What Are Cookies?

Web browsers store the information a web server provides in the form of small files called cookies. These files store information about the browsing session, such as a user’s shopping cart contents. When users browse a website using its default settings, their cookies are attached to subsequent requests to the web server. Websites use cookies to understand a user’s habits and preferences. This allows websites to provide personalized experiences, like displaying recommendations based on a user’s browsing history or previously placed items in their shopping cart. In addition, some cookies are used for security purposes, such as authentication cookies. Internet cookies are also referred to as HTTP cookies. They’re used on many websites and are usually accessed through the HTTP/HTTPS protocol.

What Are Cookies Used For?

Websites use cookies to make browsing more convenient by automatically remembering your information after you leave or close the page. Consequently, you wouldn’t have to log in again or reinstall your shopping cart if you closed the tab accidentally. Cookies provide a significant part of the Internet experience. Therefore it’s necessary to understand why they’re valuable before deciding whether or not to keep them.

• Session management. For example, cookies allow websites to recognize users and remember their personal preferences, such as sports news versus politics.
• Personalization. When sites use cookies to personalize their advertisements, they usually use customized advertising. This means that cookies help websites create ads you might like based on your data.
• Tracking. Online stores use cookies to remember information about the items someone has previously viewed. This allows them to continue suggesting other things the user may like and keep their carts filled with items they still need to purchase.

What are the different Types of Cookies?

Some of the most significant types of cookies include:

1. Session cookies

Websites employ a session cookie to track a user’s session. Session cookies are erased after the user’s session is over — once they log out of their account on a website or leave the site. Session cookies have no expiration date; this indicates to the browser that they should be deleted once the session is over.

2. Magic cookies

This old term in computing refers to packets of information transmitted and received without alteration. Typically, this would be employed to access a computer database system internal to a business, such as a network. This idea is older than the modern "cookie" we utilize today.

3. HTTP cookies

HTTP cookies specifically designed for web browsers to record, personalize, and save information about each user’s session. A session is the amount of time you spend on a website. Cookies are employed to recognize you when you visit a new website. The server that hosts the website’s data transmits a brief, identifying message to your web browser. Browser cookies are placed by their name and value pairs. These instructions tell cookies where to go and what information to remember.

4. Authentication cookies

Authentication cookies are used to maintain user sessions, created when a user logs into an account via their browser. They ensure that confidential information is delivered to the intended users by associating user account information with a cookie identifier that is unique to each user.

5. Tracking cookies

Cookies that are generated by tracking services are called tracking cookies. This is because they observe user behavior, and browsers transmit this information to the associated tracking service the next time they visit a website that utilizes that service.

6. Zombie cookies

Like the "zombies" in popular fiction, zombie cookies will regrow after being deleted. Zombie cookies have multiple copies of themselves that are not stored in the specific location for cookies. They utilize these backups to re-appear within a browser after they are deleted. Dishonest advertising networks and cyber criminals sometimes employ zombie cookies.

How do Browser cookies affect user privacy?

Cookies can be employed to record browsing activity, including for advertising purposes. However, many users do not want their online behavior to be monitored. Additionally, users need more transparency or control over the data tracking services collected. Even when cookie-based tracking is not associated with a specific user’s device or name, with some types of monitoring, it is still possible to associate a record of a user’s browsing activity with their real identity. This data could be utilized in many ways, including unwanted advertising, stalking, or harassment of users. This is only the case for some forms of cookie usage.

Some privacy laws, like the EU’s ePrivacy Directive, address and govern the use of cookies. Under this Directive, users must consent to the use of cookies by being informed of the purpose and method of use. They must also agree to this usage before the website can utilize cookies. The only exception is cookies that are "necessary" for the website to function. In addition, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) considers cookie identifiers personal information, so its regulations apply to the usage of cookies in the EU. Therefore, any personal data collected through cookies is also subject to the GDPR’s jurisdiction. Because of these regulations, many websites now show banners that allow users to control and review the cookies those websites utilize.

Why Cookies on the Internet Can Be Dangerous

Since the information stored in cookies is constant, cookies are not harmful. They cannot spread viruses or other malware to computers. However, some cyberattacks can take over cookies and allow access to your browsing history. The threat is their capacity to identify the browsing histories of individuals. To explain, let’s discuss what cookies to be wary of. Some cookies have a more significant threat than others, depending on their origin.

• First-party cookies. The ads are generated by the website you are visiting. These are typically more secure if you visit authority sites or ones that have not been compromised.
• Third-party cookies. They are produced by websites that are different from the pages that users are currently browsing. These are typically associated with advertisements on the page. For example, visiting a site with ten ads may produce ten cookies even if users never interact with them. Third-party cookies allow advertisers or analytics companies to observe an individual’s browsing history across multiple websites containing their advertisements. As a result, the advertiser could deduce that a user first searched for running apparel at a specific outdoor store before visiting a particular sporting goods website and then a typical online retailer of sportswear.

