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"Cookies were originally designed to track users across the web on browsers" No, they weren't. They were designed to store small bits of data (such as a login

"Cookies were originally designed to track users across the web on browsers" No, they weren't. They were designed to store small bits of data (such as a login or session token, or form data) between page requests within one site. It was only later that they were repurposed to track users around the web.

teleclimber 9y ago
Came here to say exactly that. Cookies are only capable of tracking users across the web because giant companies have managed to dupe site owners into adding code to their site.
- plopz 9y ago
  I don't think anyone was duped into adding google analytics.
  - yuhong 9y ago
    Well, it was bought from Urchin and then they discontinued the original software. I mentioned this in the essay too.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
yuhong 9y ago
Yea, I added a mention of this history (including RFC 2109 and RFC 2965) in the final essay too, including that DoubleClick was one of the first ones to track via cookies. Here is a link if you are interested: http://yuhongbao.blogspot.ca/2018/04/google-doubleclick-mozilla-essay-final.html http://yuhongbao.blogspot.ca/2018/04/google-doubleclick-mozi...