The cookie is defined as a file recorded by the machine's navigation tool in a dedicated storage space. It is stored during the consultation of a website. Its recording in the hard disk does not give rise to the disclosure of personal information concerning the Internet user. Thanks to this text file, the website can identify the terminal in which it is deposited and memorise the information necessary for its use.
These are unique files. To answer the question of how to know if a site uses cookies, simply open the site and a warning message appears. This window, also called a cookie pop-up, allows users to consent to the use of cookies each time they visit the platform. It usually only appears once.
Cookies do not directly identify a user since they do not contain a name or surname. This is done by the terminal's browser. In addition, the term "cookies" can refer to different technologies, such as invisible digital tags or images embedded in web pages or emails. As a general rule, a cookie lasts for a maximum of thirteen months after it has been saved in the storage space of the machine. It cannot be extended during new visits to the platform.
Online platforms collect information about Internet users using their IP address and cookies. The IP address makes it possible to determine where visitors come from, whether it is the city, the region or the country. To ensure the regularity of the way cookies work, the National Commission for Information Technology and Liberties or CNIL has established a law that helps to strengthen the protection of website visitors.