The Data You’re Giving Away Every Time You Click “Accept All Cookies”

You likely accept “cookies” every day without even considering what they are. Cookies are small text files that help improve your future visits to the site you’re on. They keep you logged in, save items you’ve left in your shopping cart, and remember your preferred website settings.

When a cookie pop-up appears, you’re normally given two options: “Accept All” or “Reject All”. When you’re in a hurry, you may click “Accept All” without giving the pop-up a second thought. But what are you actually agreeing to here? That single click allows multiple companies to collect information on your browsing habits.

Why Do Most People Accept Cookies?

Most people accept cookies out of convenience. Most people are in a hurry when they visit a website. They want to find the information they’re looking for quickly, without interruption. A visitor decides within 5 seconds whether to stay or leave a website.

Within that short time frame, you’ll likely remove any pop-ups as quickly as possible. Often, the “Accept All” button on a cookie pop-up feels like the fastest option. The “Accept” button is sometimes larger, more colourful, and more immediately visible than the “Reject” button. “Accept” also only takes one click, while “Reject” can sometimes come with additional clicks.

“Rejecting Cookies” Doesn’t Always Work

Even if you reject cookies, websites still collect basic connection data such as your IP address and browser type.

Some websites collect even more than basic data without first seeking permission. A recent study by ComplyZero Research found that 95.9% of Indian websites collect user data without a consent mechanism.

So, it’s important to take steps to reduce the amount of data you share when visiting new websites:

• Reject non-essential cookies where possible. Always reject cookies used for advertising and analytics.
• Clear cookies regularly. Clearing cookies from your browser can protect your privacy and clear out old data.
• Use a VPN. A VPN meaning Virtual Private Network can help limit third-party tracking.
• Use privacy-focused browser extensions. You can download extensions that block trackers and third-party cookies.
• Limit unnecessary permissions. Don’t grant websites access to your location, camera, or microphone unless necessary.

What Actually Happens When You “Accept All Cookies”?

On a basic level, you’re allowing the website to remember your login details, shopping cart items, and personal settings. They can improve user experience by making future visits faster and more convenient. However, clicking “Accept All” can sometimes go beyond improving your experience of a website.

Who Receives Your Data?

Many websites allow third-party services to place their own cookies. These services can include advertising networks, analytics providers, and social media platforms. Therefore, if you “Accept All”, you may also be sending data to third parties.

Third-party services use your data in different ways. For example, analytics providers collect data to monitor how visitors interact with a website for SEO purposes. Advertising networks, on the other hand, use your data to build a profile of you for personalised ad purposes.

The Risk of Cookies

The more services collecting your data, the greater the attack surface if one of these companies were to be hacked. Every additional third party that stores or uses your data creates another opportunity for cybercriminals to access or expose it.

Today, more people care about online privacy and security. However, 85% still click the “Accept All” button within seconds of landing on a new website.

Cookies do not immediately put your personal information at risk. However, the data collected can still reveal valuable information about your online behaviour. Browsing patterns, interests, and purchase history can be attractive information to cybercriminals.

Don’t “Accept All”

Accepting cookies may seem like the most convenient way to get rid of the pop-up. However, by selecting it, you may be giving away more data than you realise. Cookies play an important role in improving online experiences. But they can also allow third parties to track and record your data. In addition to rejecting cookies, you should also clear your cookies regularly and use privacy-focused browser extensions such as VPNs.