In line with GDPR, cookies that are not strictly necessary for the essential functionality of a website should only be activated if the end-user has given his or her explicit consent to their use, knowing the specific purpose of the data collection.
In most cases, the acceptance of cookies on a website will not have negative consequences, but it is worth reading the related notice carefully to be aware of exactly which kind of cookies are used by the website and for what purpose, so that only those that are truly necessary are accepted (e.g.: basic cookies, recommended cookies, marketing cookies, etc.)
Accepting cookies is not recommended in the following cases:
- unencrypted websites (where the padlock icon next to the web address in the search bar is not locked), or any other suspicious websites that look like a scam
- third-party cookies
- cookies flagged as suspicious by an antivirus software
- if you‘re sharing personal data on the website (e.g. bank details, ID number, etc.)
Browsers have the option to disable certain types of cookies or even all cookies in general, but it is important to keep in mind that disabling all cookies can greatly affect your browsing experience.