What are cookies and why are they important for information security?

The number of websites on the web is also increasing daily, with an estimated 20,000 new sites created every day. As a result, anyone who surfs the internet has likely seen a pop-up notifying them about the use of cookies. Some websites even allow visitors to choose whether they want to accept all cookies or only those considered necessary. But do you know what cookies are?

Many companies use cookies to help with strategies that enhance the user's experience on their site. A study conducted by Twilio showed that 81% of companies depend entirely or substantially on cookies to carry out actions on the web.

If you want to understand more about what cookies are and their importance in security, keep reading!

What are cookies? Cookies are files created by websites to collect data about your browsing activity. They usually store information such as pages you’ve visited and links you’ve clicked on.

The data collected helps personalize the website according to the user’s profile, improving the experience or making data transfer easier on the site. By storing visitor information, it becomes simpler for the website to operate during the user’s next visit since there’s no need to re-enter all the details again.

What are the main types of cookies? To understand cookies and their strategies, it's important to know that there are three main types:

1. Session cookies: Temporary files that expire as soon as you close your browser. An example of this type of cookie is when you add an item to your shopping cart but continue browsing other products without losing the item already added.
2. Persistent cookies: Also known as permanent cookies, these files are stored on the hard drive. They remember your browsing preferences. For example, if you select the Portuguese language on a page, the next time you visit, it will display in the language you chose.
3. Third-party cookies: These cookies track user navigation to store information, allowing the creation of a user profile to target ads.

Cookies in information security As mentioned earlier, cookies are files and, by themselves, they do not harm your system with malware since they contain no executable code. However, some cyberattacks can hijack cookies and use them for malicious purposes.

Cookies can also be used for information security purposes, helping to prevent fraud, attacks, and protecting users in their interactions with a service. They can verify that requests made during a session are genuinely from the user and not from a malicious actor.

However, depending on how cookies are used and exposed, they can pose a serious risk to your company’s and users’ security, potentially leading to a data breach.

Are cookies related to LGPD? LGPD, Brazil's General Data Protection Law, aims to protect and ensure the privacy of personal data. The law requires companies to be more careful when handling their customers' data.

When your company uses cookies, it gains access to users' personal information. Since you are storing users’ data, cookies are indeed related to LGPD. Companies must comply with the law to avoid personal data leaks.

How to protect yourself from cookie-related risks Cookies can be hijacked by cybercriminals, exposing a user's information. To prevent this, here are three tips to reduce the risk of a cyberattack:

1. Keep your browser updated.
2. Disable cookie storage in your internet browser.
3. Always ensure you have anti-malware software installed on your devices.

BugHunt, a cybersecurity company To ensure there are no vulnerabilities in your company's systems, BugHunt can help!

By hiring BugHunt, the first Brazilian Bug Bounty platform, your company will have experts constantly analyzing its systems for vulnerabilities, preventing potential cyberattacks. Want to know more about our program and how we can help make your company safer? Click here and contact us!