They are sent by a server and are stored on your computer. They can't access or read the files on your hard drive, and they also cannot be used as viruses. They are used to send you the information you want from a site more quickly and to automatically do things for you that would otherwise require more work on your part. They do this by setting cookies in your computer that communicate with their server. Other cookies track referral information.
Some merchants use cookies to remember which affiliate site sent a customer to their site.
Our cookies only last for four hours. Therefore, when you go back the next day, a new cookie will be set. Because shopping cart systems at online stores rely heavily on cookies to temporarily remember what you've put into your shopping basket, you are almost always required to use cookies in order to shop online. These cookies usually expire as soon as you exit a shop. Select the Advanced Category from the Category pane on the left.