Definitions

Browser
A web browser is software that navigates websites – Firefox and Chrome are examples.

Cookies
Designed to be a mechanism for websites to remember useful information about a user’s current session on a website, their functionality can be over-extended to remember all kinds of information about users, across individual sessions and entire sites.

Plug-in
These are a kind of software designed to add functionality to an existing web browser. They are also referred to as browser “extensions” or “add-ons”.

Data
Refers to any information that is retrieved, sent, stored or can be accessed using a web browser or plug-in software.

Content
Refers to the entire content of a web page, including the URL, text, images, and any hidden content.

Tracking
Also known as website visitor tracking (WVT), this is the monitoring of visitor behavior on a website – for example, page views, duration of visit, clicks, and referral sources. This can also extend across other sites, multiple sessions, and even long periods of time depending on how the tracking is done. Tracking for advertising purposes seeks to build user identity profiles (age, gender, race, income, location, etc.) in order to refine user targeting.

Browser and Environment Characteristics
This includes information about a browser’s software, including version, configuration and plugins. Additionally, this can extend to data on system fonts, installed applications, operating system, preferred languages, etc.

Account Information
Usernames, passwords and sometimes mobile numbers and other authentication information that is associated with a user’s Online account with a given service, company, or other entity.

Browsing History
The detailed log of the websites you have visited and when, often maintained by a browser unless directed to do otherwise via configuring its settings.

GPS
Stands for Global Positioning System, which offers precise location information gathered by a global positioning system device – this is what powers the functionality of many websites, apps, and devices known as geo-location.

IP Address
Each Internet-connected device has a public IP address, assigned by its ISP, that it uses to request and receive data. Approximate geo-location and ISP information is implicit.