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What are cookies in web browsers?

Cookies in web browsers play an important role in adjusting the user experience at different sites. They contain small chunks of information about the user, like its location, the previous choices it made, some details like sex, age, name or nickname, et cetera. They are considered personal information and thus should be stored only after the user’s allowance. You can see these warnings on any website you visit for the first time on your device, or once after a long time.

Based on the data from cookies, the site you visit more than once will show personalized results. That is convenient for the vast majority of users, and only persons who are very concerned about their privacy will deny the use of cookies. However, there is the possibility of malicious misuse of this mechanism.

What is Trackid=sp-006?

Trackid=sp-006 is a parameter you may notice in your URL bar while searching in Google or another search engine. It should not appear in a normal situation and is related to specific adware – the malware that earns money by showing you different ads. In particular, the one that causes the Trackid=sp-006 thing shows you ads through spoofing the cookies of Google search and some other pages you open. In particular, the search with this adware may be flooded with completely irrelevant results or leads to malicious or untrustworthy sites.

Having access to your cookies via spoofing them means that this adware can control your browsing process and that your genuine cookies have likely been stolen. They can carry a lot of valuable information, even the ones that can help the crooks to steal your identity. If you use an outdated web browser, there is a risk that it stores your cookies as plain text, i.e., everyone can read them and get all the information. Since cookies are sometimes used to keep the login tokens and temporary passwords, you may be in great trouble.

How dangerous is the trackid=sp-006 malware?

Adware has a lot of unpleasant consequences, but most of them are unobvious and concealed. You may think that the only thing it does to your PC is showing you unwanted ads, but that’s not all about it. As this malware has access to your networking settings, you may get into the trap of pharming – a very sophisticated phishing technique. Cookie tracking and spoofing is another possible trick done by the crooks who control your adware – and trackid=sp-006 is a symptom. The most often danger of adware, however, is the possibility that you will misclick another obtrusive advertisement it shows to you and triggers the installation of another malware.

All of the mentioned problems lead to the only thing – even more problems with your PC and, what is probably even worse, the possibility of identity theft. The latter may cause situations when crooks or related persons fraud your relatives or close friends from your name. And you cannot do anything about that – aside from post-factum steps like warning that you were hacked. Removing adware should be your point of concern, as the more time you give it to act – the more dirty tricks it may play on you. GridinSoft Anti-Malware will be a perfect solution for that case, as it is capable of detecting even the most sophisticated adware samples.

How did I get adware on my PC?

Adware cannot appear from nowhere, even if you think you did nothing wrong. It may arrive as a part of a cracked game you installed last weekend or “free” software you found on an online forum. Not all such things contain malware, but users who made them sometimes see no other way to monetize their efforts. Overall, using cracked software can also end up in lawsuits against you, as in most European countries as well as in the USA, this action is outlawed.

You can sometimes avoid the adware installation by checking the setup window attentively. Bundled installers often feature a submenu that allows users to choose the installation elements. Malware, or how it will be represented in the installer as “useful additional software”, will be listed along with the standard components. Unmasking them will isolate you from the problems – at least for a while. Still, that is not the necessary case, as the considerable amount of untrustworthy programs still gives you no choice at all.

The post Trackid=sp-006 — What is this thing? appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

How can cookie theft be dangerous? Web services with their help “store” on the user’s device not only various settings, but also a unique session identifier that allows recognizing the user without a password and login. Thus, having received a cookie, an attacker may introduce himself as an unsuspecting user and use his account for his own purposes.

Attackers developed two malware with a similar coding style and using the same C&C server. Once installed on the device, the Cookiethief Trojan receives superuser rights and transfers the cookie files of the browser and the installed social network application to the C&C server.

“The Trojan detected by us as Trojan-Spy.AndroidOS.Cookiethief turned out to be quite simple. Its main task is to obtain root rights on the device and transfer the cookies of the browser and the Facebook application to the attacker server. To do this, the malware does not need a vulnerability in the browser or Facebook application, if necessary, it could steal the cookie of any site from other applications in the same way and with approximately the same result”, – experts write.

However, just the session identifier is not enough to seize control over someone else’s account. For example, the security systems of some websites prevent suspicious login attempts on the system. For such cases, the criminals created a second malware – Youzicheng. It is able to launch a proxy server on the phone and provide attackers with Internet access from the victim’s device to bypass security measures.

According to experts, malware does not exploit vulnerabilities in a mobile browser or social network application, and attackers can steal cookies from any site.

