The internet has made life easier in many ways, but it has also introduced privacy challenges that most of us never think about. One of the lesser-known threats to your online privacy is something called a supercookie. You might not have heard of it before, but understanding what it is and how it works is crucial to navigating the web safely. In this article, we’ll thoroughly explain what are super cookies, how they impact your privacy, and how you can protect yourself.
What Is a Supercookie?
A supercookie is a type of tracking tool designed to monitor users’ online behavior. Unlike regular cookies, which are small text files saved in your browser to track your activities, supercookies are much more invasive. They work by embedding themselves into your device or internet connection, making them incredibly difficult to delete or block.
Supercookies are primarily used by internet service providers (ISPs) or websites to store data about your browsing habits. They can track you even if you clear your browser cookies or enable “private browsing mode.” This persistent tracking makes them particularly concerning for anyone who values their online privacy.
Also Read: How to Backup Gmail Despite Two-Factor Authentication Limits
How Does a Supercookie Work?
To understand why supercookies are so dangerous, let’s take a look at how they function. Unlike standard browser cookies, which are located in your browser’s storage, supercookies are embedded at a deeper level. For instance, ISPs often use supercookies to track your online activity by adding unique identifiers (also known as “perma-cookies”) directly into your HTTP headers. Some supercookies even take advantage of browser fingerprinting, making it nearly impossible for users to hide their activities.
This unique technology makes supercookies much harder to manage compared to traditional cookie tracking. As a result, your personal data can be monitored across multiple platforms and devices, creating significant privacy risks.
Why Are Supercookies a Threat to Privacy?
Supercookies are a serious privacy concern because of their extensive tracking capabilities. Let’s break down the key reasons why they threaten your privacy:
1. Persistent Tracking Across Devices
One of the main reasons supercookies are dangerous is their ability to track your online behavior across multiple devices. Whether you’re browsing on your laptop, phone, or tablet, supercookies can link your activities to create a comprehensive profile of your habits.
2. Difficult to Delete
Traditional cookies can be cleared from your browser with a single click. However, supercookies don’t store data in the same way, making them much harder to remove. Even advanced users who regularly delete cookies and cache files may still find themselves being tracked.
3. Potential Misuse by Advertisers
Advertisers often seek to collect as much data as possible to target individuals with highly personalized ads. Supercookies provide advertisers with a treasure trove of data, which can lead to more intrusive advertising practices.
4. Cybersecurity Risks
If a malicious party gains access to the supercookie data stored by an ISP or website, the information could be exploited for identity theft or other fraudulent activities. This risk exists because supercookies often contain sensitive information, including browsing history and personal preferences.
Also Read: How to Hard Refresh Your Browser to Clear Cache Instantly
How Can You Protect Yourself From Supercookies?
The growing use of supercookies highlights the importance of taking a proactive approach to protect your privacy. Consider taking these steps:
1. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A VPN is one of the most effective ways to block supercookies. By encrypting your internet traffic, a VPN masks your IP address and creates a secure gateway for your online activities. This way, ISPs are unable to embed tracking codes like supercookies into your HTTP headers.
2. Opt for browsers with enhanced privacy features
Different browsers vary in their effectiveness at protecting your privacy. Consider using browsers like Mozilla Firefox or Brave that prioritize private browsing and come with built-in tools to block tracking technologies, including supercookies.
3. Block third-party cookies and scripts
While blocking traditional cookies won’t always stop a supercookie, it can minimize some forms of tracking. Tools like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger can prevent websites from embedding malicious scripts on your browser.
4. Review ISP privacy policies
Stay informed about how your ISP handles user data. Some ISPs may allow you to opt out of tracking systems designed to collect your information via supercookies. Check their privacy policy or contact their customer support for more details.
5. Regularly use secure connections
Whenever possible, ensure that your connection is encrypted by accessing websites through HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). This adds another layer of security, making it harder for supercookies to function.
Are Supercookies Legal?
The legality of supercookies depends largely on the country and its privacy regulations. In many regions, there are laws in place to restrict excessive data tracking by internet service providers and websites. For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe requires companies to obtain user consent before collecting personal data, which would include using technologies like supercookies.
In the United States, however, the situation is different. While federal laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) aim to give users greater control over their online data, there are still loopholes that companies exploit to use supercookies. Moreover, ISPs are often allowed to track their users unless explicitly prohibited, making it difficult for consumers to protect themselves entirely.
The lack of strict, universal guidelines means that users need to rely on their own tools and practices to safeguard their privacy, as regulation alone may not provide sufficient protection from supercookie tracking.
How Do Supercookies Differ From Regular Cookies?
While the word “cookie” might sound familiar, it’s important to understand how supercookies are fundamentally different from the standard cookies we encounter every day.
1. Location of Storage:
Regular cookies are stored locally in your browser’s data files, making them easily accessible to users who want to delete them. Supercookies, on the other hand, are often embedded at the network level, such as by your ISP, and are much harder to detect or remove.
2. Persistence:
Standard cookies can be automatically deleted when you clear your browser’s cache. Supercookies, however, are “sticky” identifiers; they can regenerate even after being deleted and persist across different devices.
3. Impact on Privacy:
Regular cookies may store information like login details or browsing preferences for a single website. In contrast, supercookies are designed to track your activity on a much broader scale, aggregating data from multiple sites and platforms to create a more detailed digital profile.
Understanding these key differences highlights why supercookies are a greater privacy threat compared to basic cookies.
Real-Life Examples of Supercookie Use
The issue of supercookies is not just theoretical—it has occurred in real life, and several companies have faced backlash for their use of these invasive tracking technologies. For example:
Verizon’s Tracking Controversy:
In 2014, Verizon was found to be using supercookies, referred to as “unique identifier headers” (UIDHs), to track their customers’ online browsing habits without their consent. This allowed Verizon to sell data to advertisers, raising major privacy concerns. The company eventually faced fines and public pressure to halt the practice.
Other Telecom Providers:
Reports have shown that other ISPs in various regions have experimented with similar systems to monetize user data. These practices often occur without users’ knowledge, making it a silent invasion of privacy.
Cases like these serve as a reminder of how prevalent supercookies can be and why it’s critical to remain vigilant about your online privacy.
Final Thoughts:
Supercookies represent a significant escalation in online tracking, and their ability to persist across devices makes them one of the most invasive privacy risks today. Understanding what are super cookies and taking proactive steps to block them is vital for anyone who values their online security.
To recap, these advanced tracking tools threaten your privacy by creating long-term records of your activities, often without your consent. However, by using a VPN, opting for privacy-focused browsers, blocking third-party scripts, and staying informed about privacy laws, you can still safeguard your data against surveillance.
The internet is constantly evolving, and so are the tools that companies use to gather information about users. By staying informed and adopting privacy-first practices, you can enjoy a safer and more secure browsing experience—free from the prying eyes of super cookies.
