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 UConn Department of Anthropology is home to a diverse community of graduate students studying a variety of subfields. Continue reading to learn more about their favorite parts of their research, why they became interested in anthropology, and fun facts about them!
Harshani Fernando
Entry into program: 2024
Q&A
What sparked your interest in Anthropology?
Growing up in a multicultural coastal city in Sri Lanka, I developed a deep appreciation for the diversity among people and have always been fascinated by the varied narratives of different communities. This interest led me to choose Sociology for my undergraduate degree. During my studies, I became increasingly drawn to understanding people and their cultural perspectives. After spending two years as a researcher working with various communities across the country, I realized that Anthropology aligns perfectly with my academic passions and goals.
Where are you/will you be conducting your research/fieldwork?
Hopefully, I will conduct my ethnographic fieldwork in the southern part of Sri Lanka.
What do you find most interesting about your field work/research location?
I am really fascinated by the hospitality of the people and the love they share in their villages. Experiencing different cultures, tasting various foods, and listening to their unique stories make me feel at home.
What is your most memorable experience in the field so far, or most memorable lesson learned?
During my undergraduate research with a fishing community in Negombo, a coastal city in Sri Lanka, I spent entire days in a field near the sea where people sold fish and made dried fish. I observed their daily struggles with the sea and the weather, yet they always had smiles on their faces. That field experience was memorable, and I learned many lessons from the people, including the importance of having a little faith in yourself and the broader society, even during hard times.
What do you do in your downtime? Share something interesting about yourself!
In my downtime, I love to cook and share food with friends. I also enjoy reading poetry and occasionally writing my own. Taking walks and appreciating my surroundings is one of my favorite pastimes.
