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Holiday shopping often comes with hidden privacy risks due to cookies. These small data files track sensitive information like shopping habits, financial details, and personal preferences, often sharing it with third parties when users accept cookies. Cross-site tracking further invades privacy by building detailed user profiles as shoppers move between websites. This tracking spans devices, making personal behavior more transparent than most realize.
The risks don’t end there. Cookies also make users vulnerable to data breaches, especially during the high-traffic holiday season. Cybercriminals exploit cookie vulnerabilities to steal login credentials, financial data, or personal information, often through unsecured websites or public devices.
Risk 1: Tracking Sensitive User Browsing Data
During the holiday shopping season, third-party cookies can capture a surprising amount of sensitive information about shoppers. These cookies, embedded by advertisers across multiple sites, track browsing behaviors and gather data such as shopping preferences, financial information, and even potentially sensitive details like medical history or personal demographics.
While third-party cookies track users across multiple sites, first-party cookies are created by the website you are visiting and are generally considered less risky. For example, many retail sites use cookies to autofill payment forms or remember product preferences. While convenient, this data is often stored in ways that make it accessible to advertisers and third-party trackers. During holidays, when users browse more extensively, their data trails become even more valuable. This season sees a surge in tracking activity as retailers and advertisers compete for customer attention and try to predict buying habits.
A staggering 85% of top shopping websites use third-party cookies specifically for ad targeting. These cookies not only follow shoppers’ activity on retail sites but often share this information with data brokers who build detailed consumer profiles. Many users are unaware that their actions—like browsing gift ideas or inputting shipping addresses—are being tracked for purposes they didn’t agree to.
This level of data sharing can make users feel exposed and raises concerns about how their information might be used or mishandled. It’s a significant privacy trade-off, especially for those looking to snag holiday deals without compromising personal security.
Risk 2: Cross-Site Behavior Tracking with Third Party Cookies
One of the biggest privacy risks with cookies during holiday shopping is cross-site tracking. When users jump between multiple retail sites looking for deals, cookies follow them, recording their activity and sharing their browsing history across platforms. This allows companies to build detailed behavior profiles, often without users realizing it.
For instance, if someone views a pair of shoes on one site and then visits another unrelated site, cookies can trigger retargeting ads for those shoes on the new site. While this may seem harmless, it reflects how much user activity is being monitored. During holidays, this tracking spikes as advertisers aim to maximize conversions.
Retargeting isn’t just a marketing tactic—it’s a clear example of how user data flows between entities. Companies use these browsing habits to group people into categories, revealing patterns like income level, shopping frequency, and preferences for luxury vs. budget items.
This tracking isn’t limited to retail. Cookies often connect to broader networks, so even a quick visit to a holiday gift guide could impact what ads appear on news sites or social media later. Users don’t see this tracking in action, making it a covert invasion of privacy.
The problem is compounded when users rely on multiple devices—laptops, smartphones, or tablets. Cookies can link data across devices, creating a complete picture of someone’s online behavior. For holiday shoppers, this means their private browsing habits are anything but private.
Risk 3: Vulnerability to Data Breaches
Cookies aren’t just tools for tracking; they can also expose users to data breaches. There is also a risk that cookies can be intercepted by hackers to steal passwords and gain unauthorized access to accounts. During the holiday shopping season, when websites experience heavy traffic, cybercriminals often exploit cookie vulnerabilities to steal sensitive data. Cookies store session information, which can be hijacked by attackers through techniques like cross-site scripting (XSS) or cookie theft.
For example, cookies saved on shared or public devices are particularly vulnerable. If a shopper forgets to log out or clear cookies after checking out, the next user can access their session, potentially including saved payment details or shopping cart contents. Malicious actors also exploit unsecured cookies to intercept data during online transactions, especially on websites lacking proper encryption.
The security risk is amplified during holidays due to an increased use of unfamiliar sites for discounts or deals. Shoppers may unknowingly visit insecure websites that plant malicious cookies or redirect them to phishing pages. These cookies can then be used to extract login credentials, financial details, or other personal data.
Reports show that 20% of holiday shoppers encounter phishing attempts linked to cookie vulnerabilities during online purchases. This not only risks financial losses but also exposes users to identity theft.
For shoppers, the takeaway is clear: clearing cookies, avoiding public devices, and sticking to trusted websites are crucial steps to staying safe during the holiday season.
More on privacy risks associated with cookies
How can Persistent Cookies be a Privacy Risk?
Cookies collect sensitive data like shopping habits and financial details, often sharing it with third parties. Cross-site tracking and data breaches expose users to profiling, identity theft, or unauthorized access. Persistent cookies retain information for longer periods, allowing websites to store user preferences and login details.
What is true about cookie privacy risks?
Cookies silently track browsing behavior, build detailed user profiles, and share data across platforms. They also make users vulnerable to breaches, especially on unfamiliar or insecure websites. Cookies also store site preferences, which help personalize the browsing experience and improve convenience for users.
What is the privacy policy of cookies?
Cookie policies vary by site, but many lack transparency about third-party sharing or data storage duration, leaving users unaware of how their data is being used. Cookies stored in a user’s browser can be session cookies, which are temporary, or persistent cookies, which remain for extended periods.
Why are cookies a concern for privacy advocates?
Privacy advocates highlight how cookies collect excessive data without user consent, enabling invasive profiling and increasing risks of misuse or unauthorized access.
Web browsers implement various mechanisms for managing cookies, addressing privacy concerns and enhancing user control.
Protect Your Privacy, One Click at a Time by Accepting Cookies Wisely
As holiday shopping ramps up, the hidden risks of cookies become more apparent. From tracking sensitive personal data to monitoring every click across websites, cookies play a silent yet intrusive role in the online experience. This isn’t just a privacy concern; it’s a direct vulnerability for individuals trying to make informed and secure purchases. Without proper tools and awareness, holiday shoppers face heightened risks, from intrusive profiling to data breaches, as cybercriminals exploit the season’s chaos. These challenges highlight the need for better strategies to protect personal information online.
SurfWisely addresses these pain points with innovative, gamified solutions that make cybersecurity education engaging and effective. Their platform simplifies complex topics like cookie risks and online privacy through short, sports-themed videos and interactive learning modules. This practical approach equips users with the tools and knowledge to navigate the internet safely, even during high-stakes shopping seasons. With its focus on making security awareness fun and accessible, SurfWisely transforms a daunting topic into something actionable and easy to apply.
Don’t let privacy concerns put a damper on your holiday spirit. Subscribe to SurfWisely’s newsletter for exclusive tips, tools, and updates on staying secure online. It’s a small step toward safeguarding your digital footprint while enjoying the season’s best deals. Understand how to protect your privacy and teach your children and class easily.
