Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Communication and Counseling
Learn genetic counseling methods to better connect with patients.
Clinical Communication & Counseling Online Graduate Certificate
The Clinical Communication and Counseling Graduate Certificate program will give you the theoretical and practical knowledge you need to better connect with patients and consumers every day. You’ll study the tools and framework needed to apply genetic counseling methods in a genomics context and facilitate genetic healthcare discussions that effectively connect on the individual level. This program enhances your ability to become a great counselor, and it’s a tool designed to quantify your skills, providing you with an official credential and access to a network of genetic counseling-centric peers and faculty.
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Genetics & Genomics
Get the genetics knowledge you need to inform patients about their health risks.
Clinical Genetics and Genomics Online Certificate
The Clinical Genetics and Genomics Online Certificate program is designed to provide you with knowledge of genetics and genomics at a time when the public is becoming more aware of personal health risks and genetics, and a growing body of evidence links genomics with health outcomes. It’s now essential for all healthcare professionals to have a solid understanding of this increasingly important field. All credits earned in the certificate program may be transferable to the Health Care Genetics Professional Science Master's Degree and UConn's Genetic Counseling Master's Degree Program.
Graduate Certificate in Leadership & Diversity in Sport Management
Learn how to cultivate diversity within your sport organization.
Leadership and Diversity in Sport Management Online Graduate Certificate
Through the Leadership and Diversity in Sport Management Online Graduate Certificate program, you will learn how to identify management styles in sports organizations. This will allow you to develop strategies for becoming an effective, transformative leader who can communicate a clear vision and motivate every team member. You'll also better understand the value of diversity and how to cultivate a sports organization that respects and embraces people of all colors, races, ethnicities, and genders. You'll learn how to use this knowledge to become a proactive change agent promoting gender, class, and racial equality on and off the field.
Plant-Based Food and Nutrition Online Graduate Certificate
Driving Careers, Practice, & Health with Plant-Based Food & Nutrition Training
A 12-Credit 100% Online Graduate Program Plant-Based Food and Nutrition
Developed and taught by UConn’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, the Plant-Based Food and Nutrition Online Graduate Certificate program provides an exceptional opportunity for healthcare practitioners, chefs, and industry professionals to gain specialized training in the research-advised development of plant-based meal plans and products. The 4-course, 100% online graduate certificate can be completed in one to two years.
