Reference number: CH001067

Are Internet cookies spyware?

Question:

Are Internet cookies spyware?

Answer:

No. As mentioned in our definition of a cookie, a cookie is a small text file saved on your computer that is used to store information about your computer and the site you're visiting. These files do not keep track of every website you visit or log information you enter in on other sites.

The only site would have access to the cookie file is the site that created it and that file would only contain information about you that relates to that site. For example, it may store the last time you visited the page.

Finally, unlike spyware cookies will also not slow the computer down, generate more advertising, cause computer problems, alter your search results, increase your bandwidth, etc.

But my Spyware program is saying cookies on my computer are spyware.

There are some spyware developers who've decided to include cookies in their listing of detected spyware. Although some programs may list cookies as spyware they're not and usually only cookies found as potential threats and not real threats.

Additional information:

• See our cookie and spyware dictionary definitions for additional information about each of these terms and related links.