The complete compendium of Cookies for information
Ashutosh K.
Ex banker, Now self-employed, MD &CEO of Kumar Group of companies, Author of many books.
Third-Party Cookies: definition, feature, and role
INTRODUCTION
Cookies remember website configuration (e.g. language presences), login details, and products added to the shopping cart, even after a user leaves the site, but because cookie files are widely used to collect certain pieces of information, they can also be used to carry out advertising processes like behavioral profiling and retargeting.
Third-Party Cookies are a cookie that is placed on a user's?hard disk?by a website from a domain other than the one a user is visiting. They are a set of features by a website other than the one we are currently on. For instance, we can have a "Like" button on our website which will store a cookie on a visitor's computer, that cookie can later be accessed by Facebook to identify visitors and see which websites they visited. Such a cookie is considered to be a 3rd party cookie. Another example would be an advertising service (ex: Google Ads) which also creates a third-party cookie to monitor which websites were visited by each user. This is the main technology used to show you products that you previously searched for on a completely different website. Some information relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here. This class cannot be providing a set of properties and methods that are used to manage cookies. The?Cookie?class is used by a client application to retrieve information about cookies that are received with HTTP responses. The following cookie formats are supported during the parsing of the HTTP response headers: the original Netscape specification, RFC 2109, and RFC 2965. For a list of initial property values for an instance of?Cookie, see the various?Cookie?constructors.
There are three types of cookies:
First-party cookies?are stored under the same domain you are currently visiting. So, if you are on example.com, all cookies stored under this domain are considered first-party cookies. Those cookies are usually used to identify a user between pages, remember selected preferences, or store your shopping cart. You can hardly find a website nowadays that does not use first-party cookies.
Second-party cookies?are a questionable topic. Some people might say they don't exist at all. In general,?second-party data?is some first-party data shared between partners. In this sense, second-party cookies are just part of the data related to cookies.?
THIRD-PARTY COOKIES?WORKING PROCESS
Third-Party Cookies?are cookies that are tracked by websites other than the one you are currently visiting. The most common third-party entities are advertisers, marketers, and social media platforms. Third-party cookies… one common example.?Let’s say earlier in the week you looked up some vacation rentals in Cancun. You browsed a few websites and admired the photos of the sunsets and sandy beaches, but ultimately decided to wait another year before planning your vacation. A few days go by and suddenly it seems like you are seeing ads for Cancun vacations on many of the websites you visit. Is it not a mere coincidence? ?The reason you are now seeing these ads on vacationing in Cancun is that your web browser stored a third-party cookie and is using this information to send you targeted advertisements. You’re inadvertently creating a “trail of remnants.”?Most web users don’t realize that a browser window with multiple tabs open constitutes a single “session.” As you move from tab to tab, you are innocently relaying information about your web visit history to other websites and parties. And, closing the web browser doesn’t always eradicate the cookies your computer stores following the session. Depending on the browser you use, you may have to activate this manually.
However, the real difference between the types of cookies has to do with how they are created and subsequently used, which often depends on the context. There are different benefits of creating first- vs third-party cookies. In addition to a first-party cookie being created by the host site,?somenewssite.com, a third-party cookie is also created by?ad.doubleclick.net. The reason for a third-party cookie is that the URL (ad.doubleclick.net) doesn’t match the domain (somenewssite.com). The cookie is left by a third-party advertising provider, hence the name third-party cookie
The method to ?clear your cookies after each session
If you want to dump your cookies at the end of each session, select one of the following in your browser’s preferences:
If you do not select one of these likings your browser will preserve cookie data from session to session like those ads tempting you into a vacation in Cancun will not disappear so swiftly.
ADTECH PROCESSES,?DATA & PRIVACYUnderstanding the role of cookies in advertising technology is critical to getting a better hold on online advertising and privacy.
Over the years, cookies have become the bread and butter of the Internet, and are currently the most common method of identifying users online and providing a personalized browsing experience. With growing awareness of privacy issues and the introduction of laws like the?EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?and?ePrivacy, comes a stronger need to educate users about what cookie files actually do, what information they can contain, and what types of cookies exist.
