Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
Bruce Shuman ’09 MBA has been appointed as chief digital and customer experience officer at The Hartford. This new position reinforces the company’s commitment to understanding and developing capabilities that meet the expectations of customers and distribution partners. Most recently, Mr. Shuman was with Travelers, where he held leadership positions in enterprise e-business and operations, including small business customer and agent service through traditional and digital channels.
Kevin R. Vander Wiede ’12 started working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as the Veteran Service Representative in May 2016. Mr. Vander Wiede is a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves, serving as the Accident Investigation Chief since 2013.
James G. Coogan ’02, ’04 MSA has been promoted to Vice President of Investor Relations at Kaman Corporation. Since joining Kaman in 2008, Mr. Coogan has been responsible for external reporting and SEC compliance and was most recently promoted to Assistant Vice President of SEC Compliance and External Reporting back in 2013. He is a graduate of the Kaman Leadership Development Program.
Chongyu Wang ’17 Ph.D. has successfully defended his dissertation titled, “Three Essays on the Geography of Finance.” This marks the 200th defense of the School of Business, Ph.D. Program. Dr. Wang has accepted a Post-Doctoral Associate position at the Department of Finance, Insurance & Real Estate, Warring College of Business Administration, at the University of Florida.
Robert J. Sawicki ’95 MBA has joined Global Atlantic Financial Group as Senior Vice President, Head of Talent. Mr. Sawicki will be responsible for launching and integrating all talent processes including Talent Acquisition, Executive Recruiting, Talent/Leadership Development, Succession Planning, Goal Setting and Performance and Engagement. He joins Global Atlantic from Magellan Health, where he was SVP, Talent Management.
Kristen M. Manginelli ’03, ’04 MSAhas been promoted to senior vice president of Marketing at Webster Bank. Ms. Manginelli joined Webster in 2009 as part of the Financial Reporting and Accounting Policy team, and moved to Marketing in 2014 as Vice President, Manager, Segment Strategy. Prior to joining Webster, she worked for Deloitte LLP. She is also a certified public accountant.
Christopher J. Boynton ’88was recently promoted to vice president, East Territory for the American Diabetes Association. In this position, Mr. Boynton is responsible for all field operations including development, programs, services and advocacy from Maine to Florida. He has served with the American Diabetes Association for 11 years and previously held the role of Executive Director, New England. Before working with ADA, Boynton worked with the American Cancer Society and The Greater Hartford Association of Realtors.
Jasmine Alcantara ’95 BS, ’99 MBAowner of JLA Group, will be awarded the 2017 U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce Innovation & Performance Award at the National Small Business Federal Contracting Summit in Washington, DC on March 30, 2017. She has also been selected to present at the Southern New England Conference-Project Management Institute 12th Annual Conference at the Connecticut Convention Center on April 24, 2017. JLA Group provides a wide range of consulting and advisory services to Government clients and commercial industries such as strategic planning and communications, project management, change and performance measurement, acquisition strategy and execution, and proposal and grant development.
Stephen B. Burke ’98 has been named senior vice president of commercial banking at Webster Bank. He recently joined Webster, bringing with him more than 10 years of banking experience. Prior to Webster, he worked for Antares Capital and GE Capital.
Lauralee E. Martin ’79 MBA has joined QuadReal Property Group’s Board of Directors. Ms. Martin has served as CEO of HCP, a Fortune 500 REIT. She was also both COO and CFO with Jones Lang LaSalle, where she led the global financial strategy for the firm. She holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and was inducted into the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame in 2011.