A cookie? What's this you're offering?
A cookie is a very tiny piece of text we're asking permission to place on your computer's hard drive. If you agree, then your browser adds the text in a small file. Its purpose is to let us know when you visit our web site.
This text, by itself, only tells us that a previous webs site visitor has returned. It doesn't tell us who you are, or your email address or anything else personal. If you want to give us that information later, that's your choice.
So why do web sites offer cookies?
Cookies help us evaluate visitors' use of a site, such as what customers want to see and what they never read. That information allows the operators to better focus thier online product, to concentrate on information people are reading and products they are using.
And guess what? A cookie can help you.
If you accept a cookie, nothing affects you immediately. But you know what happens whenever you want to download software, access a premium site or even request permission to use a logo on your Web page? You get asked questions like who you are and your email address. And that happens every time you want to download stuff.
If you have accepted a cookie, however, those questions eventually will be asked just once, no matter how often you download software or how many of that companies sites you visit.
In the future, a cookie will allow you to tell us what information you prefer to read and what you don't. If you're a gamer, for example, we can advise you on content specific to games.