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Storing sensitive data in a persistent cookie can lead to a breach of confidentiality or account compromise. Most Web programming environments default to creating non-persistent cookies. These cookies reside only in browser memory (they are not written to disk) and are lost when the browser is closed.
Persistent Cookies are stored on a user’s device to help remember information, settings, preferences, or sign-on credentials that a user has previously saved. This helps create a convenient and faster website experience. These cookies have an expiration date issued to it by the webserver.
session cookies
There are two types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Web browsers normally delete session cookies when the user closes the browser. Unlike other cookies, session cookies do not have an expiration date assigned to them, which is how the browser knows to treat them as session cookies.
What is the difference between a session cookie and a persistent cookie?
If a cookie does not contain an expiration date, it is considered a session cookie. Session cookies are stored in memory and never written to disk. When the browser closes, the cookie is permanently lost from this point on. If the cookie contains an expiration date, it is considered a persistent cookie.
How are cookies used to steal personal information?
Persistent cookies allow websites to remember settings like login or account information. But there’s a warning about some of those cookies falling into the wrong hands. IT expert and forensics investigator Colman Ryan says cookie scraping is where a hacker is able to copy code from your cookie, and login to the site you’re using.
If you let them remote into your computer, they can very quickly get all your cookies in a matter of seconds. Attacks through public WiFi are also common. “Now there is a way you can sanitize your stolen cookies,” Ryan said. Simply go to your browsing history and clear all. Be sure to change your passwords frequently as well.
How can I protect myself from Cookie scraping?
Simply go to your browsing history and clear all. Be sure to change your passwords frequently as well. If your cookies are compromised and copied, Ryan says a password change can protect you.
If your cookies are compromised and copied, Ryan says a password change can protect you. Another option: Create extra login protections to your most valuable assets, like online investment and banking accounts by using 2-step verification as well as 2-step authentication.