Dave, don’t sweat the cookies thing. This is technical so I’m going to explain it in simple terms. HTTP (or HTTPS for secure) is the protocol of the WWW. It is a “stateless” protocol which means that between user clicks a web server has no way to know whether you are still there. Web sites that require a login to identify users as unique, or web servers that ask users to fill out a form of any type need to track those users from one click to the next screen. There are several ways to do it but one of the MOST SECURE ways to do it is with the use of cookies (which are unique text character strings) that the users web browser can accept and store (if user allows) and which can be read by the web site. The EU privacy laws are stricter than US laws (we are no longer the land of the “right to privacy”) and some cookies are also used to track users between sites, for the purpose of serving ads that are relevant to the interests of the user. (Targetable ads to users with relevant content are more valuable to advertisers than randomly distributing ads). Yes, cookie tracking without advising the user could be viewed as a privacy concern, so that’s why users are required to warned under EU laws, but that doesn’t mean the web site is doing anything nefarious- in this case it means the web site allows you to be Cray Dave without logging into the web site every time you visit.
Dave, also know that in america every web page you have ever been to is saved on a corporate server to be sold to anyone interested. There are unique identifiers on just about all hardware (phone, laptops, fitbit, bluetooth headphobez, etc...)that tracks you going anywhere, even in incognito mode. At any time a search order can pretty much build a skeleton of your life just by matching the ids on various hardware. Match that with your interactions with others and everything is fleshed out.
If this site is like anything i build at my work there are reports about just about every click made, click speed, form parameters, time it toom to load pages. Time on each srction. You stare at the boat babe pictures too long an it on record.
It wont be a cookie taking over your life, ittl be some email from an honest looking bank message or some "authority" message. Older people cant say no to authority so they do as instructed and click on the link to install antivirus, or some other junk.
You basicalky have to throw your hardware away after everyuse to not be tracked. They wont know its you all the time, but just fill out a couple forms here and there and its over. Associate that name with all harware/license guids.
