Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
Rob is an 8th-semester senior majoring in molecular and cell biology from Wallingford, Connecticut.
What on-campus activities/organizations are you involved in?
University of Connecticut Marching Band, Pre-Dental Society, Alpha Beta Epsilon Academic Fraternity
What is your advice to incoming freshman?
To the incoming freshman class, my biggest piece of advice would be to get outside of your comfort zone. Coming to this university, you will be exposed to a diverse student population, filled with amazing individuals that come from different backgrounds and hold unique perspectives from your own. Not to mention UConn itself also provides each student with countless opportunities to do things you may never get to experience again. Whether it is going on an Education Abroad opportunity, serving your community on an Alternative Break, or eating way too much Dairy Bar ice cream during the One Ton Sundae event, go for it, never forgetting that your fellow Huskies will always be behind you to help you succeed. So, go out and get involved! Attending UConn is an opportunity that truly happens only once in a lifetime, and you should take advantage of every second of it. Explore your interests, discover new ones, and don’t forget to make as many friends as you can along the way. Your four years at UConn will prove to be the greatest opportunity you have for your own personal development.
Where is your favorite spot on campus to study or hangout?
When you first walk on to this campus, the first thing you’ll notice is the abundance of gorgeous buildings and outside areas that students can utilize for any of their studying or hangout needs! Although it is hard to just pick one, I would have to say my favorite study spot would be our Student Union. To say that this building has everything a studying student could need is an understatement. There are plenty of areas available to lay out my books and papers and with plenty of charging stations, public computers, and printers, I almost never have to leave. On top of all that, the Union is what I would call the “social hub” of our campus. I always run into a familiar face while I’m there. I can’t forget to mention the food either! Whether I am making my own burrito at the Student Union Marketplace or getting my ice cream fix at the Dairy Bar Too, the Union is definitely my one stop to meet up with friends and get some work done.
If you were an undergraduate for one extra semester what would you do with the time?
If I was an undergraduate for one extra semester, my time would be dedicated solely to thanking everyone that made my college experience the best four years of my life. Looking back, there has been an uncountable number of people who have helped me reach the goals I set for myself. From the faculty to the staff, to the other students around me, I was constantly surrounded by supportive individuals who pushed me to do more. I truly believe that the sense of community that is found at UConn cannot be found on any other campus in the country and I know I would need at least a few months to thank everyone personally.
Any fun facts?
I have worked as a campus tour guide since my second semester sophomore year. I have learned so many incredible facts about this University and have had the pleasure to guide prospective students and families around this beautiful campus, hopefully leading them to become Huskies themselves! Having a campus job that not only allows me to work alongside incredible peers but also lets me learn more about this amazing school has truly defined my UConn experience.
Why do you want to be featured as a UConn Senior Spotlight?
I believe I embody what it means to become immersed in Huskymania. Through my involvement as a tour guide, marching band member, fraternity brother, and organization leader I have become steeped in the traditions of UConn. I have truly found my home away from home in Storrs and have tried to experience every detail here. If my time at UConn can somehow inspire others to take advantage of everything this campus has to offer, then I believe I have made a worthwhile impact.
Any plans after graduation?
I will be attending the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine starting this coming fall.