.Now you might be thinking, how can?ad.doubleclick.net?or any other third party create a cookie if the user is on a different website at a given moment? In order for a third-party cookie to be created, a request needs to be sent from the web page to the third-party’s server. The file being requested is different depending on the use, but it can be an actual creative (an ad) or a tracking pixel, which is completely invisible to the user but acts as a tracking cookie in situations when there is no click event (for instance, when just a web page is opened) and click redirects cannot be used. For example, if the third party was an advertising service like DoubleClick by Google, the request would be for a creative – the actual ad the visitor sees. A DoubleClick markup can allow a third-party cookie to be placed.
Ad-Retargeting Services
Ad retargeting?involves following website visitors who have previously visited your website around the web and showing them ads for the products or services they’ve viewed or interacted with previously. Retargeting works across different channels, including social media, display, and email.
Website owners place a 1×1 transparent pixel on their site, which sends a request to the ad-retargeting server when the page loads. The server then returns the requested information (typically containing some JavaScript) so that it can assign a cookie to the user and retarget them later on other websites.
Social Buttons
Most social-media plugins that enable users to log in, share, and like the content on third-party websites will place cookies on your device. Many social-button plugins are known to place third-party cookies in the browser and enable cross-site tracking and advertising. In this way, the social media sites that these cookies come from can track the sites you visit and send you relevant ads when you go back to these social media sites. Even if you are not signed in to your account, these cookies will still follow you by identifying your cookies, using?deterministic matching, and sometimes fingerprinting your device to identify you.
Live-Chat Popups
As far as cookies are concerned, live-chat popups work in a similar way to social buttons. Live-chat services will leave a cookie in your browser to streamline the user experience.
For example, because the live-chat popup can identify you, the next time you visit the chat box, it will remember your name and all the conversation history. Of course, this data is removed as you delete your cookies or when they expire. It’s important to mention that?first-party cookies can also be used for cross-site tracking, but this would mean that the tracking software (script) would have to be hosted under the website’s domain.
First-party cookies, as mentioned above, are created directly by the website whenever a user visits the site. Generally speaking, most browsers accept first-party cookies by default, as their primary role is to allow customization and improve user experience. For example, if you visit a site like?techcrunch.com,?thehuffingtonpost.com,?or?nytimes.com, a cookie will be created and saved to your computer by each site. The cookie that the specific site stores will be used to remember information about the user and their behavior. With first-party cookies, it is up to the website to decide what information to collect and store. The big limitation of first-party cookies is that they can be read only when the user is visiting the domain of the website/publisher. This makes them useless for advertising purposes (e.g., retargeting) on other websites.
Third-party cookies?(also known as tracking cookies or trackers) are created by “parties” other than the website that the user is currently visiting – providers of advertising, retargeting, analytics, and tracking services.
Consider this example:
When you visit?cnn.com?and read a few articles,?cnn.com?will create a first-party cookie and save it to your computer. Because?cnn.com?(like most other publishers) uses online ads as a way to monetize its content, the ads you see on?cnn.com?will also create a cookie (e.g. in ads.somedsp.com domain) and save it to your computer. As these cookies are not created by?cnn.com, they are classified as?third-party cookies. A website can use a number of different third-party trackers (or cookies) that collect user information. This information can include data such as the user’s behavior on the site, location, and device type – which is passed on from the website. Third-party trackers can also track a user’s behavior, such as the content they view on that website and the things they click on (e.g. products and ads). The trackers create third-party cookies and use them to display ads to the user when they visit different websites. For example, if a user visits?bestbuy.com?and clicks on a product, third-party trackers will collect and analyze the information about that user and their activity on?bestbuy.com. Then, if that user leaves?bestbuy.com?and accesses a different website, such as?techcrunch.com, the user could be shown an ad for that exact same product or something similar (e.g., another TV or another electrical product). The way it works is that both?bestbuy.com?and techcrunch.com load a piece of code from an ad server (e.g.?ad.doubleclick.net). When the user navigates to either website, the piece of code loaded from?ad.doubleclick.net?is from a different domain than the URL in the user’s browser, so the cookies set in?ad.doubleclick.net?are considered third-party cookies. Cookies can be set and read by the web server or by a piece of JavaScript running on the website. Software like?Ghostery?or?AdBlock Plus?can block these scripts – more on that below.
