Whenever you open any website, its cookies get downloaded (many websites allow you to take a call on this). These contain information that is often used for data security. This is the reason why people opt for enabling them on search engines.
A cookie is a piece of text that is stored by a user’s web browser. It can be used for authentication, storing site preferences, identifier for a server-based session, shopping cart contents, etc. It consists of one or more name-value pairs that contain bits of information, which are often encrypted for data privacy and security.
It is sent as a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) header by one web browser to another. Later it is sent back unchanged by the web browser, each time it accesses the server. They can be cleared to restore file storage space. If not deleted manually, they will get deleted automatically after the expiration date associated with them.
Most modern-day browsers allow users to decide if they want to accept them or not, and the preferred time frame to save them on the browser. However, if they are rejected, some websites may not be usable.
Steps to Follow
- Launch the browser.
- Go to the Tools menu in Mozilla Firefox. In the drop down list, click ‘Options’.
- You will come across a number of tabs, like Main, Tabs, Content, Applications, Privacy, Security and Advanced. Go to ‘Privacy Settings’.
- Here you will be able to see three sections, namely ‘History’, ‘Tracking’, and ‘Location Bar’.
- For no restrictions, set ‘Firefox will:’ to ‘Remember history’ and click on ‘OK’.
- In the cookies section select “Accept cookies from sites”. Also select, “Accept third party cookies”.
- The next option is “Keep until”, select “they expire”. Then click on ‘OK’.
However, if you want to restrict sites, then you will have to use another method.
- Set ‘Firefox will:’ to ‘Use Custom settings for history’.
- Uncheck ‘Accept cookies from sites’. Then click on the ‘Exceptions’ button.
- You will see ‘Address of the web site:’.
- Enter the name of the website without quotes. Then click ‘Allow’, followed by ‘Close’ and then ‘OK’.
Cookies are now enabled on your machine, however, you will have to keep a close watch, so that your computer’s data is not stolen by different sites.