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.
FOI #21-083 (03-5-21, 1:10 pm) - Subject - Dan Hurley and Randy Edsall contracts
Name - Russell Steinberg
Affiliation - A Dime Back
Under the Freedom of Information Act, I am seeking all contracts and memoranda of understanding, including contract extensions, between UConn and Men's Basketball Coach Dan Hurley and UConn and Football Coach Randy Edsall
I am requesting an opportunity to obtain copies of the following public records: the most updated long-form employment contracts, appointment letters, and 20-21 salary information for men's basketball coaches and support staff members: Kimani Young, Tom Moore, Kevin Freeman, Eric Youncofski, Tripp Doherty, Michael Rehfeldt, Taliek Brown, and Paul Wetterman III.
Andy Wittry
Out of Bounds with Andy Wittry (Substack newsletter)
FOI #21-081 (03-4-21, 11:08 pm) - Subject - Athletics
Name - Andy Wittry
Affiliation - Out of Bounds with Andy Wittry (Substack newsletter)
I'd like to make a public records request for a copy of any emails, as well as any related attachments, sent to or from AD David Benedict starting March 2 and ending March 4, 2021, that include either "McDermott" or "Creighton," while excluding any listserv emails. Since this request is of public interest, I'd like to request that any associated fees are waived.
Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act § 1-200 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to obtain copies of the following public records:
My personnel file as a part-time accounting lecturer at the University of Connecticut during the 1980’s.
Copies of the following records for the past year (January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2021):
(1) all records showing demands for payment or other relief based upon the acts or omissions of any University of Connecticut police employee;
(2) records showing the court and docket number of any suit or claim filed based upon the acts or omissions of any University of Connecticut police employee;
(3) all settlement agreements or releases resolving demands or claims based on the acts or omissions of any University of Connecticut police employee.
For the period of April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020, please provide all written communications former Law School Dean Timothy Fisher authored, received, or was copied on related to Peter Kochenburger's work as Deputy Director of the Insurance Law Center and as Associate Clinical Professor of Law, including employment status, performance evaluations or summaries, teaching evaluations, Insurance Law Center budgetary and financial issues, program development, Insurance Law Center events and conferences, the regulatory training for financial services regulators from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, his long-term contract review, and communications leading up to and the final decision to non-renew his contract and eliminate his position as of July 31, 2021.
FOI #21-075 (03-2-21, 1:17 am) - Subject - Employment Contract for Randy Edsall
Name - Daniel Kalish
Affiliation - HKM Employment Attorneys
In accordance with FOIA and the state public records act, I am writing to request the entire employment contract (including all exhibits and appendices) for the head football coach, Randy Edsall.