First-Party Cookies Used in a Third-Party Context
Some first-party cookies can be used to track users in the same way as third-party cookies in specific contexts. For example, log-in boxes (widgets, plugins) to social sites like Facebook can be placed on different websites to facilitate commenting or “liking” content. This functionality uses first-party cookies in the third-party context; because the user interacts with the login widget (as in, visits its domain), the widget can leave a first-party cookie. Then, such a first-party cookie is used in a third-party context and can enable cross-site tracking. However, some internet browsers like Safari have methods of blocking this (i.e. Safari 11 and newer).
Apple’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) and Cookies
Intelligent tracking prevention is a feature offered with Safari and in iOS 11 by default. It changes the way the Apple browser handles first-party cookies, which is different from most other browsers. Its newest version,?ITP 2.0, detects cross-site tracking and partitions (or isolates) first-party cookies, making it impossible to use them in a third-party context for tracking or analytics purposes. Some experts say that by introducing such strict rules to deal with third-party cookies, Apple?sabotages the current economic model of the Internet. Previous versions of Apple’s?ITP?(1.0 and 1.1) allowed cookies to be read and used in a “third-party context”, provided the user accessed the domain directly in the first 24 hours. That gave an unfair advantage to Facebook and Google, as the 24-hour purge didn’t have the same effect on them as on other sites because users visit these websites regularly and rarely log out. With ITP 2.0, this is no longer possible.
MOZILLA FIREFOX
Mozilla followed suit, and Firefox Version 50 (and later) currently offers a Safari-like “intelligent” functionality blocking unwanted third-party tracking cookies. A grey shield icon appears in the address bar when Firefox blocks tracking domains. Its Tracking Protection was developed in collaboration with?Disconnect?and is based on?a number of tracker blacklists?to allow third-party cookies only from trusted providers. To see what exactly is being blocked, you can still open the console to review the?Security?tab.
OTHER BROWSERS
Safari and Firefox (and basically all other browsers available on the market) also offer more or less elaborate methods to block third-party cookies. However, most browsers offer?some?kind of cookie-blocking method – but not all of them are based on blacklists or algorithms. Most browsers allow users to disable third-party cookies from the settings menu. Doing so will make the ads much less personalized, but shouldn’t otherwise compromise the browsing experience. There are?numerous guides around the web?detailing the steps to disable cookies for each particular browser, but we can give a short overview:
Microsoft Edge: ?Click the ellipsis (three dots) symbol in the top-right corner and select?Settings. Click?View Advanced Settings?and select?Block Third-Party Cookies?from the drop-down menu under?Cookies.
Internet Explorer: In Internet Explorer, you have to click the gear icon in the top-right corner and select?Internet Options. Then go to?the Privacy?tab and click?Advanced. Check the?Override Automatic Cookie-Handling?box, and set?Third-Party Cookies?to “Block.”
Google Chrome: Click the three-lined icon in the top-right corner and select?Settings. Then, click?Show Advanced Settings?at the bottom. Click on?Content Settings?in the?Privacy?section. Under?Cookies, check the?Block Third-Party Cookies?and?Site Data?option and click?Done.
Firefox
Click the three-lined icon in the top-right corner and select?Options?(PC) or?Preferences?(Mac). Go to the?Privacy?tab and under?History, set?Firefox Will?to?Use Custom Settings for History. Then set?Accept Third-Party Cookies?to “Never.”
SAFARI
Third-party cookies are turned off by default, but it never hurts to double-check. Pull down the Safari menu and select the?Privacy?tab. Choose the option to block cookies from third parties and advertisers.
领英推荐
How to See Which Cookies Are Created When You Visit Websites. There are a number of methods that determine what cookies a website stores in your browser. You can do this by installing a dedicated cookie-management browser plugin or by using the browser’s developer console.
