period, usually a few days to a few years. They can be accessed by the website or third-party services even after the user closes the browser.
3. Third-party cookies: These are cookies that are set by third-party services that are embedded on the website, such as advertisers or analytics providers. They track user behavior across multiple websites and can be used to deliver personalized ads or analyze user behavior. Third-party cookies can raise privacy concerns, as they can be used to track a user’s online activities across multiple websites.

Should I Delete All Cookies?

It depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you’re concerned about privacy or don’t want websites to track your online activities, delete all cookies periodically or limit the amount of personal information they can access. 

However, if you value saved settings and website functionality, you may want only to delete specific cookies or limit the number of third-party cookies you accept. Because if you delete all cookies, you may have to reset these settings each time you visit a website manually. 

In fact, a few websites require cookies to function properly, such as those that use shopping carts or online forms. If you delete all cookies, these websites may not work as intended. That said, it is also true that cookies can collect data about how users interact with a website, which can help website owners improve their sites. 

Ultimately, if you value privacy, you may have to delete cookies and limit the data website owners can collect. But, if you prefer a less do-yourself model with experiences made just for you, you might want to keep some of the cookies.

How to Delete Cookies on Chrome?

To delete cookies on Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
2. Click on the three dots (menu) icon located in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Click on “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Advanced” to show more options.
5. Under the “Privacy and security” section, click “Clear browsing data.”
6. Select the time range you want to delete cookies in the pop-up window. If you want to delete all cookies, select “All time.”
7. Check the box next to “Cookies and other site data.” You can also clear other browsing data by checking the boxes next to them.
8. Click on “Clear data” to delete the cookies.

And voila, all cookies from your selected time range are successfully deleted from your Chrome browser!

How to Delete Cookies on phone?

To delete cookies on the phone, follow these steps:

On Android:

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap the three dots (menu) icon located in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Tap “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Scroll to the “Privacy and security” section and tap “Clear browsing data.”
5. Select the time range for which you want to delete cookies. If you want to delete all cookies, select “All time.”
6. Check the box next to “Cookies and site data”. You may clear other browsing data by checking the boxes next to them.
7. Tap on “Clear data” to delete the cookies.

On iOS:

1. Open the Chrome app on your iOS device.
2. Tap on the three dots (menu) icon located in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Tap on “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Scroll to the “Privacy” section and tap “Clear Browsing Data.”
5. Select the time range for which you want to delete cookies. If you want to delete all cookies, select “All time.”
6. Check the box next to “Cookies, Site Data.” You can also clear other browsing data by checking the boxes next to them.
7. Tap on “Clear Browsing Data” to delete the cookies.

Congratulations, all cookies from your selected time range are deleted from your Chrome browser on your phone!

How to Delete Cookies on Windows 10?

To delete cookies on Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your Windows 10 computer.
2. Click on the three dots (menu) icon located in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Click on “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Under “Clear browsing data,” click on “Choose what to clear.”
5. Check the box next to “Cookies and saved website data.” You may also clear other browsing data by checking the boxes next to them.
6. Click on “Clear” to delete the cookies.

Success, all cookies from your selected time range are now deleted from your browser on Windows 10!

How Often Should I Clear Cookies?

Cookies store data related to your online activities, such as login credentials, preferences, and history. Clearing cookies can help protect your privacy and security by removing this data, but it can also mean you may lose some personalized settings or saved login information. 

If you prefer to stay logged into certain websites or want to save certain preferences, you may not want to clear cookies as often.

Over time, though, cookies can accumulate and take up space, potentially slowing down your browser’s performance. Clearing cookies periodically can improve browser speed and performance.

And so, it is recommended to clear cookies periodically, such as every few months or so, to help protect your privacy and maintain browser performance. 

What Information is Stored in Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites store on a user’s device (such as a computer or mobile device) when they visit a website. The information stored in cookies can vary depending on the website. It typically includes:

1. User preferences: Cookies can store information such as language preferences, font sizes, and color schemes so that the website can remember these preferences and display the site in a preferred way.
2. Login credentials: Cookies can store login credentials, such as usernames and passwords, so that users can stay logged in and access the site without entering their credentials each time.
3. Shopping cart information: Cookies can store information, such as items added to a shopping cart, so that users can continue shopping and complete their purchases later.
4. Analytics data: Cookies can store user behavior on a website, such as which pages were visited and how long users spent on each page. This information can be used to analyze website traffic and user behavior.
5. Advertisements: Cookies can store information about user preferences and behavior, which can be used to display personalized website advertisements.

Rest assured, cookies do not contain viruses or malware, and they cannot access or collect personal information from a user’s device. However, cookies can be used for tracking purposes, so many users choose to clear their cookies periodically.

What Will Happen If I Block All Cookies?

Blocking all cookies can impact your browsing experience on the web, including loss of personalized settings and limited functionality. Other than that, many websites use cookies to store login information, such as usernames and passwords. If you block all cookies, you may have to manually enter your login information each time you visit the site.

In some cases, blocking all cookies may increase your security risk. For example, cookies can be used to prevent cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks, a type of security vulnerability that allows an attacker to take actions on behalf of a user without their knowledge or consent.

That being said, blocking all cookies can protect your privacy by preventing websites from tracking your online activities. If you block all cookies, you can still browse the web, but you may need to manually set preferences, login information, and other settings each time you visit a site.

What Cookies Should I Accept from a Website?

The cookies you should accept from a website depend on your personal preferences and the website’s purpose. Here are some general guidelines:

1. Necessary cookies: These cookies are required for the website to function properly, such as those that enable login authentication or shopping cart functionality. Necessary cookies should always be accepted.
2. Performance cookies: These collect information about how visitors use the website, such as which pages are visited most often and how long users spend on each page. These cookies help website owners understand how their site is being used and make improvements. Performance cookies are generally considered safe to accept.
3. Functionality cookies: These cookies remember user preferences, such as language settings or font sizes. If you want the website to remember your preferences, you should accept functionality cookies.
4. Targeting or advertising cookies: These cookies track user behavior and deliver personalized ads. If you value your privacy, opt out of these cookies or limit the amount of personal information they can access.

The Verdict

It’s critical to stop cookies from doing damage beyond repair. You should be proactive about how much privacy you are willing to sacrifice for ease. Estimating that, please be sure to clean these cookies occasionally, especially after visiting certain suspicious websites.