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.
The Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) website has been updated to incorporate essential training on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS). This training, which is both a federal standard and best practice for incident management, will improve our University’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency incidents. All UConn staff and faculty are encouraged to follow the links to FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and take the online introductory courses. OEM is the central hub for tracking the University’s NIMS competency. If you are a faculty or staff member of the University of Connecticut, please forward your NIMS/ICS certificates to oem@uconn.edu.
Please visit our NIMS and ICS page for more information.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed a mobile FEMA App. This mobile app is available for Apple, Blackberry, and Android devices. The app offers users general tips to survive natural disasters, kit building information, locations of shelters and other resources, and more. The app also allows users receive alerts from the National Weather Service based on locations selected. FEMA also has the app available in Spanish. The Office of Emergency Management recommends that members of the UConn community download the mobile FEMA app.
For more information and to download the app, go to FEMA’s mobile app page.
University locks in safety efforts, installs new door locks and safety center
By Sarah McNeal
UConn’s Division of University Safety is installing locks on classroom doors that lock from the inside and working towards opening a security operation center. (Zhelun Lang/Daily Campus)
UConn’s Division of University Safety is installing locks on classroom doors that lock from the inside and working towards opening a security operation center. (Zhelun Lang/Daily Campus)
UConn’s Division of University Safety is installing new locks on classroom doors for all campuses as part of the Classroom Security Program. This is a phase of a multi-faceted plan to ultimately create a security operation center for the Storrs campus.
“We are looking for efficiency,” said Assistant Director of University Safety Andrew Langlais. “It would be a lower tier information center.”
Once established, the center would deal with all departments with call taking and dispatching capabilities. Maintenance requests, active camera monitoring and intrusion alarms are part of what would be handled by the new center. All emergency calls would still be managed in a separate center.
“It would centralize and improve security on campus,” Langlais said.
Last February, the Division of University Safety created a group to look at physical security of UConn campuses. Outside firms were hired to consult on the various security systems in place, according to Langlais.
“One of the highest priorities at Storrs and regional campuses is that all classrooms can be locked from the inside in case of a violent threat on campus,” Langlais said. “It’s a stop-gap measure.”
There are no figures currently available on the cost of the new locking system as it is currently being put in place. The timeline for installations is also unknown. The program is being funded by the Division of University Safety in partnership with facilities and campus’ locksmiths.
Students were alerted to the new “comprehensive security program” through an Emergency Management Bulletin. Alongside notification of the new locks on classroom doors, they were also provided with plans for active shooter situations, bomb threats and power outages. They are specifically designed by the Division of University Safety for UConn students.
“We’re always working to educate the UConn community about our emergency preparedness plans,” said UConn Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz. “We encourage everyone to become ‘UConn Ready’ and to familiarize themselves with these plans as we work together toward the safest possible campus community.”