Browser Plugins
Installing a user-friendly cookie-management plugin is the easiest way to analyze first- and third-party cookies placed by websites, and to block them selectively when needed. The most popular cookie plugins for browsers include uBlock, Ghostery, AdBlock Plus Privacy Badger, and Disconnect?(now included in?Firefox). Ghostery analyzes websites and looks for trackers (e.g. third-party cookies) and lets users selectively block them.
That seemingly random email isn’t so random.?Let’s say you’ve visited a website where you have created a login ID. They likely have your name, email address, and possibly even your telephone number and street address. If the website uses 3rd-party cookies, or you have other tabs open during your session, your cookies may be revealing your contact information to other parties to send you SPAM.
You may be on a website with 3rd party cookies and not even know it.?One of the failings of cookie notices is that they don’t often specify what types of cookies are being used on the site. They could be first-party, third-party, or both. But, if the website has ads (which many do), then you can sensibly expect the website to be creating both first- and third-party cookies. To see if a particular website is using third-party cookies, you can try the method mentioned below in this article, or visit?cookie-script.com?and enter the web address into the bar on the home page.
The way of Third-Party Cookies created
The easy way 3rd party cookies can be created is when a currently visited website requests a third-party service. Let's say there is an integrated live chat on the website?example.com. To make it work, example.com is requesting a script from some live chat service provider, ex.?someservice.com.?
The script could look like this:
<script src="https://someservice.com/js/livechat.js"></script>
Basically, it says "go to?someservice.com?and get this live chat JavaScript file". When the page is loaded, such a request is initiated. As a reply, your browser receives a?JavaScript file?with LiveChat and optionally some cookies placed in your browser by?the someservice.com?domain. And there you go, before you notice and before the live chat window appears, your browser is already storing 3rd party cookies from some random website you never even visited.?Third-party cookies are not limited to JavaScript files only, any request to another domain can result in a third-party cookie in your browser: script, image, fonts, CSS files, etc.?Actual technologies for creating third-party cookies can be much more complicated. But usually, it all comes down to the same basics of setting 3rd party cookies during requests to 3rd party services.
The way to notice ?if a website uses Third-Party Cookies
You can check if the website uses?3rd party cookies?in any modern browser. Instructions vary in different browsers.
In Google Chrome, do the following:
1.??Press F12 to open Developer Tools (or right-click on the page and choose?Inspect Element)
2.??In Developer Tools choose the?Application?tab
3.??On the left, double-click the?Cookies?section to unfold it
You should see the current website domain (or subdomain) here. If you see any other domains in this list, it means the website uses third-party cookies:
The pros and cons of Third-Party cookies.
Since the late 1990s, online marketers have built their businesses on the ability to track online users and then target them with advertisements, and much of this has been through the use of third-party cookies. Let’s play “devil’s advocate” for a moment. Could third-party cookies actually be useful for users? In a sense yes. The two largest online advertising firms, Google Ads and AdSense, make a valid point that 3rd party cookies are useful to consumers as they create advertisements that are in line with individual interests. After all, if you are forced to see the ads, it's better if they are related to your interests.?Once third-party cookies disappear, there’s a likelihood that online advertisements will revert to contextual advertisements. That is, advertisements that are targeted to certain populations based on the website being visited, much like how magazines operate.?Although targeted advertising is much more valuable, major advertising platforms may find other ways of tracking users between websites and remembering previous search history.?
THIRD-PARTY COOKIES AND DATA PRIVACY RISKS
Third-party cookies, and cookies in general, pose a significant data security risk and are viewed by some as infringing on user privacy rights. This is why all the main browsers mentioned above now block third-party cookies by default. In 2011, the European Union passed the cookie law that required users to be informed of the cookies they'd be interacting with upon visiting a site. Although not dangerous by themselves, cookies can be hijacked and used by malicious actors to gain information. This happens when any cookie related to authentication is not transmitted securely. For example, Kaspersky discovered a cookie-stealing Trojan that gives hackers?the ability to control victims' social media accounts. Cookies related to authentication will normally have a security flag that instructs the browser to only access the cookie using secure channels (SSL/TLS). If not transmitted using these channels, hackers can eavesdrop and gain access illegitimately.
