What Are Cookies?

(CBS News)  Cookies are text messages stored on your computer's hard drive. The message is sent back to a Web site's server each time your browser requests a page from the server that set the cookie.

Cookies automatically identify your Web browser to the sites whenever you visit them, and may make navigating and using those Web sites easier for you.

Also, by tracking how and when you visit, cookies help to determine which areas of a site are popular and which are not. Many improvements and updates are based on data obtained from cookies. Accepting cookies may allow you to, among other things, customize your experience.

Cookies may also allow sites to present advertising that may be of interest to you as well as limit how often you see certain ads that may detract from your user experience.

If you do not want to allow information to be collected through the use of cookies, you can generally opt out of providing this information by setting your browser to reject cookies.

However, please be aware that Web sites may not be provide you with an acceptable user experience if you have disabled the use of cookies. For example, doing so will also disable your customized experience.

Learn more: CBS Interactive privacy policy