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.
Anvin is an 8th-semester molecular and cell biology senior student from West Hartford, Connecticut.
What semester is this for you?
8th
When are you graduating?
Spring 2018
What’s your major?
Molecular and Cell Biology
What’s your minor?
Mathematics, Bioinformatics
Where are you from?
West Hartford, CT
What on-campus activities/organizations are you involved in?
President of Hearts Over Latin America (HOLA), Board Member for The Major Experience (TME), Health Research Program, Windham Hospital Volunteer Program
Any fun facts?
Has traveled to 15 different countries, including Singapore, India, and Guatemala
If nominating someone else: Why did you nominate them to be featured as a UConn Senior Spotlight?
Anvin’s an amazing person and honestly one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. He’s accomplished so much on campus but remains humble. I want Anvin to have his chance in the spotlight because he’s spent his time on campus promoting others and praising their achievements. It’s time for him to be recognized by the larger UConn community. – Sarina Bhargava
Any plans after graduation?
Taking a gap year before medical school, currently interviewing for research positions
What is your advice to incoming freshmen?
Get involved as soon as you can, in whatever way you feel best suits you. I know personally that I took a while to get involved, and I wish I joined some clubs sooner. Getting involved makes you feel more at home on campus, especially since the transition period can be rough.
Favorite place to study?
Library basement. I prefer studying with some background noise, and not in a completely silent environment, so the basement is the perfect spot for me. It’s also great for group work and collaboration.
Favorite place to hang out?
Dairy Bar! It has the best ice cream in the state, and it’s the perfect place to go to year round.
If you were an undergraduate for one more semester, what would you do with the time?
If I had an extra semester here, I would take classes I’ve always wanted to take but never had the time to. I missed out on a few interesting electives and would’ve liked to explore different majors or coursework. With an extra semester, I would’ve also continued to develop my leadership abilities and made sure the clubs I’m leaving behind are in a good place for the future.