Renowned celebrity baker, Prue Leith, has teamed up with Avast to help educate Brits on cookies, both digital and chocolate chip ones.
At Avast, we recently carried out research which found that more than four in five people (85%) have accepted cookies on a website without reading any of the policies, while more than a third (37%) said they’ve done so, only to later discover they had agreed to something they wish they hadn’t.
Our research also revealed that people are more likely to agree to terms they don’t understand online (62%) than they are when faced with a contract in real life (54%).
Three in ten Brits (29%) feel confused by cookie policies, and 70% even believe websites intentionally try to confuse people with the language they use.
In light of this, three quarters (75%) of Brits think internet users need to be better educated on what cookies actually are.
Prue Leith commented, “While recent times have highlighted the importance of being connected online, it’s also never been more important for people to feel safe while
doing so.”
Prue continued, “Many people of all ages, but particularly my generation, are not as familiar with certain aspects of the internet and this, of course, includes digital cookies. This can prove to be a barrier to embracing everything that being online has to offer so I am delighted to be working with Avast to help people understand what cookies are and how they work.”
Avast’s mission is to protect digital freedom for everyone, which includes helping people understand more about what digital cookies are and, consequently, helping them navigate the internet as safely as possible.
Achieve online privacy with our tips on cookies
- The first step to navigating digital cookies is understanding what exactly they are. Cookies are like identification cards made up of small bits of information in the form of text that help computers interact with websites. On the one hand, they allow websites to remember information, such as logins or items stored in an online shopping cart. On the other hand, they can record your browsing activity so advertisers can use it for targeted advertising.
- If you want to limit the information websites can access, choose a browser that blocks third-party cookies (those created by websites other than the one you’re visiting) by default.
- It’s good digital hygiene to clear cookies regularly. You can do so in the settings or preferences of your browser of choice. Deleting cookies helps to keep your browser running smoothly.
- Some websites allow you to control what cookies to accept or reject via a pop-up window that appears before you access them. It is good practice to only accept the cookies required for websites to function, such as language and region, and reject those related to advertising and tracking.
- For more privacy-conscious people, consider rejecting all cookies but expect website performance issues. Alternatively, choose a secure browser with anti-tracking technology to block web trackers, including cookies, to minimise companies’ amount of online surveillance.
Find out about Neighbourhood Watch and Avast UK Cyberhood Watch partnership here.