Internet Cookies: Internet Cookies: Changing Internet Changing Internet

Use and Privacy Use and Privacy

Lindsay Maidment Lindsay Maidment

& Katherine Hollander& Katherine Hollander

November 8, 2006November 8, 2006

Why talk about Cookies?Why talk about Cookies?

We wanted to choose a topic that we did We wanted to choose a topic that we did not know much aboutnot know much about

As a technologically advanced As a technologically advanced generation, we use the internet virtually generation, we use the internet virtually everydayeveryday

Read about DoubleClick Inc. and its Read about DoubleClick Inc. and its business tacticsbusiness tactics

Which best describes an Which best describes an internet cookie?internet cookie?

A) A hacker breaks into your computer A) A hacker breaks into your computer and looks at your files.and looks at your files.

B) The telephone number that dials into B) The telephone number that dials into an online service.an online service.

C) Files downloaded onto your computer C) Files downloaded onto your computer that track your online habits.that track your online habits.

D) I have no idea.D) I have no idea.

Business Week Survey…Business Week Survey…

A) Hacker – 6%A) Hacker – 6%

B) Phone number – 4%B) Phone number – 4%

C) Tracking file – 75%C) Tracking file – 75%

D) Didn’t know – 15%D) Didn’t know – 15%**This survey was a telephone survey of 1,014 randomly selected adults between March 2 and March 6 of 2000, by Harris Interactive.

Knowing the Basics:Knowing the Basics:

In the Business Week survey in 2000, In the Business Week survey in 2000, only 40% of the randomly selected knew only 40% of the randomly selected knew what an internet cookie was.what an internet cookie was.

**This survey was a telephone survey of 1,014 randomly selected adults between March 2 and March 6 of 2000, by Harris Interactive.

What is a cookie?What is a cookie?

A text file which a website can store on A text file which a website can store on its visitors’ hard drivesits visitors’ hard drives

Made up of numbers and lettersMade up of numbers and letters Generally, cookies are a simple ID fileGenerally, cookies are a simple ID file Sometimes they can store more Sometimes they can store more

complicated information complicated information Also called “name-value pairs”Also called “name-value pairs”

What’s the point?What’s the point?

Sites use cookies to…Sites use cookies to… Track number of visitorsTrack number of visitors First timers vs. returning visitorsFirst timers vs. returning visitors How often the user visits the siteHow often the user visits the site

Why?Why? Frequent Buyer exampleFrequent Buyer example $$$ from Advertisers$$$ from Advertisers

Where are Where are cookies?cookies?

You can find cookie files on your hard You can find cookie files on your hard drive, your “C” drive.drive, your “C” drive.

Mmmm! cookies…Mmmm! cookies…

They remember usernames for various They remember usernames for various sites that require log-insites that require log-in Also have the option to remember your Also have the option to remember your

passwords for you!passwords for you!

They allow you to shop as you browse They allow you to shop as you browse via online shopping carts!via online shopping carts!

Cookies provide user customization of Cookies provide user customization of sites, like weather.com & msn.comsites, like weather.com & msn.com

Bittersweet: the Bittersweet: the problemsproblems

Multiple users on the same hard driveMultiple users on the same hard drive Family computer, internet cafesFamily computer, internet cafes

Credit card fraudCredit card fraud

Easily erasableEasily erasable Throw off site’s total countsThrow off site’s total counts

Can contain spyware!Can contain spyware! Can pass on personal information without Can pass on personal information without

user’s permission (email address, phone user’s permission (email address, phone number, credit card number, etc.)number, credit card number, etc.)

DoubleClick Inc.DoubleClick Inc.

Developed cookie program that can Developed cookie program that can follow and save user internet browsingfollow and save user internet browsing

Such cookie files are saved into text Such cookie files are saved into text profilesprofiles

Profiles can be extensive and detailedProfiles can be extensive and detailed Serves over 200 billion ads per monthServes over 200 billion ads per month

Benefits of DoubleClick:Benefits of DoubleClick:

Advertisers!Advertisers! Allows internet advertisers to place their ads Allows internet advertisers to place their ads

on sites or pages which will reach their on sites or pages which will reach their target audiencestarget audiences

Online Shoppers!Online Shoppers! Can provide easy access to interesting Can provide easy access to interesting

products without the hassle of a long searchproducts without the hassle of a long search Jeans ExampleJeans Example

Doubts behind Doubts behind Doubleclick:Doubleclick:

Announced plan to link anonymous cookie profiles to Announced plan to link anonymous cookie profiles to personal user information without user’s permission.personal user information without user’s permission. Invasion of privacy!Invasion of privacy! (In depth look at DoubleClick litigation) (In depth look at DoubleClick litigation)

DoubleClick planned to turn around and sell the DoubleClick planned to turn around and sell the comprehensive profiles to other companies.comprehensive profiles to other companies.

Spam & Spyware can be found within cookie files Spam & Spyware can be found within cookie files without user’s knowledge.without user’s knowledge.

Samantha Jones exampleSamantha Jones example

Life without cookies…Life without cookies…

Many sites are heavily Many sites are heavily dependent on cookies and dependent on cookies and may not function well without may not function well without themthem Some may not function at allSome may not function at all

Erasing cookies prevents Erasing cookies prevents visitors from making use of visitors from making use of certain amenities sites offercertain amenities sites offer

Questions?Questions?

Or Comments?Or Comments?