The security of our personal data is facing unprecedented challenges. In today’s world, nearly every technological device we use be it an application or a gadget is gathering our data. These collected data are then processed and used to show us targeted advertisements. Ironically, Google, one of the companies making money through this strategy, is taking a step to make our lives a bit more secure, at least against others. Google is finally eliminating tracking cookies in Chrome. Here are the details…

Google Takes a Step Towards Enhanced Privacy, Phasing Out Tracking Cookies in Chrome

Google has announced that it will soon begin phasing out support for third-party cookies in its Chrome web browser. But let’s start from the beginning, what are cookies? Cookies are small text files that allow websites to identify and track users. Third-party cookies are not created by the website you are visiting, but rather by another website when you visit that particular site.

Google Chrome

These cookies are commonly used by advertisers to track users’ online activities. Google removing these cookies can help reduce the tracking of users’ online activities. This may result in users being less targeted with ads and could help them maintain online privacy. Actually, this is not something new. Google had announced a long time ago that it would phase out third-party cookies. However, the exact date for this move was not specified.

Now, the company has revealed in a recent statement that they will commence the process in January 2024. But don’t panic. What will happen if a website relies on cookies and needs them to function properly? If Chrome is convinced that a site won’t open without cookies and you’re experiencing issues, it will allow you to re-enable cookies for that site. However, you may need to perform actions like refreshing the page multiple times for the system to detect this.

You don’t need to worry either. Because Google will initially apply this policy to only 1% of Chrome users. Therefore, we most likely won’t be in the affected group. However, the goal is to completely block third-party cookies for all users by the second half of 2024. It’s worth noting that Google Chrome is not the first browser developer to restrict third-party cookies. Competitors like Safari, Firefox, and Brave have been blocking trackers in this way for a long time, making them among the safest browsers you can use.

Nevertheless, we need to point out that there is some hypocrisy involved. As mentioned above, Google collects every possible piece of data about its users. The company utilizes this information to mimic what third-party cookies do, creating advertising strategies and offering everyone the opportunity to benefit from this data. In fact, some users perceive this move by the company as merely eliminating competition. The company, which claims to do everything for user security, remains silent about the matter.

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