Cookies can be used a variety of ways, including keeping track of a user's online name, number of past visits, most recent visit, movement through the site, browser information, and other interactions or preference settings. While cookies are often used to improve a site's responsiveness and utility, it is also sometimes difficult to know when a cookie is being placed, the purpose behind the cookie, or how information gathered by a cookie is going to be used. For these reasons cookies also often raise privacy concerns. It should be noted that not all websites use cookies, and not all browsers support them. Additionally, many browsers now contain warning features which can alert a user whenever a server attempts to transmit a cookie, and provide the user with the opportunity to decline.
Some browsers also allow users to completely disable their computer's ability to accept cookies.
Users concerned about the existence of cookies on a specific site should also check that site's available privacy statement to determine its privacy policies and information practices. Detailed, global, and instantaneous computerized data collection and distribution, raises serious consumer concerns about personal privacy. These concerns must be addressed squarely if the benefits of the digital age are to be fully realized. Therefore, privacy policies become important both to online entities as well as individual users. A privacy policy should be prominently displayed and clearly disclose whether or not information is collected, the types and means by which information is collected, i.e. cookies, the way that information will be used, whom will be granted access to that information, and most importantly, what options the consumer can exercise in controlling that information.