A cookie is simply a technology for remembering something about you. Without cookies, a website is like a goldfish who loses its memory every time you visit a new page. Once you visit a new page, it doesn’t remember who you are.

Now this can be a good and a bad thing. Without any memory, a website can’t do a lot of stuff. It can’t let you log in, because it forgets who you are. It can’t let you buy anything, because it forgets what you’re buying. But it also means it can’t track you. Some websites use cookies to remember what you do on their website, and to target ads at you. And some of those websites share their cookies, so that ads on one website know what you liked on another. This has scared a lot of people.

Cookies aren’t automatically good or bad, but it’s worth understanding what you can do about them. You can turn them off completely, which is a bit like banning all music to prevent another Justin Bieber album. Many websites simply won’t work. A better option would be to turn off 3rd party cookies, which will stop most websites from sharing information about you. Some browsers – like Safari – do this automatically. And finally, you can take a deeper look into any websites which concern you. Most websites have policies that explain what they do, if you care to look. Well over 90% of websites use cookies. Cookies aren’t automatically good or bad, but it’s worth understanding what you can do about them.

How to delete cookies on any device and browser:

Chrome on Windows:

How to disable all cookies:

• Select the Chrome menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Near the bottom of the page, select Show advanced settings.
• In the “Privacy” section, select Content settings.
• Select Block sites from setting any data.
• Select Finished.

How to disable third-party cookies

• Select the Chrome menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Near the bottom of the page, select Show advanced settings.
• In the “Privacy” section, select Content settings.
• Check Block third-party cookies and site data.
• Select Finished.

Internet Explorer on Windows

How to disable all cookies:

• Select the gear in the upper-right corner of the screen,
• then select “Internet Options“.
• If you have the Menu Bar enabled, you can select “Tools“ > “Internet Options“.
• Click the “Privacy” tab.
• Select the “Advanced” button.
• Under “First-party Cookies” and “Third-party Cookies“, choose Block to automatically block cookies or Prompt to prompt with each cookie request.
• Click “OK” and you have successfully set your cookie settings in IE11.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Select the gear in the upper-right corner of the screen,
• then select “Internet Options“.
• If you have the Menu Bar enabled, you can select “Tools“ > “Internet Options“.
• Click the “Privacy” tab.
• Select the “Advanced” button.
• Under “Third-party Cookies“, choose Block to automatically block cookies or Prompt to prompt with each cookie request.
• Click “OK” and you have successfully set your cookie settings in IE11.

Firefox on Windows.

How to disable all cookies:

• Click the menu button and choose Options/Preferences.
• Select the Privacy panel.
• Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
• Uncheck Accept cookies from sites to disable cookies.
• Close the about:preferences page.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Click the menu button and choose Options/Preferences.
• Select the Privacy panel.
• Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
• Set Accept third party cookies: to Never.
• Close the about:preferences page.

Edge on Windows.

How to disable all cookies:

• Click on the More actions button in the top right corner and select Settings.
• Click View Advanced Settings.
• You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page.
• Press the dropdown arrow under the Cookies field.
• Select Block All Cookies

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Click on the More actions button in the top right corner and select Settings.
• Click View Advanced Settings. You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page.
• Press the dropdown arrow under the Cookies field.
• Select Block Only Third Party Cookies.

Safari on Mac OS X.

How to disable all cookies:

• Choose Safari > Preferences
• Click Privacy
• Set Block cookies to Always.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Choose Safari > Preferences
• Click Privacy
• Set Block cookies to From third parties and advertisers.

Chrome on Mac OS X.

How to disable all cookies:

• Select the Chrome menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Near the bottom of the page, select Show advanced settings.
• In the “Privacy” section, select Content settings.
• Select Block sites from setting any data.
• Select Finished.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Select the Chrome menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Near the bottom of the page, select Show advanced settings.
• In the “Privacy” section, select Content settings.
• Check Block third-party cookies and site data.
• Select Finished.

Firefox on Mac OS X.

How to disable all cookies:

• Click the menu button and choose Options/Preferences.
• Select the Privacy panel.
• Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
• Uncheck Accept cookies from sites to disable cookies.
• Close the about:preferences page.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Click the menu button and choose Options/Preferences.
• Select the Privacy panel.
• Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
• Set Accept third party cookies: to Never.
• Close the about:preferences page.

Chrome on Linux.

How to disable all cookies

• Select the Chrome menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Near the bottom of the page, select Show advanced settings.
• In the “Privacy” section, select Content settings.
• Select Block sites from setting any data.
• Select Finished.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Select the Chrome menu icon.
• Select Settings.
• Near the bottom of the page, select Show advanced settings.
• In the “Privacy” section, select Content settings.
• Check Block third-party cookies and site data.
• Select Finished.

Firefox on Linux.

How to disable all cookies:

• Click the menu button and choose Options/Preferences.
• Select the Privacy panel.
• Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
• Uncheck Accept cookies from sites to disable cookies.
• Close the about:preferences page.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Click the menu button and choose Options/Preferences.
• Select the Privacy panel.
• Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
• Set Accept third party cookies: to Never.
• Close the about:preferences page.

Safari on iOS.

How to disable all cookies:

• Tap Settings.
• Select Safari.
• Select Block Cookies.
• Choose Always Block from the list.
• In iOS 7 or earlier, choose Never.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Tap Settings.
• Select Safari.
• Select Block Cookies.
• Choose Allow from Current Websites Only from the list.
• In iOS 7 or earlier, choose From third parties and advertisers.

Chrome on Android.

How to disable all cookies:

• Tap Menu > Settings > Site settings.
• Tap Cookies.
• Tap the slider to turn cookies off.

How to disable third-party cookies:

• Tap Menu > Settings > Site settings.
• Tap Cookies.
• Uncheck Allow third-party cookies.