Super cookie definition
A super cookie is a cookie meant to be stored on a user’s computer indefinitely. Super cookies cannot be removed in the same way that regular cookies can, making them more challenging for users to recognize and eliminate. Super cookies store information like a user's browsing history, login details, or ad targeting information. They are not technically cookies because they are stored in a different part of the hard drive than browser cookies. They can be found in several forms, each with its own unique purpose. Super cookies can infiltrate networks and function as unique identifier headers (UIDHs). These UIDHs serve as identifiers that set apart your network connection from any other user's. Visitors to many websites can be secretly tracked using these IDs.
Drawbacks of super cookies for privacy:
- Can cause websites to access your personal data, preferences, and behavior
- Can retrieve data from cache files as well as regular cookies after being removed
- Can monitor when you're online and determine peak activity times
- Can store information about your browser history and favorite websites
- Can monitor your behavior and collect essential data, making you vulnerable to internet surveillance, unwanted access, exploits, and leaks.
Tips for avoiding or getting rid of super cookies:
- Use a VPN service. NordVPN protects against super cookies by letting you browse anonymously. A VPN prevents ISPs and websites from adding unique identifier headers (UIDHs) to your traffic and encrypts your data, keeping it secure and cookie-free.
- Visit secure protocol websites. Browse HTTPS websites like those with SSL or TLS certificates