Other common attacks that use cookies in their method include:
·???????Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
·???????Cross-site scripting (XSS)
·???????Session hijacking
The end of Third-Party Cookies
With the passage of?CCPA,?ePR, and?GDPR, govt is seeking to protect the privacy rights of website users. These laws and regulations create civil and/or criminal penalties for those that fail to notify web users of the presence of cookies. These regulations also require website operators to let users know what information is being collected and to whom this information is shared, along with a way to opt out at any time. Third-party cookies’ days are numbered.?Pressure from regulators and consumers has led many within the tech industry to declare third-party cookies (and the targeted ads fueled by them) will soon come to an end. Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox now block 3rd party cookies by default. One notable holdout is Google Chrome, which has a commanding 67% of the browser market share. Google has a major stake in third-party cookies.?Nearly 90% of Google’s revenue is generated through advertising. Without third-party cookies, their advertising prowess could be negatively affected. This is one of the suspected reasons that the company is delaying a default block on third-party cookies until 2022. Until then, the company is taking steps to curtail some of the more invasive aspects of 3rd party cookies with their SameSite tool.
Difference between third-party and first-party cookies
Third-party cookies come from a different URL than the one you are currently visiting, while first-party cookies come from the website you are currently visiting. Second-party data is a more complex topic, but generally entails first-party data being shared between two partners. Third-party cookies track user behavior in an effort to provide a more targeted experience based on the information that they can gather. Because of their nature, there are often privacy concerns attached, and without provisions, they may fall into violation of GDPR and other privacy regulations.?You may grow tired of receiving the same seemingly random ads over and over. But they may not be so random. Most browsers have settings that allow you to clear cookies or set them so that cookies are automatically cleared when the browser is closed.
The simplest way to think about it is that third-party cookies can be generated when you request a third-party service from a website. They are typically run through JavaScript or other programming languages. Today’s modern browsers allow you to check to see if a website is using third-party cookies. This allows you to understand who may be tracking your path across the internet. Third-party cookies do come with a host of privacy concerns and are built for the purpose of allowing companies to track the online movements of consumers so they can more easily target them with their goods and services. At the same time, they may also help users by allowing them to receive ads that may be more in line with their individual needs and interests. Consumers must realize they are giving up some privacy in order to be able to receive that experience.
Manage Third-Party cookies on your website with?CookieScript
If you want to prevent third-party cookies from running on your site until users consent to your?Cookie Policy?with these helpful?instructions?from?CookieScript. Keeping up with the latest cookie regulations and making sure your website complies is a job in itself.?CookieScript?keeps you compliant with GDPR, CCPA, ePR, and other regulations that are surely on the horizon. And, it’s super-easy to use.
CookieScript?automatically does the following:
1.??Scans your website for cookies
2.??Categorizes and add descriptions to your cookies
3.??Maintains a full history of user consent (as required by GDPR)
4.??Allows users to withdraw consent at any time
5.??Blocks cookies until users agree to the?Privacy Policy
6.??Block cookies until the visitor consents (GDPR and CCPA)
Block third-party cookies by default.?CookieScript?also gives you the option to prevent third-party cookies from running on your website.
CookieScript?makes the web a friendlier, more transparent experience for businesses and users. Getting started is free — create an account today to see how?CookieScript?will work on your website. CookieScript helps to make the website ePrivacy and GDPR compliant. We have all the necessary tools to comply with the latest privacy policy regulations: third-party script management, consent recording, monthly website scans,
Browser Development Console
Using the development console in your Internet browser is one of the easiest methods to see all the cookies stored by particular websites. You can also determine which of the cookies stored in your browser are first-party cookies and which are third-party. First-party cookies will share the same domain as the website you are currently visiting.
CONCLUSION
Though everybody knows about the above cookies to formalize, I have gathered them to give readers for record and information and ready reference.