Source: Android Central
What you need to know
- Google wants to make third-party cookies a thing of the past.
- With new standards like its proposed Privacy Sandbox, it hopes to make them obsolete and eventually drop support for them in Chrome.
- In the meantime, it'll start making changes to its policies for cross-site cookies beginning this February, with the aim of making them more secure.
Google is charging ahead with its idea of a Privacy Sandbox that both improve users' privacy across the web and allows online advertisers some semblance of control and insight into user habits necessary for them to keep running their businesses.
To that effect, Google this week announced its intent to eventually phase out the use of third-party cookies in Chrome. It hopes to do so within two years. Other browsers have already jumped on the anti-tracking and anti-cookies bandwagon a while ago, but Google claims their approach may be misguided.
There may be some merit to the company's argument that merely removing third-party cookies without providing any alternatives to publishers could lead to an even worse privacy paradigm on the web than the one we currently have.
For example, the Mountain View giant points out that in the absence of personalization via cookies, many ad companies instead are turning to indirect methods such as fingerprinting to make up the difference. Google is also clamping down on such techniques and promises to reveal more tools aimed at detecting and mitigating covert tracking and fingerprinting later in the year.
For now, it's continuing on its path of slowly phasing out the use of cookies across the web. To start off, if cookies don't clearly indicate whether they're 'cross-site' or 'same-site' — meaning whether they link to another website/service — Google will automatically assume they're same-site and prevent information sharing with another site. That'll start in February.
For cross-site cookies, Google will mandate the use of HTTPS encryption to ensure any data they communicate is secure.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Samsung's next-gen Galaxy S22 just had its first big leak
Samsung has reportedly decided against using 3D ToF sensors on its Galaxy S22 series phones as the tech doesn't offer any "clear advantages."

A limited Google Pixel 5a launch may be a smarter strategy than you think
Google's not launching the Pixel 5a in all countries where the 4a launched. Here's why that actually makes sense.

Tech enthusiasts shouldn't forget about Earth Day
This past year has been hard on us all, but it's been hard on the planet too. Let's all try to remember to take care of ourselves AND the planet as we observe Earth Day 2021.

Block ads, trackers and even some malware with the best Chrome ad blockers
Pop-ups, banners and video ads are at the very least annoying, but many also harbor malware. Here are some ad blockers to help cut through the noise.