Every time you use the Internet, you leave behind a digital trail. This includes the websites you visit and the things you click. Many websites use small files called cookies to collect this data. Some sites also track your activity through the accounts you create with them. While this type of tracking isn’t usually dangerous, it's helpful to know how it works and how your data is used.

Why Do Websites Track You?

Websites track users for different reasons. Sometimes, it's to make your experience smoother. Other times, it’s to learn about your habits and show you more relevant content or ads. Here are some common examples:

  • Video sites like YouTube or Netflix track what you watch. This helps them suggest new videos.
  • Online stores like Amazon remember what you view or buy. This lets them recommend other products.
  • Search engines like Google track your searches. This helps them improve search results and show you ads based on what you looked for.

How Do Cookies Work?

Cookies are small pieces of data saved in your browser. They remember things like pages you visited or buttons you clicked. If you don’t have an account on a site, cookies help the site remember you next time. For example, a news site may use cookies to suggest new articles based on what you read before.

Are Cookies Dangerous?

Most cookies are safe. They don’t harm your computer or steal personal info like bank details. Still, some people prefer not to be tracked at all. Luckily, there are ways to limit this tracking.

How to Limit Cookie Tracking

There are a few things you can do:

  • Turn off cookies on some websites. But this might stop some features from working.
  • Use the “Do Not Track” setting in your browser. This tells websites not to track you. But not all websites follow this request.
  • Use private browsing mode. This stops cookies from being saved. However, it won’t block all types of tracking.

What About Account Tracking?

Even if you block cookies, websites can still track you through your user accounts. Sites like Facebook or Google store your activity when you’re logged in. This data is saved to your account, not your browser.

Sometimes, companies share this data with advertisers. This helps show you ads based on your interests. You can often turn off this kind of tracking in your account settings, but it's usually turned on by default.