← Years 7–8 Data & Information

Cookies and trackers

A small file a website saves in your browser to remember you. Tracking cookies record what you do across different sites, often to show you targeted ads.

Part of: 7-8 Digital Technologies: Digital footprint and privacy — Module 5, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 5.1 The Internet and the World Wide Web — Module 34, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 10, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 5, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Privacy Principles and Digital Footprints — Module 8

Understanding Cookies and trackers in Years 7–8 Data & Information

What it does: Choosing Reject (or Manage and turning off advertising cookies) stops the site saving tracking cookies in your browser. A cookie is a small file saved in your browser. It lets a website remember things about you, like what is in your shopping cart. Tracking cookies record the pages you view. Advertisers use this to show you targeted ads for things you looked at. Clearing cookies removes the saved files. Websites will no longer remember you, so you may have to log in again. Many sites give you cookie choices. You can also change browser settings or clear cookies to stay in control.

Common mistakes: Accept all means the site is allowed to save tracking cookies too. Line 2 should be 'save tracking cookies', not block them. A cookie only helps the site remember you if it is saved in your browser. Deleting it on the first visit means there is nothing to read next time. It should say 'save cookie'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 100–124) and word search (Modules 87–124).

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Learning
Duo
What is a cookie?
A small file a website saves in your browser to remember youA virus that deletes files from your computer
Matches
Click Accept all on every cookie banner without reading it
↓
Accept all lets the site save tracking cookies for targeted ads. You should read the options and use Manage or Reject to choose what is saved.
Applying
Meanings
Term
cookie
Meaning
A small file a website saves in your browser to remember you. Tracking cookies record what you do across different sites, often to show you targeted ads.
Practice
IF choice = "reject" THEN
Testing
Gaps
SAVE IN browser
Check Answer
Spots
1IF user clicks Accept all
2 block tracking cookies

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Quick Questions

1. What is a cookie?
A. A virus that deletes files from your computer
B. A small file a website saves in your browser to remember you ✓
A cookie is a small file saved in your browser. It lets a website remember things about you, like what is in your shopping cart.
2. Which cookie is more likely to record what you do across many different websites?
A. A tracking cookie ✓
B. A cookie that remembers your login on one site
Tracking cookies follow your activity across different sites. A login cookie usually only helps a single site remember you.
3. You visit a shoe shop website. Later, shoe ads follow you around other sites. What is the most likely cause?
A. Your browser has run out of memory
B. Tracking cookies used for targeted advertising ✓
Tracking cookies record the pages you view. Advertisers use this to show you targeted ads for things you looked at.
4. A cookie banner appears on a new website. Which choice stops non-essential cookies from being saved?
A. Click Reject or Manage and turn off extra cookies ✓
B. Click Accept all
Rejecting or managing cookies lets you choose what is saved. Accept all usually allows tracking cookies as well.
5. True or false: Clearing your cookies deletes the small files your browser has saved from websites.
A. True ✓
B. False
Clearing cookies removes the saved files. Websites will no longer remember you, so you may have to log in again.

Match the Pairs

cookie → A small file a website saves in your browser to remember you, such as your login or what is in your shopping cart
tracking cookie → A cookie that records your activity across different sites, often so advertisers can show you targeted ads
You want a website to use only the cookies it needs and block the ones used for advertising → Reject all cookies
You want to remove the cookies a website has already saved in your browser → Clear cookies
Click Accept all on every cookie banner without reading it → Accept all lets the site save tracking cookies for targeted ads. You should read the options and use Manage or Reject to choose what is saved.
Clearing cookies once means no site can ever track me again → Clearing cookies only deletes the ones saved so far. Sites can save new cookies the next time you visit, so you must keep rejecting or clearing them.

Key Term

cookie
A small file a website saves in your browser to remember you. Tracking cookies record what you do across different sites, often to show you targeted ads.

Fill in the Blanks

1. SAVE cookie IN browser
Hint: Type the name of the small file a website saves in your browser to remember you.
2. IF rejectAll THEN SET tracking = OFF
Hint: Type the setting value that stops tracking cookies from being saved.
3. IF trackingCookie THEN SHOW targetedAd
Hint: Type the command word that displays an ad chosen from your activity on other sites.
4. CLEAR cookies FROM browser
Hint: Type the command word that removes saved cookies from your browser.
5. IF acceptAll THEN SET tracking = ON
Hint: Type the setting value that allows tracking cookies to be saved.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A IF user clicks Accept all
B block tracking cookies
C ELSE
D save only needed cookies
Line B — Accept all means the site is allowed to save tracking cookies too. Line 2 should be 'save tracking cookies', not block them.
Question 2
A ON first visit: delete cookie
B cookie ← username=Mia
C ON next visit: read cookie
D SHOW Welcome back, Mia
Line A — A cookie only helps the site remember you if it is saved in your browser. Deleting it on the first visit means there is nothing to read next time. It should say 'save cookie'.
Question 3
A tracker reads tracking cookie
B history ← only this one site
C interest ← topic in history
D SHOW ads about interest
Line B — Tracking cookies record your activity across different sites, not just one. Line 2 should be 'history ← sites visited' so the tracker can build up your interests.
Question 4
A OPEN browser settings
B GO TO privacy
C SELECT clear cookies
D RESULT: sites remember more
Line D — Clearing cookies removes the small files that let sites remember you. The result is that sites forget you, so line 4 should say 'sites forget you'.
Question 5
A OPEN cookie settings
B SET needed cookies ← ON
C SET ad cookies ← OFF
D RESULT: more targeted ads
Line D — Turning ad cookies OFF stops the site tracking you for advertising, so you should see fewer targeted ads. Line 4 should say 'no targeted ads'.

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