“By combining the two types of attacks, attackers found a way to gain control over user accounts without causing suspect. This is a relatively new threat, as long as no more than a thousand people have been exposed to it. This number is growing and, most likely, will continue to grow, given that it is difficult for web sites to detect such attacks”, – explained the experts.

According to an expert report, Cookiethief can be associated with common Trojans such as Sivu, Triada and Ztorg using the addresses of control servers and encryption keys used. This malware is often either downloaded to the device’s “firmware” itself before the user purchases it, or it gets into system folders through OS vulnerabilities, and then it can download arbitrary applications into system sections.

As a result, the user may have such an “undeletable” backdoor as Bood, along with its auxiliary applications Cookiethief and Youzicheng.

I am not trying to intimidate you, but it is worth reminding that 40% of devices using older versions of Android have not received security updates recently.

The post Two new malware can steal cookies from Android apps appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.

When browsing the internet, you may have noticed a pop-up asking for your consent to use cookies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device by websites you visit and used to store information about your activity. While cookies can help personalize your browsing experience, they can also track your online activity and collect your personal information without your knowledge. This article will explore how and why you should block cookies to protect your privacy and security online.

Why Should You Block Cookies?

There are several reasons why you may want to block cookies:

1. Privacy concerns: Cookies can be used to track your online activity and collect information about you, such as your browsing habits and personal details. This information can be sold to advertisers or used for other purposes without your knowledge or consent.
2. Security risks: Cookies can also be used to store sensitive information, such as login credentials and credit card details. If a hacker gains access to your cookies, they can use this information to steal your identity or access your accounts.
3. Performance issues: In some cases, cookies can slow down your browsing speed or cause websites to load improperly.

How to Block Cookies

Blocking cookies is relatively easy, and there are several ways to do it:

1. Browser settings: Most web browsers have settings that allow you to block or restrict cookies. You can usually find the cookie settings in your browser’s privacy or security settings to do this. You can block all or only third-party cookies, which are cookies placed on your device by websites other than the one you are visiting.
2. Browser extensions: There are also browser extensions that can help you block cookies. These extensions are easily installed and configured in the browser’s extension store.
3. Anti-virus software: Some anti-virus software includes cookie-blocking features as part of their security suite. This can be a good option to block cookies without manually configuring your browser settings.

When Should You Block Cookies?

While blocking cookies can help protect your privacy and security online, there are some situations where you may want to allow cookies:

• Online shopping: If you frequently shop online, allowing cookies can help save your shopping cart and preferences, making it easier to navigate the website and complete your purchase.
• Personalization: Cookies can also be used to personalize your browsing experience, such as remembering your language preference or showing you relevant ads.
• Authentication: Some websites require cookies to authenticate your login and keep you logged in. If you block cookies, you may need to enter your login credentials each time you visit the website.

How to Block Cookies in Google Chrome?

Here are the steps to block cookies in Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome: Launch Google Chrome on your computer by double-clicking on the Chrome icon.
2. Access Chrome settings: Click on the three dots icon in the top right corner of the window, and select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Go to Privacy and security settings: Scroll down and click on “Privacy and security” in the left-hand menu.
4. Access Site settings: Click on “Site settings” to access the settings for individual websites.
5. Block cookies: Click on “Cookies and site data” to access the cookie settings. You can toggle the “Allow sites to save and read cookie data” option to block all cookies.

Customizing Cookie Settings in Chrome

If you don’t want to block all cookies, you can customize your cookie settings in Chrome. Here’s how:

1. Go to Chrome settings: Access Chrome settings by clicking on the three dots icon and selecting “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
2. Access Privacy and security settings: Click on “Privacy and security” in the left-hand menu.
3. Access Site settings: Click on “Site settings” to access the settings for individual websites.
4. Customize cookie settings: Click on “Cookies and site data” to access the cookie settings. Here, you can customize the settings for individual websites by clicking on the “Add” button next to “Allow” or “Block” and entering the website URL.

The Benefits of Blocking Cookies

Blocking cookies can help protect your privacy and security online. By blocking cookies, you can:

• Prevent tracking: Cookies can be used to track your online activity and collect your personal information without your knowledge or consent. By blocking cookies, you can prevent websites from tracking you.
• Reduce targeted advertising: Cookies are often used to serve targeted ads based on your browsing activity. By blocking cookies, you can reduce the amount of targeted advertising you see.
• Improve website performance: In some cases, cookies can slow down website performance or cause websites to load improperly. By blocking cookies, you can improve website performance.

The Bottom Line

Blocking cookies can help protect your privacy and security online. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily block cookies in Google Chrome and customize your cookie settings to meet your needs. Remember to consider the benefits and risks of blocking cookies and make an informed decision based on your preferences and needs.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Blocking Cookies for Improved Cybersecurity appeared first on Gridinsoft Blog.